Classroom White Elephant
A staff gift exchange with items already in their classroom.
15 min
Holiday Staff Activities: Riddle Bingo
A holiday staff activity with 40 bingo cards and a new riddle every morning
Alissa Christensen
What is holiday riddle bingo?
A holiday staff activity where you share one riddle each morning and staff mark the answer on their bingo cards. The first staff member to get 5 in a row turns in their card for a prize. Play with staff only, or bring in every classroom for a whole-school game.
Why try it
A daily December riddle
Give staff something quick and fun to solve during the day. With 40 different bingo card designs, neighbors down the hall are working toward different squares. The game runs all month with a few minutes of your time each morning.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Things you'll need
Printed bingo cards (40 variations included)
Printed riddle list and recording page
Small prizes
Instructions
1
Choose your game
Pick your players, bingo pattern, and prizes
Decide whether staff will play on their own or with their classes. Choose a winning pattern, like 5 in a row, and set aside a few prizes so you’re ready when the first bingo comes in.
2
Hand out cards
Print and share the bingo cards
Print the included cards and give one to each staff member or classroom. Send a short email with the rules: “Holiday bingo starts tomorrow! Watch for a riddle each morning, solve it, and mark the answer on your card. Get a bingo? Bring your card to the office for a prize.”
3
Share a daily riddle
Announce one holiday riddle each morning
Share a riddle over the morning announcements or in a staff email. Check it off on the included recording page so you don’t repeat one.
4
Celebrate each bingo
Collect winning cards and award prizes
When someone turns in a bingo, check their squares against the recording page and hand over a prize. Share the winner’s name in the next morning’s announcements.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Whole-school holiday bingo
Give each classroom a card and read the riddle during morning announcements. Students and teachers solve it together, and you announce each class that earns a bingo the next day.
Change the winning pattern
Switch patterns each week: 4 corners, a cross made of 2 intersecting lines, or the first letter of your school’s name.
End-of-month drawing
Collect every completed card through the month, then draw a few at random on the last day before break for bonus prizes.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Keep an answer key at the front desk
Give the front office a copy of the recording page so whoever is at the desk can check a card and hand out a prize on the spot.
Leader Tip #2
Plan your riddle count around break
Count the school days between your start date and holiday break, and pick that many riddles so the game wraps up before everyone heads out.
Built by Educators, for School Leaders
This resource was created in collaboration with passionate educators and school leaders who believe in the power of intentional connection.
Alissa Christensen
Head of Customer Success
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