Student Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank

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Each year I like to give my students a little something before sending them off for winter break. This year especially, I am searching for Student Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank! We asked our amazing teacher friends from the Fearless First Grade Group what inexpensive gifts they like to give their students, and here were their responses. Some of these are amazing! I think that this year I am going to do snowman soup and a book, but those Scrabble tile ornaments sure look cute. ?

Elf on the Shelf Gifts

“I do an elf, and he usually brings them something small a couple of times. Pencils, erasers, and last year I did these reindeer suckers. It’s usually dollar store items that cost me less than $5!” ~ Mara L.

“I buy each student an elf from Dollar Tree & use the points I’ve accumulated over the year to order the Scholastic book How to Catch an Elf.” ~ Jennifer H.

Ornament Ideas

“I usually go to Michael’s and get a pack of ornaments. We like coloring ornaments ?” ~ Myca L.

“I also got them an ornament that will have their face and a clear ornament ball for them to make their parents. And we made the parents a calendar with their artwork for 2021.” ~ Christina E.

“I get plastic ornaments to put their name, grade, and year in the outside and glitter on the inside.” ~ Stephanie R.

“I’m making them ornaments out of Scrabble tiles. I’m almost halfway done!” ~ Shawna D.

 

Books

“I do books from Scholastic and this year I might get them all a cute mask. Some of those masks are getting nasty.” ~ Chrissy B-D.

“Scholastic book, playdoh for STEM activities the last day before break, and this year… a mask. (That’s a first in my 26 years!)” ~ Kim W.

“$1 Books from scholastic! ? This year I also got $1 water bottles from Walmart and I’m going to put their names on them.” ~ Jordann D.

“$1.00 book from scholastic, pencil, and eraser.” ~ Anne M.

“A book and a special pencil.” ~ Brenda H.

“Usually a book, a new box of crayons (because they have lost half of theirs) and maybe a plastic silly straw or something like that.” ~ Stephanie B.

“I do a book, fancy pencils from Michael’s you can get 20 for $5 and they have cute erasers, and I always add a free homework pass, and bookmark.” ~ Tiffany J.

“A book from Scholastic and homemade gingerbread playdough and cookie.” ~ Dana S.

 

Throw the Students a Party

“Hot chocolate and popcorn party. I bring my crockpot in and let it warm up during the day. Then we watch a small holiday movie and have hot chocolate and popcorn at the end of the day. I always email my parents and tell them if their child doesn’t like hot chocolate or popcorn they can bring their own special snack.” ~ Ashley L.

“I made them each a stocking from Dollar Tree. Then I wrote their name on it with glitter glue and added play dough, pencils, and whatever other prize stuff I had on hand. We also did a book exchange. Each child brings a wrapped book (or coloring book, or activity book), I read a holiday story, and when I say a certain word they all pass the book. I bring a few wrapped books from the Dollar Tree for kids that forget or can’t afford it.” ~ Megan A.

“I always go to Dollar Tree and buy each child a stocking. Then ask each child to buy the little toy prizes that people buy for birthday parties to put in each stocking. In the end, each child has like 20 little gifts. It’s fun!” ~ Mary H.

 

Little Gifts For $1

“Personalized pencils! Like 1 dollar for a pack of 3 for each kid. They say their names on them.” ~ Sarajane H.

Order your Personalized Pencils here.

“I went to the 99 cent store and bought them little tote bags they could color.” ~ Kristine N.

“Coloring book and crayons.” ~ Donna C.

Coloring Books and Crayons

“Little stockings .. Walmart has 4 pack for 98 cents and I use a paint pen to write their names and fill the stocking with candy and a pencil.. whole thing costs under $15.” ~ Rachel Z-H.

“Last year I did color-changing pens and little notebooks. I bought both on Amazon fairly cheap. Plus, I think I added in a page of stickers.” ~ Katie H.

“I usually do a Dollar Tree coloring book and some crayons from Walmart. They get so excited and tell me they didn’t have any of that at home.” ~ Leanda K.

“These stuffed animals are $1, and I personalize them with my Cricut machine.” ~ Sarah K.

“We’re giving out a new deck of cards and a book of cards games to each student this year!” ~ Kirsten O.

“Dollar store holiday socks, pack of hot cocoa, holiday pencils and holiday fruit snacks.” ~ Mena D.

“I ran inside Dollar General after school today and found holiday cookie cutters in a bag. 6 for $1.00. I grabbed some to put with their playdough and book.” ~ Sha R.

 

Sweet Treats

“Kit Kat and Candy Cane Sleighs.” ~ Jessica W.

“Mini mitts with a hot chocolate packet, candy cane, and cookie.” ~ Anna N.

“Dollar tree Christmas mugs filled with hot chocolate (Snowman soup).” ~ Annie W.

“Little Debbie cakes with a special pencil and some little trinket-thing in the party aisle where you can buy 6 of something cheap. When we could get books cheap, I did books, too.” ~ Vicky J.

“A thick coloring book and a large lollipop to suck on while they enjoy the puzzles and coloring pages.” ~ Jill G.

A Gift to Stay Warm

“Walmart has $2.50 throws during this time. I actually got mine for $1.50 last year. The children loved them. Some brought them back for movie day the last day before break.” ~ Tiffany F.

“$1 cozy socks from Old Navy.” ~ Kendall R.

“Cozy snowflake socks from Amazon. They LOVE them!” ~ Lisa A.

“Mittens are 3 for $1.87 at Walmart. You could add a pack of hot cocoa. I do both and give them a book from Scholastic as well for the 25 for $25 deal.” ~ Mary B.

“Snowman soup and fuzzy socks.” ~ Brittany G-Z.

Free Gifts

“I give them a 100 on a test and a free homework pass.” ~ April S.

“I give them a photo of the class. Done.” ~ Aurora M-A.

“I did the Land of Misfit Toys. Everyone wrapped up a funny unloved toy. I brought unloved things from the classroom and home. We played a bunch and did a white elephant gift exchange. Kids loved it!” ~ Renee G.

 

Health and Safety Gifts

“Masks with our gator mascot since they have to wear one starting January! And a lanyard to put on so they don’t lose it!” ~ Jodi L.

“Getting mine water bottles this year since we can’t use our fountains.” ~ Kaitlan E.

“I donate to a cause and then I make students a certificate! Parents love it! No junky toys or books they will never read. My classroom is done in flamingo so I donate to zoos towards a flamingo!” ~ Wendy J.

We hope that you were able to find some great Student Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank in this list. We give a lot to our students to show we are, but we shouldn’t have to spend loads of money doing it, especially this year when we have had to buy so much more to “recreate” our classrooms.

If you have any Student Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank, please leave your suggestions in the comments section below. (I always love seeing pictures as well! ?)

Written by: Janessa Fletcher

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Welcome! I’m Emily, Founder of Education to the Core. We are all about helping K-2 teachers by providing unlimited access to affordable printables for every subject area.