How to play Christmas bingo in class
Save it for the last day before winter break: a 15-minute game that calms a room after a busy morning. The picture squares let PreK–2 students play on their own, and the winter set means nobody has to sit out.
- Choose the set for your roomUse the Christmas pictures for PreK–2, the clue words for grades 3–5, or the winter set if your class celebrates different holidays, or none. All three have 30 or more words, enough for 5×5 cards.
- Print with the caller's sheetPrint one card per student and a few spares. Every card in the batch is different. Keep the caller's sheet on a clipboard so you can tick each word as you call it.
- Call, pause, showRead the square ("snowman"), pause, and say it again. For non-readers, point to the picture on your sheet. For grades 3–5, read the clue from the table instead and let them work out the word.
- Check the winning lineA full row, column or diagonal is a bingo. The winner reads the line back and you match each word against the ticks on your caller's sheet. With 25 players on 5×5 cards, the first bingo usually comes after about 10 calls.
- Play a pattern roundAfter the first line, call a pattern: four corners, an X, a picture frame or a full card. Players keep their marks, so the second round starts halfway done.
Use paper markers, not candy
Mini marshmallows and candies get eaten mid-game and can be a problem for students with food allergies. Paper squares, crayons or dry-erase markers on cards in sheet protectors work better, and the cards stay clean for next year.
Christmas and winter bingo words, with clues
Every square has a one-line clue or fact. The picture sets put an emoji before each word for pre-readers; the clue words are for readers. The winter set has no holiday words, so a class that celebrates many holidays, or none, can play it.
| Square | Clue or fact |
|---|---|
| 🎄 Tree | An evergreen hung with lights and ornaments. |
| 🎅 Santa | The jolly gift-giver in a red suit. |
| 🤶 Mrs. Claus | In the stories, she runs the kitchen at the North Pole. |
| 🧝 Elf | A little helper who builds toys in the stories. |
| 🦌 Reindeer | A deer with big antlers that lives in cold northern lands. |
| 🛷 Sleigh | A sled pulled across the snow. |
| 🎁 Present | A gift wrapped in paper. |
| 🎀 Bow | A ribbon tied in loops on top of a gift. |
| 🧦 Stocking | A big sock hung up for small treats. |
| ⭐ Star | It shines at the very top of the tree. |
| 🔔 Bell | Ring it: jingle, jingle! |
| 🍪 Cookie | Cut out shapes, bake them, then decorate. |
| 🥛 Milk | A cold glass to go with the cookies. |
| 🍬 Candy | A sweet treat in shiny paper. |
| ☕ Cocoa | Hot chocolate, sometimes with marshmallows on top. |
| ⛄ Snowman | Roll three snowballs and stack them up. |
| ❄️ Snowflake | Look closely: every one has six sides. |
| 🧣 Scarf | A long, warm wrap for your neck. |
| 🧤 Mittens | Warm covers for your hands, with a spot for the thumb. |
| 🎶 Songs | Sing a favorite holiday song together. |
| ✉️ Letter | Write one to a friend, or to Santa. |
| 🧸 Teddy bear | A soft, cuddly toy bear. |
| 🚂 Toy train | It chugs around a track under the tree. |
| 🥁 Drum | A toy you tap with sticks: boom, boom! |
| 🪀 Yo-yo | A spinning toy that rolls down and back up a string. |
| 💡 Lights | Strings of little bulbs that glow at night. |
| 🧩 Puzzle | Fit the pieces together on a snowy afternoon. |
| 📮 Mailbox | Drop your holiday cards in here. |
| 🍫 Chocolate | A sweet treat that sometimes turns up in a stocking. |
| 📚 Storybook | A holiday story to read by the tree. |
| Square | Clue or fact |
|---|---|
| Ornament | A small decoration that hangs from a tree branch. |
| Wreath | A ring of evergreen branches hung on a door. |
| Garland | A long rope of greenery or paper chains draped along a wall or tree. |
| Tinsel | Thin, shiny strips that sparkle on a tree. |
| Stocking | A big sock hung up and filled with small treats. |
| Chimney | The passage above a fireplace that Santa slides down in the stories. |
| Reindeer | Animals that pull Santa's sleigh in the stories; real ones live in the far north. |
| Sleigh | A large sled pulled by animals. |
| North Pole | The top of the Earth, where Santa lives in the stories. |
| Workshop | Where the elves build toys in the stories. |
| Elf | One of Santa's small helpers. |
| Gingerbread | A spiced cookie or cake baked into people and houses. |
| Candy cane | A striped, hook-shaped peppermint candy. |
| Poinsettia | A plant with bright red leaves, first grown in Mexico. |
| Holly | Shiny, prickly leaves with red berries. |
| Evergreen | A tree that stays green all winter. |
| Pinecone | The woody cone that holds a pine tree's seeds. |
| Snow globe | A glass ball with a tiny scene inside; shake it to make it snow. |
| Nutcracker | A wooden soldier that cracks nuts, and a famous ballet. |
| Carolers | People who go door to door singing holiday songs. |
| Jingle bells | Little round bells that ring on a sleigh. |
| Wrapping paper | Colorful paper folded around a gift. |
| Ribbon | A long, thin strip of fabric tied around a present. |
| Gift tag | A small label that says who a present is for. |
| Hot cocoa | A warm chocolate drink, often with marshmallows. |
| Sugar cookie | A plain, sweet cookie cut into shapes and decorated. |
| Fireplace | Where the stockings hang in many stories and pictures. |
| December | The month Christmas is in: on the 25th. |
| String lights | Strands of tiny bulbs wrapped around trees and windows. |
| Santa Claus | The gift-giver in the red suit who rides a sleigh. |
| Snowman | Three stacked snowballs with a carrot nose. |
| Mittens | Winter gloves with no separate fingers, except the thumb. |
| Square | Clue or fact |
|---|---|
| ⛄ Snowman | Slightly wet snow packs best for building one. |
| ❄️ Snowflake | Every snowflake has six sides or six points. |
| 🌨️ Snowfall | Snow forms when water in cold clouds freezes into ice crystals. |
| 🧊 Ice | Water freezes into ice at 32 °F (0 °C). |
| 🧣 Scarf | Wrap it over your nose and mouth on a windy day. |
| 🧤 Mittens | Fingers together stay warmer than fingers apart. |
| 🧥 Coat | A puffy coat traps warm air close to you. |
| 🥾 Boots | Waterproof boots keep your feet dry in slush. |
| 🧦 Warm socks | Wool socks stay warm even when they get damp. |
| ☕ Hot cocoa | A warm drink after playing in the snow. |
| 🍲 Soup | A hot lunch for a freezing day. |
| 🛷 Sled | Slide down a snowy hill. |
| ⛸️ Ice skates | Thin metal blades let you glide across the ice. |
| 🎿 Skis | Long, flat runners for sliding over snow. |
| 🏂 Snowboard | One wide board with both feet strapped on. |
| 🏒 Hockey stick | Used to pass and shoot a puck on the ice. |
| 🐧 Penguin | A bird that swims but can't fly; most live in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| 🥶 Cold | Brr! Shivering is how your body warms itself up. |
| 🐻 Hibernate | Bears spend much of the winter in a deep sleep in their dens. |
| 🦉 Owl | Snowy owls have feathers right down to their toes. |
| 🦊 Fox | A fox wraps its bushy tail around itself to keep warm. |
| 🦌 Deer | Deer grow a thick winter coat of hollow hairs that hold in heat. |
| 🐺 Wolf | Wolves travel and hunt in packs through the snow. |
| 🐇 Snowshoe hare | Its fur turns from brown to white for winter. |
| 🌲 Pine tree | Its waxy needles help it stay green through the cold. |
| 🏔️ Mountain | Snow stays longest on high mountaintops. |
| 🌬️ Wind | Wind makes cold air feel even colder: that's wind chill. |
| ☁️ Cloud | Gray winter clouds can bring snow or sleet. |
| 🌡️ Thermometer | It tells you how cold it is outside. |
| 🌙 Long night | The longest night of the year comes around December 21. |
| ⭐ Starry sky | Long winter nights mean more time to see the stars. |
| 🧩 Puzzle | A good indoor activity for a snow day. |
8 ways to use Christmas bingo
Winter bingo for inclusive classrooms
Snowflakes, mittens, penguins and hot cocoa, with no holiday words. Call it winter bingo in your plans, and it works any week from December to February.
Picture cards for PreK–2
Print 3×3 or 4×4 cards from the picture set. Every square shows the emoji first, so children who can't read yet find the reindeer by its picture and hear the word as you call it.
Clue round for grades 3–5
Read only the clue ("a ring of evergreen branches hung on a door") and let students work out the word before they mark it. Pause long enough for everyone, not just the fastest readers.
One station at the class party
Run bingo at one table while other groups rotate through a craft and a game, about 10 minutes each. A parent volunteer can call from the caller's sheet.
Spin a party gameSnow-day science
The winter set's notes are real facts: why mittens beat gloves, how a snowshoe hare changes color. After each call, read the fact and ask one student to explain it in their own words.
First pick in the gift swap
If your class or staff runs a gift exchange, bingo winners choose their place in the order. It turns a short game into the start of the swap.
Open the gift exchange wheelOffice or family party
Adults enjoy the clue round too. Read the clues quickly, play to a full card, and give the winner first pick from the cookie plate.
Add your class's own words
Put in names from your winter read-alouds or this week's spelling words, or start a list from scratch in the bingo card generator.
Make cards from your wordsChristmas bingo: frequently asked questions
What words go on Christmas bingo cards?
The classic squares are symbols most children know: tree, Santa, reindeer, stocking, star, bell, snowman, candy cane, cookie and present. For pre-readers, pair each word with a picture so they can play without help. Older students can handle words like poinsettia, nutcracker and garland. A 5×5 card needs 24 words plus the free space, and 30 or more make the cards less alike.
How do I run Christmas bingo when some students don't celebrate Christmas?
Use the winter set. It has 32 picture squares, such as snowflakes, mittens, penguins, sleds and hot cocoa, and no holiday words, so it works in any classroom from December to February. If you'd like to include several holidays, ask families first and add the words they suggest, rather than guessing at traditions that aren't yours.
What are good Christmas bingo patterns?
Start with a single line: a row, a column or a diagonal. Then try four corners, an X (both diagonals), a plus sign (the middle row and middle column), a picture frame (every edge square) or a full card, often called blackout. Announce the pattern before the first call. Patterns that pass through the free space, like the X and the plus, finish faster.
How long does a game of Christmas bingo take?
With a class of 25 on 5×5 cards and about 30 words, the first bingo usually comes after about 10 calls, so a single-line round takes 5–10 minutes at a calm pace. A full-card round takes most of the list. On 3×3 cards the first bingo often comes within 4 or 5 calls, so with little ones, keep calling until most children have won.
What prizes work for Christmas bingo in class?
Small privileges work as well as things: first in line, choosing the read-aloud, a special seat, calling the next round or a homework pass if your school allows it. If you hand out treats, check allergy plans first. Many teachers let every student pick a sticker at the end so no one leaves empty-handed.
Can I print Christmas bingo cards with my own words?
Yes. Edit the words in the card maker on this page: add your own, remove any you don't want, or switch to another set. Short words print biggest. For a 5×5 card, keep at least 24 words, plus the free space. The PDF is made in your browser, so the words aren't uploaded, and you don't need an account.
How the cards are made
Each card's squares are shuffled with your browser's cryptographic random number generator (Web Crypto), so every card in a batch is different and no card is favored. With 30 words in this set, a 5×5 card uses 24 of them plus the free space.
The PDF is built on your device. Your words are never uploaded, and the calling list comes with the cards so you can check a winner in seconds.
- Generator
- Web Crypto (
crypto.getRandomValues), in your browser - Cards
- Every card in a batch is different
- Made on your device, never uploaded
- Your list
- Stays in this browser unless you share or save it