In all my years as an ESL teacher, my absolute favorite lessons revolve around teaching my immigrant students the holidays and culture of the United States. If you peck around this blog, you will know I’m a big holiday person anyway. Today, I’m sharing my Dirty Santa ideas for kids in my English as a Second Language classes. Included are 7 Dirty Santa versions. I even have a free Dirty Santa rules printable for you to use! These Dirty Santa rules and ideas can be used at your home Christmas parties also!
Luckily, my ESL classes tend to be small – anywhere from 5-20 kids. Most of the middle school and junior high students are excited to learn how to play Dirty Santa. However, these gift exchange games are enjoyed by any kids (and adults) – not only ESL students.
What is Dirty Santa?
Dirty Santa is a fun gift swap game in which each participant brings a gift. During the game, participants are allowed to “steal” the gifts others brought. The game can get really competitive and intense – with the right players and especially with the right gifts!
Other Names for Dirty Santa
Some people refer to this gift exchange game as Sneaky Santa, Bad Santa, Greedy Santa, or Yankee Swap. For my ESL students, I often say “Bad Santa” because they understand the word “bad” more easily than the word “dirty” in this particular context. For the purpose of this post, I am going to use all the names interchangeably.
Rules of Dirty Santa (7 Dirty Santa Versions)
There are different Dirty Santa games out there with different Dirty Santa rules…LOTS of different sets of rules!
#1 – Dirty Santa Dice Game (Without Everyone Receiving a Gift)
At my husband’s family’s Dirty Santa games, we play a Greedy Santa version where it is possible to walk away from the game without a gift. In this version, players may continue to win new items with no limit on how many gifts they take. This means there will not be enough gifts for all players to have a gift.
However, players are allowed to bring as many gifts to contribute to the game as they want. The more gifts to fight for, the more fun this version of Dirty Santa is. However, all players should understand these rules of Dirty Santa from the beginning – mainly, that not all players may win a gift.
Dirty Santa Dice Game Rules – Version #1
In our family game, we roll two dice on each turn. You do not get to take a gift unless you roll a double. If you roll a double, you get to either choose from a wrapped/unopened gift or steal a gift someone has already chosen. (The rule is the gifts can be in possession only three times. Once someone has chosen the gift the third time, that gift becomes his permanently.) The game continues until all gifts have been taken/stolen three times each.
#2 – Dirty Santa Dice Game (With Everyone Receiving a Gift)
When playing Dirty Santa with kids in the classroom or at home, I prefer to play this less competitive version in which everyone walks away with a gift.
Dirty Santa Game with Dice – Version #2
In this version, we still roll play Dirty Santa with dice – rolling for a double. Once a student has a double, he may choose a gift or steal a gift. The same rule applies – the gift permanently belongs to the third person who takes/steals it (taken for the first time, stolen once, stolen twice = three possessions). Each person may only keep one gift meaning there should be enough gifts for every player who brought a gift.
#3 – Dirty Santa Game with Numbers (With Everyone Receiving a Gift)
Perhaps, the most simple Dirty Santa game is the one where you put a number in a bowl to represent the number of game participants. If you have 12 people playing, you make 12 little slips of paper, from #1-12.
Each participant draws a number. The person who draws #1 goes first. The game continues until #12 opens the last gift or steals one from someone else. The game continues until all gifts have been opened/stolen up to three possessions.
An optional way to play this Dirty Santa with numbers game is to allow the #1 person a second turn to compensate for the fact that he did not have the option to steal since he was the first player. One he plays a second turn, the game ends.
#4 – Hybrid Dirty Santa Game with Dice AND Numbers (With Everyone Receiving One Gift and Some Receiving Extra)
This is a version I dreamed up myself for a Christmas party I hosted at my own home. It started because I went overboard and bought too many Dirty Santa gifts. (I just can’t help myself sometimes!) Since I had asked the guests to only bring one gift, I made a hybrid version of the Dirty Santa dice game and the Dirty Santa numbers game to make use of the extra gifts.
Basically, you start by playing the numbers Dirty Santa game listed above (#3). Once each person in the game has received one gift, you then bring out the dice for the rest of the play.
From that point forward, each guest must roll two dice and attempt to roll a double. Once a player gets a double, he/she gets to open one of the extra gifts remaining (either unopened gifts or gifts that haven’t been stolen to the full maximum yet. Play continues until all the extra gifts are claimed and stolen/possessed three times! This version extends the play of the game. Plus, it allows some competitive play while still allowing each person at least one gift.
#5 – Dirty Santa Variation with Left Right Center Game (One Person Takes All)
My husband’s office plays a fun dollar bill variation of Bad Santa using the Left Center Right chips and dice and dollar bills. It is kind of a winner takes all concept. Indeed, it is fun. We wound up adding it to the game fun at our family Christmas parties.
LCR Dirty Santa Rules
I decided to incorporate a new Bad Santa game in the classroom with the LCR game using candy instead of dollar bills. I followed the game rules with the dollar bills that I linked at the top of this paragraph. However, I gave each student 3 pieces of candy to start with (in place of the chips). I placed a cute little tin bucket in the center of the table that was the “jackpot” students would win. As the game continued, each student wound up adding his candy to the bucket until one student was the ultimate winner of the bucket. It was a lot of fun!
You can buy the LCR game on Amazon. For a classroom, you might want to buy the set of two LCR game bundle or even this set of four LCR games bundle. For larger groups, you can divide the students into smaller groups and let each group play with one game set.
Also, you can usually find the single version of LCR in stores like Walmart, Walgreens, Target, and sometimes dollar stores.
#6 – White Elephant in the Classroom (With Everyone Receiving a Gift or Not)
Rather than having students purchase a gift, you can have students bring something from home they no longer want. I would suggest they bring something good that they are simply tired of rather than gag gifts.
Rules for White Elephant Game
Rule play for white elephant game can follow any of the Dirty Santa rules above. The only difference is the gift is gently used and not brand new.
#7 – Pass the Gift Exchanges (With One or a Few People Receiving a Gift)
You can always play one of the following games in the classroom. I have used similar games in the past though I cannot find exact ones I used. But these from Teachers Pay Teachers are very similar to some of the ones I have used before.
Holiday Gift Exchange Grab Bag
Invite Students to Participate with this Free Dirty Santa Rules Printable
First, keep in mind not all students celebrate Christmas. There may be some students who do not wish to participate in this gift exchange game. In my ESL class, I have to be mindful of this because I have students from all over the world – some of other faiths which do not celebrate Christmas. For this reason, I try to be really careful with how I present the Dirty Santa game. I explain that this is totally optional.
Also, I created this Dirty Santa rules printable to give my students. Feel free to print it and use it! My printable of Dirty Santa rules for students gives the basic information they need to know ahead of the game.
Bad Santa Gift Ideas Under $2 in the Classroom
I like to keep the gifts for Dirty Santa under $2 when playing these games in the classroom. We have to consider the holiday expenses the families of our students have. I actually encourage $1 most of the time. Students can go to a place like Dollar Tree and find plenty of kid-friendly goodies for $1 (like that LCR game I just mentioned)!
Also, I always buy a handful of extra goodies and keep in my desk in case students aren’t able to bring one or forget (which is usually the problem). This way all students can still participate if they wish and won’t feel left out.
Some students show up with gifts that probably cost closer to $5 but that is okay. That is their parent’s choice to make.
Some of the Bad Santa gift ideas I encourage are candy, pocket games, hair scrunchies, slime, playing cards, fun pens or stationary, etc.
More Classroom Ideas
If you enjoyed this classroom Dirty Santa ideas post, be sure to check out my other posts to get your teaching staff and students into the holiday spirit, or to just have fun with them during other times of the year!
Classroom Door Decorating Contest Ideas
Dirty Santa Ideas for the Classroom
Tips for Back to School Shopping for Teachers and Parents
Christmas Dress Up Days for Teachers
Teacher Must Haves from Amazon
Christmas Party Ideas at School
Sharing Good Things with Students
Valentine’s Day Treats for the Classroom
Christmas Treats for the Classroom
Decorative Hat Wall for the Classroom
Spanish Teacher Bulletin Boards
Large Group Game for Teacher Inservice Days
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