This is a fun Christmas trivia quiz for the last day of term. Bring prizes for the winning team.
Split the class into small groups and get them to come up with a festive team name. There are two rounds, the first is the picture round. Show the pictures in the picture round handout, students have to name the items they see.
The second round is the trivia round. Read out the questions below one at a time, students write their answers on a piece of paper. You can download the list of questions here. Christmas Trivia Quiz
Trivia Round
What are the names of these dates? 24th + 25th, 31st of December, 1st of January. Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Year’s eve, New year’s day.
What do people traditionally do under the mistletoe plant? Kiss
Where do children hang their stockings on Christmas Eve? Next to the fireplace.
Which English author wrote the book ‘A Christmas Carol’? Charles Dickens
In Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol, how many ghosts visited Ebeneezer Scrooge? Extra points for their names. 4 Jacob Marley, Ghosts of Xmas past, present and yet to come.
Name 2 of Father Christmas’ reindeer apart from Rudolph. Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen, Alternative question: Which of these names is NOT one of Father Christmas’ Reindeer? Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Chaser, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen
The character Jack Skellington appears in which 1993 Tim Burton film? The Nightmare before Christmas
What are the names of the three wise men said to have brought gifts to the baby Jesus? Balthasar, Melchior, Caspar (or Gaspar – Interestingly the Bible does not states state their names, nor even the number of wise men: “…there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem… and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh…” from Matthew 2:1 and 2:11. Thanks A Russell.)
What is New Year’s Eve called in Scotland? Christenmouse, Hogmanay, pigmany
In which modern country is St Nicholas’s birthplace and hometown? Turkey (St Nicholas, bishop ‘Nikolaos of Myra’, 270-343AD, was born a Greek, i.e., of Greek parents in Patara, Lycia. He lived in and was bishop of Myra, Lycia. Patara and nearby Myra, in Lycia, or fully Lycia et Pamphylia, were then technically provincial territory of the Roman Empire with no specific country name. Patara became ruins centuries ago. Where the ancient town of Myra stood, now stands the Turkish town/district of Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey)
From which country does the poinsettia plant originate? Mexico
How many points does a snowflake have? Six
What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas? Panettone
Which country does the tradition of Christmas trees come from? Germany
What do people in England do at 3pm on Christmas day? Listen to the Queen’s speech.
Name 3/5 traditional English Xmas dinner ingredients. Turkey, potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts, sweet potato, parsnip, broccoli, cauliflower, sausages with bacon.
What 3 things do children leave next to the chimney for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve? A drink, some food, carrots for the reindeer.
This is a topical lesson plan for the festive season based on comparisons between a traditional British Christmas and Christmas celebrations in the student’s countries.
Brainstorm Xmas traditions in (the country you’re teaching in) in small groups.
Feedback traditions and put on board.
In pairs or small groups students discuss the following:
How many of these traditions do you follow?
Describe and compare your normal Christmas with your partner.
What do you do on Christmas eve? Christmas day? Boxing day? Kings Day?
If you have children what traditions do you follow? Father Christmas? Caga Tio (a Catalan Xmas tradition)?
When do you give presents?
What do you give?
What did you used to do when you were a child?
Do you still follow the same traditions your parents did?
Who in your family is the most difficult to buy presents for? Who is the easiest?
How have other cultures influenced Christmas celebrations in your country?
Debate:
Christmas is too commercial.
But the statement above on the board, split the class into two teams and assign “for” or “against” to each team. They then have 5 minutes to brainstorm their arguments. Then give them 5-10 minutes to debate the topic. Debate structure should be:
2 minutes for each team to present their argument, the other team mustn’t interrupt, they should make notes ready for the 2nd phase.
2nd phase 5 minutes open debate. Students attack the oppositions arguments and try to defend their own.
1 minute each for a closing statement. Why each team thinks they have won the debate.
Teacher decides which team wins, but as it’s Christmas a draw is probably the fairest result!
British Christmas
Ask students to brainstorm a British Christmas.
Tell students that they are going to watch a presentation about Christmas in England. They have to watch and try to memorise as much as possible.
Show presentation “Christmas in England”
In groups students try to remember as much as they can, in the correct order.
Cracker Jokes
If students hadn’t heard of them before the presentation will have introduced them to Christmas Crackers. Hand out copies of the cracker jokes and have the students tell them to each other. They will get some fairly easily but some might need a little explaining.