This page brings together the accumulated Christmas specials we've sent out over recent years. As long as you've not had the same class two years running, you can re-use them each year.
You can get thinking stories and resources all year round by signing up for the free P4C resources we send out on our bulletin. If you like the resources here, please share this page, with colleagues.
This Christmas edition of the bulletin features a festive stimulus in which some elves approach Santa asking for a pay rise, leading into a discussion about what should determine the value of a job. Get the PDF version here - Elf Unsafety Union
ELF 1 Santa, can we have a word?
SANTA Sure, I’m all ears.
ELF 2 You’re all ears? Try working in a toy factory all day with ears this size. The noise is deafening.
ELF 3 We have to use car sponges as ear plugs…
ELF 1 …and that means we can’t hear each other speak.
SANTA I’m sorry to hear that.
ELF 2 Are you trying to be funny?
SANTA No, not at all. Just not choosing my words very well. Sorry, busy time of Year.
ELF 3 Tell me about it! I was wrapping presents in my sleep last night.
SANTA Well, we are a seasonal business. But soon it’ll be over for another year. You’ll be able to have a nice holiday.
ELF 2 Holiday! You think we can afford a holiday on what you pay us?
SANTA Well, it’s not about the money. Think of the joy we’re bringing.
ELF 1 Actually, Santa, it is about the money. That’s what we came to see you about. We want a pay rise.
SANTA A pay rise! I don’t know about that. I mean, every time we advertise for new staff, I get hundreds of applications from elves who wold be quite happy with the pay. Not to mention the gnomes – there’s more money in factory work than in fishing or gardening these days.
ELF 2 So if we’re not happy with the noise, the long hours and the poor pay, you can just get rid of us and find some gnomes to replace us, hey?
SANTA That’s not what I meant.
ELF 3 We thought this would happen. That’s why we’ve started the EUU - The Elf Unsafety Union. If you go bringing in other workers to keep down our pay and working conditions, we’re all going on strike.
ELF 1 I put our demands into a list. You should like it, you’re good with lists.
SANTA Ho, ho, ho.
What makes something fair pay for the job?
This could be great fun performed by four staff as a stimulus for a philosophy assembly, but in a class, have them read it in groups of four. Then they can continue the dialogue in character, with the elves justifying their demands and santa coming up with objections. (You might play the “Yes, but...” game at the very start of the session, as a warm-up)
After you’ve heard back some of the exchanges, “What were some of your most interesting/funny disagreements?” you could move on to an enquiry about, “How should the pay for a job be decided?”
• What other people get paid for the same job
• The most the owner of a business can pay
• The least the owner needs to pay to get workers
• An amount that fits how hard workers work
• An amount that fits how skilful workers are
• An amount that fits how much work workers get done
• The most the employees can persuade the owner to pay
Then at the end of that, come back to the story and get them back in their groups to decide how the conversation between the elves and santa ended, and share some performances. Many good sessions go from a specific stimulus to a general question and back to a specific stimulus, and there’s also something satisfying about ending a session with something creative in the same form as the stimulus.
'Twas the night before Christmas, somewhere in the town
Santa inspected his bag with a frown.
For in this philosophical Yuletide tale,
Santa faced a dilemma that caused him to pale.
He saw “Eric Bogglesthwaite” there on his list.
There should have been two: but one had been missed!
In his bag was one present, a kite that was swift,
But two children were left, both deserving a gift.
One boy, sweet and kind, with a heart full of glee,
Another, less pleasant, but poor as could be.
Both wrote to St. Nick, their wishes sincere,
But alas, only one gift was left in his gear.
So, should Santa give more thought to merit or need?
Should he give to the poor, or reward the kind deed?
The decision is yours, on this holiday eve.
Who should be disappointed and who should receive?
I preface reading the poem by saying that we’re treating this as a real dilemma for a real Santa, one that he cannot just solve magically – otherwise there’s no philosophy for us to do! You can have a rich discussion that includes speculations about why the boys are the way they are, and whether receiving a gift or being disappointed could change that.
We are entering the season of the Christmas Special, when familiar TV shows take on a celebratory feel with bigger and brighter versions of their usual offerings. Could you run a “P4C Christmas Special”, perhaps with a whole-school stimulus acted out in an assembly and simultaneous enquiries running across many classes? “Rudolph’s Revenge” (pasted below) is just for two people, so makes an easy and colourful assembly performance - just add antlers!
The stimulus is as an encounter between a Rudolph whose celebrity has gone to his head, and a Santa who may have overestimated his merits as an employer. As with last year’s Elf dialogue, it recycles the lyrics of a Christmas song.
Christmas Every Day?
Would it be better if it were Christmas every day? Here’s a video that asks that question, from our forthcoming series for young children. It’s ready for immediate use with your class.
A race to be won
A new land to be explored
A photo album to be filled
A conversation to be enjoyed
A game to be played
A test to be passed
A home to be made
A role to be acted
An inheritance to be passed on
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And which best describes what life is. Are they different? If so, why? And is there anything that could make both answers the same?
You are one of a band of intrepid philosophers travelling the galaxy in search of a new world. You stop off to get Christmas supplies - but the aliens aren't sure this Christmas thing is at all good for you...
This is a bonus episode for the Philosophy Quest "Alien Adventures in Philosophy".
Here's the podcast (may take a while to load, but you can click play while it's still loading):
Or right-click this link to download it:
Explain Christmas to An Alien
Or here's the print version.
Explaining Christmas to an Alien
The brave know us well
But cowards fear us.
The wise greet us with smiles
But frown if we stay.
We are great teachers
Of ungrateful pupils.
Those who make us hide us
Those who do not, hide themselves.
Answer: mistakes
The Christmas Hat puzzle (very fiendish) I put up on this page last year proved so popular that I have added another elaborate one, the Princess and the Golden Key (quite fiendish). Both of them are available in Powerpoint and PDF versions. I've also added a three-pager with 25 Brainstretchers of varying levels of fiendishness, and a separate document that includes the answers.
You can download everything in one zip file by clicking Brainstretchers and Puzzles. Or click on the individual files below.
Puzzles are under-used because they seem frivolous, but they are excellent ways to get dialogue and collaboration going. Step back and let each speaker choose the next, giving priority to people who haven't said so much - it's a key move in shifting the focus away from you to them working as a team.
The hat puzzle requires both logic and empathy, and is more for secondary than primary pupils, but a good one for colleagues in any staff room to enjoy puzzling over. The Princess is a bit of an unknown quantity - it's brand new, though based on an old one. I hope you enjoy them.
Download links:
Brainstretchers (PDF)
Brainstretchers With Answers (PDF)
The Princess and the Golden Key (PPT)
The Princess and the Golden Key (PDF)
Christmas Hat Puzzle (PPT)
Christmas Hat Puzzle (PDF)
Zip file of all Brainstretchers and Puzzles
Here's how one teacher used them:
"Used the Hat problem with my Y6 class today. Although no-one worked it out at first, when we did it practically, the person in Egbert's place shouted out, "It's me- I'm yellow" and she was able to explain to the others how she knew! The Princess one was more manageable for them, most knew it was to do with weight (apart from those who thought about using a magnet). Once again using practical equipment they were able to work out the complete solution.
Have also read out some of the Brainteasers whilst we were waiting behind after the Christmas Carol Service- some needed an additional clue, but all the first sheet were solvable. Even the staff had a go!"
Caroline Massey, Hollinhey Primary
Santa’s Dilemma
'Twas the night before Christmas, somewhere in the town
Santa inspected his bag with a frown.
For in this philosophical Yuletide tale,
Santa faced a dilemma that caused him to pale.
He saw “Eric Bogglesthwaite” there on his list.
There should have been two: but one had been missed!
In his bag was one present, a kite that was swift,
But two children were left, both deserving a gift.
One boy, sweet and kind, with a heart full of glee,
Another, less pleasant, but poor as could be.
Both wrote to St. Nick, their wishes sincere,
But alas, only one gift was left in his gear.
So, should Santa give more thought to merit or need?
Should he give to the poor, or reward the kind deed?
The decision is yours, on this holiday eve,
Who should be disappointed and who should receive?
I preface reading the poem by saying that we’re treating this as a real dilemma for a real Santa, one that he cannot just solve magically – otherwise there’s no philosophy for us to do!