8 Christmas movies for students in school before winter break

A note on choosing appropriate movies

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. I just can’t help but get swept up in the magic when the lights and decorations start appearing in my area!

A lot of students celebrate Christmas and love the movies that are shown this time of year, however, not all schools allow Christmas movies to be shown in school. Some feel that it does not honour or respect all cultures and/or religions. Upper management may say it is not inclusive, and others say movies are simply filling time before the holiday break and the time could be better spent focusing on skills and curriculum.

I’ve been there – trying to get Christmas organised at home and at school while still trying to attend holiday events and climb the seemingly never-ending pile of marking!

Let me help!

If you are allowed to show movies during the Christmas season, there are so many to choose from. I have selected some of my favorites below and for each one, I have included:

• A summary of the film: in case you are unfamiliar with it, you can decide at a glance whether it will work for you and your cohort.

• Grab and go discussion topics: So that you can integrate the film into your curriculum.

• Different hands-on activities linked to the themes from each movie: engage students and keep your principal and parents happy with this range of user-friendly, fun and 100% curriculum-based ideas.

Happy Holidays from me to you!

1) Arthur Christmas

“Arthur Christmas” explores what happens when Santa attempts to automate and mechanise Christmas. Every kid should get exactly what they want with this fail-safe system. But what happens when the technology fails and one child doesn’t have any presents under the tree? Arthur’s mission is simple- fix this awful mistake before Christmas morning.

Discussion and activity ideas

Areas for discussion

• Why is empathy an important skill for us all to have? 
• When has perseverance been important in your life?
• Who are the important people in your life and how can you thank them for being a part of your life?

Get active and build some skills

A fun team-building activity to accompany this movie would be a relay race. Run activities such as throwing “snowballs” (cotton balls) into a bucket or competitive speed present wrapping. Use old newspapers or have a cleanout of lockers and use the student’s unwanted sheets of paper before they go into the recycling! Have students build their communication and organisational skills by planning and executing a range of minute-to-win-it-style activities to end the year on a high.

Why do we give presents?

Students could also learn about the origins and traditions of giving and receiving presents with this video. This activity could be taken further by asking students to consider who might appreciate gifts that may be overlooked at this time of year. Perhaps your school could run a food or toy drive for a local charity or shelter?

2) Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure

Beethoven is back in all his goofy gorgeousness! This time a nasty crook has stolen Santa’s magic sack and an elf has gone missing when he lost control of Santa’s sleigh. Beethoven to the rescue again as he goes on an adventure to find the elf and save Christmas.

Discussion and activity ideas

Areas for discussion

• Is a dog a good hero figure?
• Do you think that going out to find a crook is a good idea or should you simply call the police?
• Do you think that this is a good movie or is it just another franchise trying to get in on the Christmas market?

Writing and empathy skills

Students can put themselves into Santa’s shoes- would they have tried to rescue the missing elf or is the delivery of toys more important? Focus student writing skills on adjectives, spelling and grammar or simply the skills involved in writing in first person. You know your cohort best!

Why elves?

Discover the cultural significance of elves throughout history and have students get creative by drawing their own magical creature. Take the activity further by explaining their design choices.

3) The Polar Express

“The Polar Express”- a Christmas classic! This movie tells the story of a group of children as they ride the Polar Express to the North Pole. One passenger boards the train a disbeliever and, through the other children’s belief and the magic of the North Pole, emerges a true believer.

Discussion and activity ideas

Areas for discussion

• What is it that brings Christmas to life for you?
• What traditions and magic are a part of your Christmas? 
• How do traditions bring the season to life for both yourself and your family?
• If you don’t celebrate Christmas, what does this holiday look and feel like for you?
• What are some of the other festivals and holidays that occur at the same time as Christmas?

Get creative

Have students consider what they think the North Pole and Santa’s workshop really look like.

Students can;

• Design the interior and/or exterior of Santa’s workshop.
• Map the village where the elves and Santa live.
• Explain the production process for toy design, making, wrapping and delivery.

Embrace the science!

This could be a chance to have students discover what the North and South Poles are really like. You could;

• Compare and contrast the different environment creatures and birds that call these icy wastelands home.
• Spotlight the adaptive features that allow birds, mammals, plants and sea life to not only survive but thrive.

Link the environment by exploring the devastating effects of global warming on these delicate environments.

4) The Grinch

The obstinate Grinch and his cute sidekick Max live on the hills on the outskirts of Whoville. The Grinch adamantly refuses to embrace the Who’s Christmas merriment and tries to steal Christmas. Will he succeed in his dastardly plan?

Discussion and activity ideas

Areas for discussion

• Do you think that it is important that we do not follow the idiom – Don’t judge a book by its cover?
• Do students think that love and forgiveness are key to helping others?
• Is the Grinch truly reformed or will he return to his ways after Christmas?

Let’s debate

Practice some end-of-the-year oratory skills! Is the Grinch a villain, a hero or an antihero in this story?

Embrace the theme of kindness

Listen to other stories about love and kindness and encourage students to embrace the spirit of Christmas. What can they do as a class and a school community to bring the Christmas spirit to those who might have lost, or never found, their own?

5) The Nightmare Before Christmas

A film that discusses both Halloween and Christmas “The Nightmare Before Christmas” might be suitable for a slightly older audience, so ensure you know your cohort before pressing play on this one!

Jack Skellington loves Halloween and scaring people so when he stumbles across the merriment of Christmastown he is curious and decides to see if he can stop Christmas in its tracks. Can Santa and the season of joy wear down the man who has spent his life instilling fear in children?

Discussion and activity ideas:

Areas for discussion

• In your opinion, which holiday is better; Christmas or Halloween?
• Why do some people not enjoy the season of Halloween?

The origins of Halloween

Broaden student understanding of this holiday by exploring where it came from, the origins of the traditions and how it is spreading across the world as a commercialised holiday.

Claymation

Explore the techniques involved in claymation, its origins, uses and limitations as a film medium.

6) Christmas with the Kranks

“Christmas with the Kranks” is more appropriate for secondary school students. 

The Krank family decide that to avoid the annual pressure to decorate their house for Christmas they will take a cruise and leave a blank, dark space in their otherwise festively decorated street. Will their friends and neighbours manage to change their minds?

Discussion and activity ideas:

Areas for discussion

• Would you rather celebrate at home or go on a cruise for Christmas?
• Do you think it’s fair to be the only house on the block undecorated for Christmas?

Plan a cruise

Have students practice their organisational and research skills by planning Christmas activities on a cruise ship.

Research existing activities, decide on your strategy and plan a series of activities for passengers on a 3 day cruise over the festive season. How would students organise, plan and celebrate the Christmas spirit for others?

The science behind Christmas lights

Students could learn how string lights/Christmas lights work, perhaps test it out (depending upon your cohort!), or explore how circuits work in other mechanised devices.

7) The Muppet Christmas Carol

“The Muppet Christmas Carol” tells of a rich businessman named Ebenezer Scrooge, and the journey he takes to learn about his life and the choices he’s made. He discovers that his cruel ways and selfish behaviour impacted a lot of people and embraces the Christmas spirit just in time for the day.

Discussion and activity ideas:

Areas for discussion

• In what ways can one person’s grumpy mood affect everyone around them?
• How important can one person’s actions be to others?
• Why is it important to remember those less fortunate than us, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year?

Look at the classic!

Read and discuss the text for A Christmas Carol. This could lead to a discussion of the plot, characters, theme and why it is considered a classic text.

Compare and contrast

Have students compare this version of Dickens’ tale with another version of your choice. Develop students’ analytical skills by comparing the scripts, character choices, cinematic techniques and even musical score choices!

8) The Santa Clause (1-3)

Technically not one but three movies: “The Santa Clause”, “The Santa Clause 2” and “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”.

“The Santa Clause” tells the story of a father who accidentally kills Santa and is then magically transported to the North Pole to take the place of Santa. Will he be able to learn everything he needs to in enough time to take the place of the man in the big red suit and deliver Christmas to the children of the world?

“The Santa Clause 2” tells the story of Santa who discovers that his own son has landed on the naughty list and that he must marry before Christmas eve or he will no longer be Santa. Christmas is poised to be ruined for children all over the world! Will Santa be able to find a woman he loves and save his son in time?

“The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”. This time Santa is battling the evil Jack Frost who has vowed to take over the North Pole for himself and stop Christmas for the whole world. Can Santa stop the bad guy in time?

Discussion and activity ideas:

Areas for discussion

• Why is trust such an important theme in these films? Who do you have in your life that you can really trust?
• Do you think there is any need for three different versions of this film or do you think the movie franchise is just trying to solicit more money for the franchise?

Debate!

Have students practice their debate structure and oratory skills by exploring

• I would not want to be Santa Claus.
• Jack Frost does not have a place in the Christmas story.
• This movie instils outdated cultural norms when it has Santa to marry in order to keep his position.

Origins of the figure of Santa

Learn more about Santa Claus and the reindeer, where did this tradition originate from? How does it differ around the world?

BONUS!

Bluey: Christmas Swim

Clearly not a movie but “Bluey: Christmas Swim” is definitely worth watching. 

Bluey receives a very special Christmas present from her family but when they go to their cousin’s house for lunch not everyone is treating Bluey’s special gift carefully. Can Christmas be ruined when others aren’t being careful with things that are precious to you?

Discussion and activity ideas:

Areas for discussion

• When have people treated your special things badly and how did it make you feel?
• Why is it important to respect other people’s things?
• What are some of the things that are very valuable to them? Have students think more broadly than simply objects- culture, family etc.

How is Christmas celebrated around the world?

This episode centres on Christmas in Australia but how different do Christmas traditions look around the world in different climates? Explore northern and southern Christmas traditions as well as different figures such as Befana and Pere Noel.

Reading body language

This is a really important skill that a lot of students, neurodiverse or not, are lacking so this episode can be a great way of exploring this concept from a different angle. 

Focus on Bluey’s body language changes throughout the episode and what makes it change. How do other characters respond to these changes?

You could: 

• Play body language charades with your cohort to practise these skills or 
• Bring a picture to life. Have students assume the role of characters from a freeze frame of the episode and see how many different ways they can bring the scene to life by responding differently to others’ body language, tone and speech.

Whatever way you choose to bring Christmas celebrations into your classroom ClickView is here to help lessen the load at the end of the year when you’re exhausted, your students are overly excited and you just need to get everyone through to the end of the year. Do yourself a favour and check out our range of Christmas activities.