Festive, Fun, and Fruitful: Rethinking Holidays in Secondary Education

When we think of holidays or celebrations in schools, our minds often go straight to elementary classrooms filled with themed parties, crafts, and festive celebrations. But as students move into middle and high school, something shifts—classrooms become more formal, expectations rise, and celebrations tend to fade into the background. Many secondary teachers assume that holiday activities have no place in a rigorous academic environment, or that incorporating them requires too much money, time, or planning. But here’s the truth: holidays can have a place in the secondary classroom…without compromising learning. In fact, simple and meaningful moments of celebration can build rapport and community, boost student motivation, and make content feel more engaging.

Festive Learning without the Fuss

You don’t need to plan elaborate parties or costly decorations that you spend your prep putting around the room. Small, purposeful touches go a long way. Embedding holiday themed practice activities in your core classrooms are easier than you think. From a Halloween Themed Parts of Speech 4 of a Kind to a Multiplying Monomials by Polynomials St. Patrick's Day Coloring Activity, there are countless ways to weave festive elements into meaningful academic work. Seasonal activities are also a great way to bring holiday vibes into the classroom without highlighting any specific celebration. Our Science of a Snowflake reading passage, practice and bulletin board design is a perfect example; students get to enjoy a winter-themed experience that feels festive, inclusive, and academically meaningful without being strictly attached to a specific holiday celebration. These quick, low-prep additions keep rigor intact while giving students a seasonal spark of joy that makes learning feel fresh and fun.

Small Gestures, Big Impact

Individual celebrations, like student birthdays, can also have a meaningful place in the secondary classroom without disrupting instruction or requiring elaborate planning. A small token or acknowledgement is a great way to make students feel valued and seen, especially at an age when they often fly under the radar. Birthday assignment passes, such as these from Surviving in Secondary, are a great gift that all students can benefit from, and you can use year after year! These tiny acknowledgements take seconds, but build a stronger sense of belonging and connection. By celebrating students in small but intentional ways, you reinforce that your classroom is not only a place of learning, but a place where each student matters.

As secondary teachers, we don’t have to choose between rigor and celebration as holidays arise—our classrooms can hold space for both. By incorporating simple, purposeful holiday touches in our assignments and acknowledging individual milestones like birthdays, we create environments where students feel energized, valued, and connected. These moments don’t require big budgets or lost instructional time; they simply require intention. When we embrace small celebrations, we enrich the learning experience and remind students that joy and academic success can go hand in hand.