The closer we get to a long holiday break, the more the energy changes in my middle school science classroom. Students are excited, schedules are weird, and suddenly there are assemblies, absences, concerts, and shortened days. Meanwhile, we’re somehow still expected to teach science activities before break!
So, what are we supposed to do? My favorite solution is to channel that energy instead of fighting it. These science activities help students stay engaged through hands-on learning, movement, collaboration, and a little friendly competition. Plus, you can still reinforce important science concepts without spending hours reinventing your curriculum.
The secret? You don’t have to completely change what you’re teaching. Sometimes, all it takes is a seasonal twist, a little movement, a fun challenge, or an opportunity to work with a partner.
Let’s look at some ways to channel that pre-break excitement into meaningful science learning.
1. Lean Into Seasonal Science Activities
Holiday science doesn’t have to mean fluff. In fact, seasonal activities can be a fantastic way to connect familiar holiday experiences with legitimate science concepts.
They’re also perfect for spiraling back through previously learned content while giving students something different from their usual routine.
try these thanksgiving science activities before break!
If your students are already thinking about Thanksgiving, give them some Thanksgiving science to talk about! Seasonal activities are a fun way to keep students engaged while reinforcing important science concepts.
Here are a few ideas:
Thanksgiving science stations: Give students opportunities to move around, collaborate, and explore different science concepts through short, hands-on activities.
Seasonal science challenges: Incorporate Thanksgiving-inspired predictions, observations, and problem-solving challenges.
Thanksgiving-themed science review: Add a seasonal twist to concepts you’re already teaching with fun questions and activities.
Want some activities that are ready to go? Check out my Thanksgiving Science Activities Your Students Will Gobble Up for ideas you can bring straight into your middle school science classroom.
Winter Holiday Science Activities to try in December
As we all know, the holiday excitement doesn’t stop with Thanksgiving. Before you know it, winter break is right around the corner and your students are counting down the days again.
Keep the seasonal science fun going with a few Christmas-themed activities to keep your middle schoolers learning right up until winter break.
- Winter and holiday science stations: Give students opportunities to rotate through different activities, solve problems, and collaborate with classmates.
- Science ornaments: Have students create holiday decorations featuring science concepts. They’re perfect for reviewing content while creating something you can use to decorate your classroom!
- Marshmallow science activities: Bring out the marshmallows for hands-on learning, experimentation, and a little holiday fun.
2. Make Your Holiday Decorations a Science Activity
Here’s an idea that might make your teacher heart happy.
If you’re decorating your science classroom for December anyway, you might as well put your students to work!
Instead of spending your own time after school making decorations, turn it into a science activity! My science ornaments are perfect for this. Students can create:
- Periodic table and chemistry ornaments
- Human body organ ornaments
- Rock type ornaments
- Marine organism ornaments
Students are still reviewing science content. However, they’re coloring, creating, talking, and doing something different from their typical assignments.
Once they’re finished, hang their creations around your classroom, on your tree, or across a bulletin board.
It’s a win-win! Your classroom gets festive, and students get meaningful science review.
3. Get Students Moving With Science Stations
When students are having a hard time sitting still, sometimes the best thing you can do is get them out of their seats. Science stations are a great way to break up the class period and give students something new to focus on.
Stations provide movement, collaboration, variety, and short tasks. So, students aren’t sitting through an entire class period doing the same thing.
They’re also incredibly flexible. You could use Thanksgiving science stations or Christmas science stations. But, stations certainly don’t have to be holiday-themed.
If you’re in the middle of teaching atoms, forces, cells, or Earth science, create stations for your actual unit.
I recommend keeping rotations relatively short and using established routines. Students should know where to go, what to complete, and how to transition.
4. Turn Spiral Review Into a Game
The days before break are perfect for reviewing content students have already learned.
Instead of handing out a 50-question review worksheet and wishing everyone happy holidays, let’s make it a little more interesting.
Here are a few easy review games to try:
Trashketball: Students answer science questions in teams. Correct answers earn opportunities to shoot paper balls into the trash can for bonus points.
Four Corners: Display four possible answers around the classroom. Students move to their chosen answer and defend their reasoning.
Task Card Challenge: Place science task cards around the room. Partners rotate through questions and work together to complete the challenge.
Team Whiteboard Review: Give groups mini whiteboards. Ask a question, let students discuss, and have everyone reveal their answers simultaneously.
Blooket or Kahoot: These digital games are perfect for competitive review when you want something engaging without introducing brand-new content.
5. When in Doubt, Add Food
There are very few guarantees in middle school, but I can confidently tell you that announcing, “We’re eating today!” will get their attention. And fortunately, food can be part of a meaningful science investigation.
My S’mores Science Heat Transfer Lab is one of my favorite examples. Students make s’mores using three different methods while investigating conduction, convection, and radiation.
The food isn’t just a gimmick. The preparation methods are actually part of the science. It’s seasonal enough to feel fun and different without requiring a specific holiday theme.
Plus, it’s a pretty memorable way to wrap up a heat transfer unit.
6. Give Students Choices
Sometimes, the simplest engagement strategy is giving students a little control. Middle schoolers love hearing, “You choose!”
Before a long break, try incorporating:
- Choice boards
- Must Do/May Do activities
- Different task card options
- Digital practice or paper-based activities
- Multiple ways to demonstrate understanding
You’re still providing the structure and learning expectations, but students get to choose how they approach the work.
That small change can make a surprising difference in motivation. Choice boards are also a great way to accommodate different learning needs without creating completely separate assignments.
7. Bring Out the Quick Science Challenges
Need something engaging that doesn’t require a complete lesson overhaul? Try one of these quick science challenges. You can plug whatever content you’re currently teaching into each activity.
Build It: Give students limited materials and a STEM challenge. For example, challenge them to build the strongest structure using only paper and tape.
Predict It: Show an interesting demonstration. Then, have groups predict what will happen and explain their reasoning.
Would You Rather: Science Edition: Present two science-related scenarios. Students choose their preference and defend their answer using scientific reasoning.
Draw It: Give groups a science concept and challenge them to create the clearest model or diagram possible.
Fix the Mistake: Provide an intentionally incorrect scientific explanation. Students identify the mistakes and rewrite the explanation correctly.
Science Mystery: Share observations or data and challenge students to figure out what happened.
One-Minute Challenge: Give groups 60 seconds to list everything they remember about a science topic. Then, compare answers and discuss anything missing.
These activities are quick, flexible, and surprisingly effective. Best of all, they reinforce learning without requiring you to abandon your curriculum.
Don't Feel Like Every Day Needs to Be Pinterest-Worthy
Here’s your friendly reminder from one teacher to another. You do NOT need to create seven elaborate holiday science labs just because the calendar says December.
Some days before break can absolutely look like:
- Warm-up
- Guided notes
- Partner practice
- Exit ticket
Explicit instruction still matters, even when students are extra excited. Consider making small adjustments to your usual lesson structure.
For example, try 10 minutes of instruction, a partner checkpoint, another 10 minutes of instruction, and a quick practice activity. You could also incorporate a short discussion or movement break between activities.
These little changes can make your classroom feel more engaging without creating hours of additional planning.
Make the Days Before Break Work for You
I know these last few weeks before break can feel LONG. Your students are excited, your schedule is all over the place, and your to-do list somehow keeps getting longer. You’re probably counting down the days right alongside your students.
But this time of year can also be pretty special. There’s something fun about bringing a little holiday magic into your science classroom. Maybe it’s watching students get competitive over a Christmas science challenge, seeing their science ornaments hanging on your classroom tree, or hearing them laugh while working through a hands-on activity.
So, give yourself permission to enjoy some of that fun, too.
You don’t need an elaborate lab or a Pinterest-worthy lesson every day. Pick a few activities that sound fun, turn on a little holiday music if that’s your thing, and let your students enjoy learning something new in a different way.
And when you need a day of guided notes and partner practice? That’s okay, too. We aren’t trying to win teacher of the year during the last week before winter break. We’re just trying to make the most of the time we have!
Keep that coffee close, enjoy a few of those little holiday moments with your students, and remember that break is right around the corner.
You’ve got this,
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