Written 31st October 2022 | Subscribe to our Christmas newsletter

The 12 Days of Chrismas Game

We all know the legendary song that is the 12 Days of Christmas. It is the perfect song to get your class up dancing, singing, acting and laughing.

Divide the class into 12 groups. Assign them all a line from the below.

Twelve drummers drumming,  Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves

Everybody is assigned "a partridge in a pear tree"

A tip would be to give the most confident children the lyrics that are said the most, such as Three French Hens and 5 Golden Rings.

The children in each group can be given the task to create something unique for their lyrics. For example- 6 Geese are laying rings could be acting out Geese laying eggs and Two Turtle Doves could be flying around the room.

The song is then sung with each group singing and acting their part. Everyone sings the last line "and a partridge in a pear tree". This song is sure to make the whole class be up on their feet and laughing. (Full lyrics are below for those)

Other related ideas

  • Children could make and design a poster for each lyric
  • For your older pupils, you could set them the challenge of working out how many gifts there would be in total if they added them all up from each day of the song.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics

 

On the first day of Christmas, My true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the fourth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the fifth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the sixth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the seventh day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the eighth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the ninth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the tenth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings. Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree!

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