The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson is a novel that cannot be forgotten. I remember two of my elementary teachers reading it aloud during Christmastime and the laughter was rampant. When I became an elementary teacher and a mother, I read the book to new generations. My students and son were just as enthralled as I was by the hilarious antics of the Herdman children. Join us as we dive into Classroom Activities for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Published in 1972, this novel is classically funny and has entertained generations. The story of the Herdman kids—who bring chaos, laughter, and unexpected lessons to the town’s Christmas pageant—is a favorite among teachers and students alike. With its mix of humor, heart, lightheartedness, and important themes, it’s perfect for the holiday season.
Now, a NEW movie based on the book is being released this November, and we cannot wait! This movie will undoubtedly reawaken even more generations to this hilarious, yet heartwarming book.
Would you like to read this novel to your students? Do you want to incorporate some Christmas cheer during the crazy month of December as well? In celebration of the upcoming movie, we’ve gathered seven engaging activities that will help you bring this holiday story to life in your classroom.
#1 Character Holiday Cards
We know the month of December in the classroom can be quite crazy. Students’ focus can be as chaotic as when Claude Herdman brought his mad cat to Show and Tell. (If you know, you know.) If you need a quick, yet fun activity for the novel, students can create a holiday greeting card for a character from the book. Students can decorate the card and personalize the card’s message for that character, based on their character traits and interests. Task students with decorating multiple cards for multiple characters from the book to utilize this activity as a character analysis type project.
If you are interested in this character holiday greeting card activity (including templates), grab it in our The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Project-Based Learning Unit.
#2 Comic Scene Summary
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has some serious side-splitting and amusing scenes. Barbara Robinson does an amazing job writing in such a way that readers can easily visualize the pandemonium that’s present in the book. Take advantage of the uproarious writing, all while students practice their visualization and summarizing skills, by picking a scene or two from the novel to create a comic strip. Comics are a wonderful way to incorporate writing and dialogue practice as well. Getting to illustrate a scene through a comic is also a fun activity that will keep students engaged during the classroom chaos of the holiday season.
The comic scene summary activity is in our The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Project-Based Learning Unit.
#3 Collaborative Holiday Traditions Book Project
The narrator, Beth, describes the Christmas Pageant as a holiday family tradition for her parents to attend and for her and her brother to be a part of. This is a great opening for students to discuss their own holiday traditions. Turn that opportunity into a collaborative book as students write about their own holiday traditions and illustrate all about it. Take each student’s page and gather them into a classroom book. Then, read the book to the class and the students can learn all about their classmates’ holiday traditions. This is an engaging way to incorporate classroom community, holiday culture, and writing into one exciting project.
A full Collaborative Holiday Traditions Book Project, including a book cover, table of contents, and template pages, is in our The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Project-Based Learning Unit.
#4 STEM Fun!
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase if you can’t beat them, then join them! I definitely do that during the holiday season. I always like to embrace the madness and mayhem of December and channel that excited energy into hands-on activities. Students can complete two STEM challenges that are related to the novel.
The Herdmans take over the pageant and, despite their wild ways, end up presenting a heartfelt version of the Nativity scene. Students can complete a STEM challenge in which they design and engineer a stable that can shelter “Baby Jesus” (use a small figure or a cotton ball as a stand-in) and withstand certain environmental tests. Students get to build, test, and utilize STEM skills all while practicing the scientific method as well. They’ll have so much fun that they won’t realize they’re learning.
Another STEM idea is to have students design a candy catapult. In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Herdmans were very disruptive in school, church, and in the community. They only come to church to first get free snacks and candy. Inspired by the Herdmans, students can build a candy cane catapult, test it out in a series of challenges, and record their results. It’ll be a sweet success!
Grab both of these STEM challenges, including detailed directions, blueprints, and challenge sheets, in our unit!
#5 Character Booklet
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has a plethora of unique, diverse, and memorable characters. This is a great opportunity to dive into characterization. Students can explore character traits, actions, important things the character says, and any lessons he/she learned to analyze each of these unforgettably eccentric characters. Students can analyze the Herdman children as well as the other main characters in the novel by completing a character booklet, with each page fitting in two characters and all the important information about them. A booklet like this is a wonderful independent project for students to complete. (And it will give you a chance to take a breather, too!)
Grab our FULL Character booklet in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Project-Based Learning Unit.
#6 Put on a Play!
The major theme of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever centers around Beth, the narrator’s mother, Mrs. Bradley, putting on the church’s Christmas pageant. It’s her first year putting it on, and she must contend with the energetic and undisciplined Herdman brood. With the pageant being the cornerstone of the plot, become inspired and have students act out a scene or two from the book. Students work in groups to pick a scene from the book, write out a script, and put on a short 3-5 minute play. Students are responsible for set design and wardrobe as well. This project is just perfect for Christmas time. It’s a great way to summarize the story all while being creative and inventive. This hands-on project will engage students, especially during the topsy-turvy month of December.
Grab this full project including detailed directions, templates, graphic organizers, and a rubric in our unit!
#7 Scrapbook Diary
The book’s narrator, Beth, tells the story of the year the Herdmans participated in the church’s pageant. We learn about the Herdman antics and pandemonium through her perspective. Further dive into Beth’s point of view by creating a scrapbook diary. Students use their inferring skills and draw conclusions to further explore Beth’s perspective on various events in the book. Students incorporate visual elements, tokens, and artifacts into the diary entries to connect with this character.
Make it even more interesting and engaging by tasking students to make a scrapbook diary from another character’s point of view, such as a Herdman or Mrs. Bradley.
Grab these full Scrapbook Diary Projects in our unit!
Bonus
Did you know there is a picture book edition of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? Read it to compare and contrast the novel and help summarize what you’ve read!
“Adapted from the beloved novel of the same name, this sparkling picture-book version is perfect for younger children. They will delight in the antics of the terrible Herdmans, who surprise everyone when they capture the true meaning of Christmas.”
Can’t wait for Christmas to get in on the Herdman fun? Join the Herdmans for Halloween hilarity in The Best Halloween Ever!
“The Herdmans plus Halloween have always spelled disaster. Every Halloween, the six Herdman kids steal candy, spray-paint other kids, and take everything that isn’t nailed down. And this year promises to be the same, until the Mayor decides to up and cancel Halloween. True, that means there’d be no Herdman trouble to contend with, but that also means no candy, no costumes, and no trick-or-treating! Is it possible that the Herdmans themselves could make what looks like a horrible Halloween into the best one ever?”
Grab yours now in time for Halloween!
Conclusion
Incorporating The Best Christmas Pageant Ever into your classroom is not only a fantastic way to bring holiday cheer, but it also offers rich opportunities for creative learning. From character analysis to STEM challenges, these activities will captivate your students and keep them engaged during the busy month of December. Whether your students are crafting holiday cards, designing candy catapults, or acting out scenes from the novel, these hands-on projects will make learning both memorable and fun. With the exciting release of the movie this November, now is the perfect time to dive into this timeless classic and create lasting holiday memories with your students!
