Complete Guide to Organizing Secret Santa in the Classroom
Secret Santa is a fun way to exchange Christmas presents with a twist. Each player gets a personalized gift and the joy of giving and anticipation. Learn how to organize the Secret Santa game for students of all ages and make sure that everyone gets a present.
Secret Santa game is suitable for students of all ages because it is easy to organize and joyful for all participants. It is a great way to celebrate the holiday season with peers and make new friends.
With a little preparation, you can organize the Secret Santa exchange in your classroom. The game is simple even for elementary students. In today’s guide, we will show you how to play Secret Santa step by step and how to make sure everyone gets an amazing present.
What is Secret Santa and How to Play?
Secret Santa is a beloved gift exchange tradition. People exchange presents in the office, at home, with online friends, and at school. Here is how to play at school: players draw names and prepare a present for one person in the class. And, because the game is called Secret Santa, you shouldn’t tell anyone to whom you are giving a gift.
On the exchange day, players open gifts and guess who their Secret Santa is. To make guessing more fun, students often add add clues and riddles. The exchange eventually leads to laughter and fun and is great for bonding with your classmates.
Classroom Secret Santa Rules: A Step-by-Step Guide
Traditional Secret Santa game has simple rules. A teacher or one of the students suggests exchanging Christmas presents and if most students are in, the game begins. Here is how to play Secret Santa at school:
1. Draw names
The game starts with drawing names to decide who gives a present to whom. You can ask students to write their names on paper and draw names from hat, or use a quick online generator. The advantages of the online generator is that you can save the results of the draw in case some students forget to whom they should buy a gift.
2. Set Secret Santa rules
For a smooth gift exchange, set rules and determine what gifts students should and shouldn't bring. Set the price limit for gifts ($5 is a good budget) and encourage everyone to bring age-appropriate gifts. Set a gift-giving date and location.
3. Share gift ideas
Have each student write 2-3 gift suggestions and what not to give them. Thus, it will be easier for students to pick gifts for their classmates. You can set the gift theme (such as books, fun stationery, or handmade items) to make the exchange more exciting.
4. Track progress
Encourage students to bring presents in advance so that everyone in the classroom gets a Christmas present. Participants bring their presents with a recipient's name on them in advance, and the teacher keeps gifts until the exchange day.
5. Exchange gifts
The teacher puts all gifts under the Christmas tree or on a desk. Each student comes to the desk, picks the present, and guesses their Secret Santa (it is not always easy!). It is often accompanied by laughter, fun, and some students can make new friends.
How to draw names at school?
The classroom Secret Santa starts with drawing names. There are three ways to draw names for a festive gift exchange:
- In-person using a hat
- Using a quick online generator
- Using a Secret Santa app.
Drawing names from a hat
This is the classical way to play Secret Santa at school. Students write their names on pieces of paper along with gift suggestions (books, sweets, toys, etc.). Then, everyone draw names from the hat or a Christmas stockings. Each student is responsible for bringing a present for a classmate whose name they have drawn.
This method has its drawbacks. A student can lose the piece of paper and forget to whom they should bring a present. To avoid this, a teacher or one of the students can write down who gives a present to whom and remind to bring a present in advance.
Using a quick online generator
Does drawing names from a box sound too old-fashioned? Then, try the techie way to draw names. This way is perfect for small groups of students (up to 9 people) or when not everyone in your class wants to participate:
- Gather your classmates together, create a new game on the site and click “Quick Draw”
- Enter everyone’s names and start the draw.
- Each player takes the phone in turn and finds out for whom they will need to bring a gift. Then, they click “Next player” and pass on the phone.
- After the draw, all students get an email with the name of their giftee, so that they don’t forget anything.
Using the Secret Santa app
If the whole class is playing Secret Santa, it is best to use an online generator to keep track of everything, share gift ideas, and chat secretly. You can invite students to the game with a special link or QR code. When everyone joins, draw names to see who gives a present to whom. Here are some features that will help you organize a seamless gift exchange this year:
- Unlimited players. Invite as many students to the game - our generator keeps everything organized.
- Set exceptions. If some students don't like each other, set exceptions and they will not give presents to each other. Keep the holiday atmosphere positive.
- Add gift ideas. Each student can write what items they’d like to get from their Santa and what not to give them.
- Track progress. The teacher or the student who has organized the game can track gift progress. You will see who gets gifts for whom, and send reminders to students who hasn't bring their gifts yet.
- Secret chats. All players can chat with their Secret Santa anonymously, which boosts the excitement and anticipation.
And the best part: our online organizer is FREE for students and educators!
Please contact our support team on chat or write us at [email protected]. Verify your student or teacher status, and organize Secret Santa at school using our generator for free.
How to play Secret Santa with a twist?
There are more fun ways to organize a gift exchange with your peers. Here are some fun classroom Secret Santa themes:
White elephant
In this version of the popular game, students bring non-personalized gifts of the same value (say, $5). Bring wrapped gifts that most of your classmates will like. Each player opens a gift and can either keep it or “steal” the gift that the other student has opened.
Be careful when organizing White Elephant for younger students. It is competitive and fun, but “stealing” gifts can hurt someone’s feelings.
Pass the present
Students sit in a circle and pass the present to each other while the music plays. When the music stops, whoever holds the present keeps it and is out of the circle. The game ends when everyone has a present.
Secret Santa with riddles
Each player brings a gift with a note that has clues or riddles. These riddles should have hints about the Secret Santa identity. And, if the giftee cannot guess their Santa after a few attempts, you can use a funny punishment. For example, they can act like a chicken, sing a song, or impersonate someone.
Secret Santa creative themes
To spark creativity in students and make participation in the exchange more interesting, set the theme for the gift exchange. If you choose the Harry Potter theme, all players should bring gifts related to this film series. Set the theme that suits the interests of your peers and allows for creative gifts within budget.
Fun Secret Santa themes at school
- Things You Can't Buy (homemade gifts, experiences, or activities)
- 80's or 90's Nostalgia
- Around the World (everyone brings gifts representing one of the world's cultures)
- Christmas-themed Gifts (Christmas-themed sweaters, socks, T-shirts, or stationery)
- Fiction Book Exchange
- Fun and Practical Gifts (gel pens, notebooks, highlighters, stickers, etc.)
- Personalized Mugs
- Gifts that start with a T letter
What to Give to Your Classmate for Secret Santa?
After drawing someone’s name, each Secret Santa wonders what to give their classmate. You can choose a theme for a gift exchange, for example, everyone brings sweets, school supplies, or homemade presents.
Think about what your classmate likes, their hobbies and interests. If you don’t know them well, use an anonymous chat in our MySanta app. You can talk to your giftee without revealing who you are and know them better. Take a look at their wishlist to choose a present that your classmate will enjoy.
Keep the gift budget in mind. Usually, the gift budget for classmates is around $5. If you are still puzzled, take a look at a few ideas below.
Gift ideas for classmates
Usually, students give books, sweet treats, school supplies, or homemade gifts for Christmas. Set the gift budget (usually, around $5) to keep the exchange equal. Or, encourage the students to exchange unique homemade gifts: crackers, Christmas cards, craft gifts, and personalized Christmas ornaments. Here are some gift ideas for classmates:
| Gift ideas for children | Gift ideas for teens |
|---|---|
| Bon-bons | Funny phone charger |
| Christmas crackers | Trendy mascara |
| Candy cane lip balm | Hot cocoa mug |
| Christmas slime | Scented hand sanitizer |
| Temporary tattoos | Phone holder |
| Animal notebook | Jade roller |
| Colored pens | Carmex lip balm |
| Funny pencil sharpener | Cardholder |
| Marvel Band-Aid | Scented bath salt |
| Board game | Leather bracelet |
When choosing the present, think about your classmate’s hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Think about the activities they enjoy, their favorite movies, books, and more. If you don’t know much about the classmate whose name you have drawn, use a secret chat in our online game to learn more about their wishes.
Creative Ways to Reveal Secret Santa
Revealing a Secret Santa at school is the most important part of the fun! Here are some ways to make guessing a Secret Santa more engaging and interactive:
The clue game
Each student attaches a note with a clue about their identity to the gift. It might be a funny anecdote, an inside joke or a rhymed riddle. The giftee reads the note and guesses from whom the gift might be.
The trivia challenge
Add the element of trivia to your classroom gift exchange! Each student takes the gift and answers a trivia question before opening it. If they answer it right, they get a small reward, such as candy or a small fun gift. If the answer is wrong, a small punishment is applied - the student can be asked to do a silly dance, sing, or pretend to be a cat.
The gift tree
Each Secret Santa writes their name and the name of the person who they gave a gift to on paper, and hangs it on the tree. During the reveal, students open gifts and look for their ornament on the tree to find out their Secret Santa.
Printable Secret Santa Rules for the Classroom
Print these Secret Santa rules and put them in the classroom where all students will see them:
Important Tips For A Smooth Secret Santa Exchange
Have a backup
Even if you prepare thoroughly, unpleasant situations can happen. Some students can forget their gifts at home or get sick before the holidays. The game organizer should prepare a few spare presents just in case so that nobody is left without a present. Books, school supplies, or puzzles will work great.
Explain the rules to everyone
Make sure that everyone in your class knows how to play Secret Santa. Discuss the budget, the date when everyone should bring gifts to school, and what to give. Explain what gifts to avoid (such as personal presents or too expensive gifts). Everyone should keep their giftee’s name secret – if someone spills the beans, it can spoil the surprise.
Set the gift budget
Usually, students exchange gifts worth $5 or around that amount. Make sure that all students are comfortable with this budget. Or, you can exchange gifts that all students make at home.
Gift for students under $5
- Custom ceramic mug
- Stress ball
- Phone holder
- Pens or notepads
- Keychain
- Lip balm
- Bookmarks
- LED light glasses
Don’t force anyone to participate
If some students don’t want to join the exchange, don’t force them to play. Participation in Secret Santa must be voluntary. Maybe, they will want to join the festivities next year.
Keep track of everything
When organizing Secret Santa at school, especially with young students, it is important to monitor who gives a present to whom. Students can forget their giftee’s name, and a teacher can remind them. Or, organize the game using the MySanta generator. It shows the Secret Santas of all students, lets you chat with your Santa anonymously, and the game organizer will see who bought presents and who hasn’t.
FAQs
What to do if a student forgets to bring a gift?
Younger students sometimes forget to bring their present in time. In this situation, it is best to have a few extra small gifts so that nobody feels left out. Ask the student who forgot their gift to bring it the next day, or suggest the alternative like a handmade card that they can do in class. Keep the positive spirit of the Christmas celebration and handle the situation with empathy.
Can you play Secret Santa without physical gifts?
Yes! You can organize the game focusing on experiences and acts of kindness over physical gifts. Students can exchange handmade presents and cards, write compliments, or do something nice for their assigned person. Such an approach promotes the importance of giving and makes the event truly special.
What are budget-friendly Secret Santa ideas for students?
Not every family is willing to spend much money on gifts, so set the gift budget that is affordable for everyone (say, $2 or $5). Budget-friendly Secret Santa ideas for students include DIY gifts, food and drinks, and school supplies such as bookmarks, stickers, keychains, or dollar store finds. Encourage students to focus on simple yet thoughtful gifts that align with their classmate's interests.
How to manage Secret Santa for different age groups in the classroom?
Make sure to tailor the Secret Santa rules and gifts to the age group of students. For younger students, organize a simple gift exchange with small toys or simple crafts. Older students might exchange more personalized gifts and add various themes and fun activities. Provide clear instructions and make sure that everyone in your class knows the rules.
Can you do Secret Santa with uneven number of players?
You can organize a classroom Secret Santa with an even or odd number of players. Think about it as a circle where each player gives a present to a classmate sitting on the right hand.
How do you keep Secret Santa anonymous in a classroom?
Younger students sometimes have a hard time keeping their giftee's name secret. To avoid this, you can assign each student a number and have them draw numbers rather than names. On the exchange day, all Secret Santas are revealed. Another way is to allow each student to share their secret with someone they are not giving a present to.
How do you ensure everyone feels included in Secret Santa?
If some students opt out of the exchange, they can contribute to the festivities anyway. Ask them to help organize the event, plan fun games and activities, and assist with decorations. Creating an environment where all students feel valued is important for a seamless Christmas celebration at school.
Playing Secret Santa at school creates the holiday spirit for everyone and helps bond the classmates. All students will enjoy the gift-giving and receive nice little presents for Christmas. To organize a seamless gift exchange, encourage everyone to keep things secret (it is literally the name of the game!) and keep track of who gives a present to whom.
