The Twelve Days of Christmas – Fun Learning Activities for a Christmas Countdown

Hi friends!

Welcome back to our Christmas countdown series here on Printables by Janille – Teaching Fun for Kids! So far, we’ve explored Silent Night, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Silver Bells, Away in a Manger, Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bell Rock, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Today, we’re diving into the classic English carol: The Twelve Days of Christmas! I’ve included crafts, reading lessons, and math activities for Preschool through 6th grade.

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The History of The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a traditional English carol first published in 1780 in a children’s book titled Mirth without Mischief. Its origins likely trace back even earlier, with roots in French and English folk traditions that used cumulative songs to teach memory and counting skills.

The song enumerates a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas, beginning with a partridge in a pear tree. The “twelve days” referenced correspond to the period from Christmas Day (December 25) to Epiphany (January 5–6), a time historically celebrated with feasts, music, and gift-giving in England.

Some interpretations suggest that the song also served as a coded catechism during times when Catholicism was suppressed in England, with each gift symbolizing a Christian teaching. Its cumulative, repetitive structure has made it a beloved teaching tool for children, helping them learn counting, sequencing, and memory skills while enjoying the festive story of holiday generosity.

Today, The Twelve Days of Christmas remains a popular carol worldwide, celebrated for its playful rhythm, imaginative gifts, and the joy of counting up to twelve in a fun, musical way.

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Craft: Twelve Days Gift Garland

Materials Needed:

• Construction paper in various colors

• Scissors

• Glue or tape

• String or yarn

• Markers or crayons

Instructions:

1. Cut 12 rectangles or shapes to represent gifts.

2. Decorate each “gift” with markers, crayons, or stickers.

3. Write the corresponding day and gift name on each rectangle (e.g., “1 Partridge in a Pear Tree”).

4. Attach all 12 gifts to a string to make a garland.

5. Hang it across a doorway or wall as a festive display.

Worksheet/Visual Idea:

• Provide a printable template for all 12 gifts with dotted lines to trace the words.

• Include spaces for children to color and decorate each gift.

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Reading & Literacy Lessons

Preschool:

• Trace numbers 1–12 and the word “Christmas.”

• Practice singing “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me” slowly.

Kindergarten:

• Sight words: “first,” “second,” “gift,” “Christmas.” Highlight them on a lyric sheet.

• Read aloud: “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.”

1st Grade:

• Phonics focus: Identify “t” in twelve and “g” in gift.

• Write the first two lines neatly on lined paper.

2nd Grade:

• Vocabulary: Define “partridge” and “drummer,” and use each in a sentence.

• Draw a picture of your favorite gift from the song.

3rd Grade:

• Sequencing: Cut out the lines and put all 12 days in order.

• Writing prompt: “Write 3–4 sentences about your favorite holiday gift you’ve received.”

4th Grade:

• Poetry study: Identify repeated patterns and rhyme scheme.

• Rewrite one stanza in your own words while keeping the meaning.

5th Grade:

• Analyze imagery: How do the gifts create excitement and a sense of celebration? Write a paragraph.

• Compare this song to another cumulative song or poem in 2–3 sentences.

6th Grade:

• Cultural discussion: Discuss why cumulative songs help with memory and math learning.

• Journal prompt: Create your own “Twelve Days of…” song with imaginative gifts.

Visual/Worksheet Ideas:

• Tracing sheets for Preschool/1st grade

• Lyric sheet with highlighted sight words for Kindergarten

• Sequencing cards and writing prompts for 2nd–6th grades

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Math Lessons – The Twelve Days of Christmas

Preschool (Counting and One-to-One Correspondence)

1. Count 1–5 gifts on the garland.

2. Count 6–10 gifts.

3. Point to 3 gifts and count them.

4. How many gifts are red?

5. How many gifts are green?

6. Clap for each gift you see (1–5).

7. Touch each gift and count aloud.

8. Count 5 gifts in a row.

9. Add 2 more gifts. How many now?

10. Draw 4 gifts and count them.

Kindergarten (Sorting and Tallying)

1. Sort 12 gifts into 3 colors. How many of each?

2. Tally the number of red gifts.

3. Tally the number of green gifts.

4. Draw 3 groups of gifts and count each group.

5. Count how many gifts are decorated.

6. Count how many gifts are plain.

7. Add the decorated and plain gifts together.

8. Circle all red gifts and count them.

9. Draw 2 more gifts and count the total.

10. Color 5 gifts and leave the rest blank.

1st Grade (Addition & Subtraction)

1. 1 + 2 = ___

2. 3 + 4 = ___

3. 5 + 6 = ___

4. 7 + 3 = ___

5. 8 + 2 = ___

6. 10 – 3 = ___

7. 9 – 5 = ___

8. 6 – 2 = ___

9. 12 – 4 = ___

10. 11 – 6 = ___

2nd Grade (Addition, Subtraction, Word Problems)

1. 12 + 3 = ___

2. 15 – 7 = ___

3. 10 gifts on the first day, 2 more added. How many now?

4. 8 + 6 = ___

5. 14 – 9 = ___

6. 7 + 7 = ___

7. 13 – 4 = ___

8. There are 16 gifts, 5 are red. How many are green?

9. 9 + 8 = ___

10. 20 – 6 = ___

3rd Grade (Multiplication & Introduction to Division)

1. 3 × 6 = ___

2. 4 × 5 = ___

3. 6 × 2 = ___

4. 7 × 3 = ___

5. 8 × 2 = ___

6. 12 ÷ 4 = ___

7. 15 ÷ 3 = ___

8. 18 ÷ 6 = ___

9. 9 × 2 = ___

10. 5 × 5 = ___

4th Grade (Division, Multi-Step Word Problems)

1. 24 ÷ 4 = ___

2. 36 ÷ 6 = ___

3. 18 ÷ 3 = ___

4. 48 ÷ 8 = ___

5. 30 ÷ 5 = ___

6. There are 36 gifts for 6 garlands. How many per garland?

7. If 5 gifts fall from 30, how many remain?

8. 60 ÷ 10 = ___

9. A garland has 24 gifts divided into 4 rows. How many per row?

10. 72 ÷ 8 = ___

5th Grade (Word Problems & Multiplication)

1. Each gift has 3 bows. 8 gifts = ___ bows

2. 5 gifts × 4 bows each = ___

3. 7 gifts × 6 bows each = ___

4. 9 gifts × 2 bows each = ___

5. If 12 gifts have 5 bows each, total bows = ___

6. 3 groups of 7 gifts = ___

7. 4 groups of 6 bows = ___

8. There are 10 gifts × 3 bows each = ___

9. 8 gifts × 7 bows each = ___

10. 15 gifts × 2 bows each = ___

6th Grade (Fractions, Ratios, Multi-Step Problems)

1. 12 gifts: 3 red, 9 green. Fraction red = ___

2. Ratio red:green = ___

3. 18 gifts: 6 gold, 12 silver. Fraction gold = ___

4. 24 gifts: 8 gold, rest silver. Ratio gold:silver = ___

5. If 3/12 gifts are red, how many are green?

6. 1/4 of 16 gifts = ___

7. 2/3 of 18 gifts = ___

8. If 5 red gifts are added to 10 green, new ratio = ___

9. 12 ÷ 3 = ___ (fraction interpretation)

10. There are 15 gifts, 5 red, 10 green. What fraction are green?

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Wrapping Up

I hope your kids enjoy crafting, reading, and counting along with The Twelve Days of Christmas! Each week in our Christmas countdown series, we’re making learning hands-on, festive, and fun. Stay tuned for the next post, where we’ll explore another classic Christmas carol with activities for every grade!