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Find the Elf: A Holiday Staff Activity
A holiday staff activity with photo elves, prize ideas, and printables
Alissa Christensen
What is Find the Elf?
A holiday staff activity where you hide photo elves in staff-only spots around school, and staff who find one trade it in for a prize. Each elf is a printed template with a staff member’s face on it, and each person can win once.
Why try it
A quick, festive hunt to the school day
Find the Elf gives staff a reason to look a little closer on the way to the copier. The hunt fits into the moments staff already spend in the lounge, workroom, and front office, so it runs in the background of a busy December without taking time from the school day.
What's included
Browse the printables included with this resource.
Things you'll need
Printed elf templates
Printed staff photos
Small prizes
Instructions
1
Make the elves
Make photo elves from the template
Print a photo of yourself or another staff member, cut out the face, and attach it to the elf template. Make several copies, enough that a good share of your staff has a chance to find one.
2
Hide the elves
Hide elves in staff-only spots
Tuck the elves into spaces only staff use, like the lounge, workroom, supply closets, and offices. Skip classrooms and student spaces so the hunt stays just for staff.
Easy finds: staff mailboxes, copier lid, coffee maker, sign-in binder, staff bulletin board, lounge window
Sneakier spots: inside a supply closet door, under a lounge table, behind the paper cutter, in a stack of copy paper, back of the workroom door, among window decorations
3
Announce the hunt
Kick off your holiday staff activity
Share the rules at a staff meeting or in a quick email: how many elves are hidden, that each person can win once, and that anyone who finds a second elf leaves it for a colleague. Tell staff where to turn in their elf.
4
Hand out prizes
Trade each found elf for a prize
When someone turns in an elf, hand over a prize and note their name so each person wins once. Keep a running count of elves found and share it as the hunt goes on.
Activity variations
Adapt to fit your school's vibe, budget, and setting.
Daily elf drops
Hide one new elf each morning during the last week before break, and post a one-line clue in the lounge.
Team holiday staff activity
Group staff by grade level or department and track how many elves each team finds, with a small treat for the team at the top.
Go deeper
Additional tips for running this resource.
Leader Tip #1
Check on unfound elves
After a few days, move any elves no one has found to a more visible spot, or post a hint, so every prize gets claimed before break.
Leader Tip #2
Share the finds
Snap a photo of each finder with their elf and add the photos to your staff newsletter or a lounge display.
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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