Classroom Party Ideas: Use Centers for a Fun and Easy Celebration

Most elementary classrooms mark holidays like Halloween and Christmas with a classroom party, which is a fun departure from the normal classroom routine for the kids. But for the teacher and parents involved in the planning, the mood can turn from celebratory to chaotic without the proper planning. (Have you ever been around 25 seven-year-olds who've just eaten sugar?) It only takes one or two students to get the class riled up, and trying to then reign in the whole group can be difficult. But instead of trying to get the entire class to move through each activity at once, consider setting up party centers instead. For this classroom party idea, as long as you have one teacher or parent to staff each center, students can break into smaller, more manageable groups and rotate stations throughout the party. This allows everyone more participation time and minimizes complete chaos.

All this school party idea requires is three basic stations: food, games, and craft or activity. You can add more depending on what type of class party you're having, but three stations timed at 20 minutes each makes for a controlled, one-hour party that everyone can handle. If you have more time, consider making the station times longer, or throw in one big group activity at the end to wrap things up like playing a group game such as "heads up, 7-up," telling a holiday-themed story, or having a small sing-along. The teacher and class parents can come up with a plan that works best for the situation, but I have used this basic format for almost a dozen classroom parties now, and the results are always fun. Plus, the kids really enjoy having more individualized time, and I've enjoyed getting to know my kids' classmates on a deeper level, too.

Food Station
This station is the most relaxed, but can also be the messiest, depending on the age of the students. It's easiest to set up one "buffet table" and have kids line up single file to come through and pick their treats. I have found that having one or two healthy options like fresh fruit and veggies and dip mixed in with snack mix, pretzels, cubed cheese, and of course a sweet treat like cupcakes or cookies assures that everyone can find something they enjoy, and the offerings don't produce too much of a sugar-high. I also prefer to provide 100% juice boxes instead of pouring juice into cups; kids can easily take one, and there are no pouring accidents and spills. You can also purchase non-refrigerated milk boxes, too, if you prefer an even healthier alternative.

This station really just requires an adult to help keep the food passed out and organized. Once kids have fixed their plates, they can sit at their tables or desks, relax, and have time to talk to one another, which is not something they get to do in the classroom on a regular basis.

For easy cleanup, make sure you set everything out on a disposable tablecloth so you can simply gather it up and toss it when you're done. Also, providing a large, outdoors trash bag makes it easy on the teacher and minimizes the food mess in the classroom afterwards. These thick, usually black, bags will contain messy foods and liquids, and they can just be tied up to await trash pickup at the end of the day without spilling things into the classroom's everyday trashcans.

Games Station
This station is always a favorite with kids, as they get to compete against their classmates in a fun way. Preparing two simple games is usually plenty for a school party; three would work well for a longer period of time. There are certainly lots of fun classroom games to choose from; I always try to coordinate my games with the season or holiday being celebrated. For Halloween, try pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, or pass-the-pumpkin (same as hot potato). For a winter holiday party, relays like dressing up in a hat, scarf, and mittens and taking them off again or carrying a "snowball" (cotton ball) on a spoon from one bucket to another get the kids really laughing and having a great time. Other classic games like musical chairs, Simon Says, or memory work well with a smaller group. I always give out prizes at the end of this station, too. Dollar store items such as pencils, stickers, bracelets, or small, teacher-approved pieces of candy are fun to hand out, and kids think they're a big deal.

Craft or Activity Station
Providing a craft or other fun activity is a nice way for kids to produce a small memento of their party or to just have fun together. Simple things like themed coloring pages or cut-and-paste can work well as an addition to those who finish with time to spare. Crafts such as picture frames, magnets, baby food jar snow globes, ornaments, or other small items are easy to find in most craft stores and can be customized to a holiday theme. If the teacher or a parent has a digital camera and portable printer, you can take digital pictures of each child, print them out, and use them in a photo craft. This is especially fun as a holiday ornament that they can take home to their parents. Kids also love crafts they can wear, such as bracelets, hats, or t-shirts. Keep it simple, and just make sure you don't plan a craft or activity that's too long to complete in the time available, as this is frustrating for kids.

Overall, this is a fun way to host a classroom party that doesn't get too overwhelming. Dealing with six to nine kids at a time is much more manageable and fun than a huge group, and everyone gets to participate. Enjoy your next school party using these classroom party center ideas; you and the kids will have a great time.

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