At the meeting I had with the PCP’s teacher to discuss holiday party planning back in November, I came armed with an Oriental Trading catalog thoughtfully earmarked with a few fun crafts I hoped to order and call it a day. She, on the other hand, came armed with the seemingly crazy idea to have a Minute to Win It themed party… something I’d never even heard of. As soon as I got past my “seriously? how am I going to pull off Thanksgiving, two class birthday parties, two regular birthday parties, a week in Disney World, Christmas preparations, a baby shower AND this minute to win it themed hootenanny in the next twenty-eight days” dismay, I popped in on Pinterest and had a plan in no time flat. The pre-freak out was totally worth it because the classroom was exploding with pure JOY for one last fun-filled super crazy hour before the long holiday break!!!
I enlisted a great crew to help set up before hand, including Honey and his mama JuJu. Mrs. B. took the class out for thirty minutes while we hung a gazillion glittering snowflakes from the ceiling, decked the tables with festive cloths and set up the stations. A “Minute to Win It – Holiday Style!” sign greeted them at the door and “Melted Snowman” water bottles (with their names on the backs) were ready at their seats. They absolutely worked up a thirst at this party!
The littles were divided into six groups of four to rotate through the six stations. There are never a shortage of parent volunteers and the party was no exception. We had four Minute to Win It stations, a cupcake station and a craft station. Here’s more than you ever wanted to know about a first grade holiday party…
Minute to Win It: Jingle Bell RockSee how many jingle bells you can dance out of a tissue box in one minute!
Minute to Win It: Snow ThrowSee how many marshmallows you can successfully throw into a bucket on your friend’s head – in one minute!
Minute to Win It: Snow Ball BounceUsing a snowman paddle (white paper plate with snowman face), try to keep the snow ball (balloon) off the ground for one minute!
Minute to Win It: Wrap RaceIn one minute, wrap your classmate in toilet paper and top with a scarf and hat to look like a snowman!
Snow Much Fun: Sticky SnowmanI ordered
this cute craft kit from Oriental Trading so that they’d have a little something to take home.
Snow Much Fun: Cupcake CreationsIce your cupcake to look like a snowman, with chocolate chip eyes and mouth and a candy corn nose. Then EAT IT!
The class left with a few of our favorite party favors – Snowman Soup and Frosty the S’moreman Kits! You can get the
instructions and free printables here!!
Nearly everything was purchased at the Dollar Tree and Kroger out of our class funds and Mrs. B will have all the basics ready for next year. And if any of y’all are crazy enough to attempt this for your holiday party (it would be great for a family or adults too!), I have all the free printables available for download here. There are also blank cards in the event that you come up with your own fun games, and instructions for each of mine are on the backs of the table tents.
Minute To Win It Holiday Style The Melted Snowman water bottle labels would be darling for any sort of winter party. You can download those free here!
Melted Snowman Water Bottle Labels At the end of the hour, we presented Mrs. B with a class gift – a tree decorated with LOADS AND LOADS of gift cards! Families were given the option to contribute a gift card in any amount to any store from their child. It was easy for them and she was pretty darn thrilled!
As we were wrapping up the soiree, I got the biggest bear hug from my very favorite first grader with a joyful proclamation that “it was the very best party EVER, Mommy!!!” I tell you what, going into the school for the first time since last Friday was not easy – my heart immediately dropped and I had to choke back the tears. A school should be a sacred place where we nurture and raise our most prized possessions. More than anything, I think I needed this party to start to put the joy and happiness back into the thought of school for me.
Happy Holidays from Mrs. B’s class!!!
Now, I’m about to settle in for a long winter’s nap. Ah… who am I kidding? I’ve got two darling littles home for the next 2.5 weeks!
xoxo
