Operation Christmas Child enjoys the support of many UK schools that recognise its valuable contribution to pursuing the vision and values of their schools. It aligns not only with the curriculum for Religious Education, Geography, Citizenship and PSHE but also overarching frameworks like ‘Fundamental British Values’.

Here are some ideas for how to take part:

• You can choose to make one shoebox per class with each child contributing a gift, or every child could fill a shoebox – whatever works best for your school.  
• Download free posters, leaflets and more 
• Download our assembly ideas resource for Primary Schools.
• Download our class activities resource for Secondary Schools.
• Watch our Operation Christmas Child videos
• Choose one of the destination countries to study. Research the customs, flag, geography and current events.
• Use Operation Christmas Child as an opportunity to learn about and pray for children of other cultures, languages and world religions.
• Write letters/Christmas cards to include in the shoeboxes.  It’s a great creative writing opportunity.
• Download our Children’s resources

• Download our colouring pages that your students can put in their shoeboxes.
• Make some simple crafts to include in the shoeboxes.  Visit our Pinterest page for ideas on what to make.
• Download our ‘Why UK schools love packing shoebox gifts’ film – Ballykelly Primary School share how they used the fun of a school-wide competition to collect over 100 shoeboxes, and encourage others to do the same.

Why UK schools love packing shoebox gifts

Helen Cole, Principal of Ballykelly Primary School said:

“The benefits of supporting Samaritan’s Purse for the children here are enormous. It fits into the caring, supporting ethos of our school. It helps the children here to understand what life is like for children who are less fortunate than themselves. It gives them a sense of looking after, caring, and supporting others, and the children really love to do it!”

Matthew, a member of the School Council at Ballykelly Primary school said:

“We really wanted to give to Operation Christmas Child this year because we wanted to give people less fortunate than us more opportunities”

• • • Download our ‘Journey of a Shoebox’ film – following a class in Bedford as they pack their shoebox gifts and discover the impact they can have in countries like Ukraine and Liberia.

The Journey of a Shoebox

• • • Download our Introduction Letter to Parents when you send home the How to Pack Leaflet, to tell parents all they need to know about the programme and why your school is getting involved.

• Pat Sabin, former Headteacher at Firfield Primary School Derbyshire said this about the programme:

“Operation Christmas Child added a tremendous dimension to or school ethos. The beauty of the whole campaign is that you can link it into almost every aspect of the Curriculum. Parents, prospective parents and Ofsted were very impressed by the community perspective that Operation Christmas Child embraced.”

Christmas Values Program

Invite a local volunteer to deliver our Four Lesson Program on Christmas Values that supports the work of OCC.

‘Christmas Values’ is a 4 lesson course designed in partnership with teachers and education trusts across the UK. It is a curriculum based program, designed around the Christmas story from the Bible. The lessons seek to share the real story of Christmas through a thematic program of values. While exploring these values of fairness, generosity, esteem and individuality, we hope to demonstrate the importance and impact of Operation Christmas Child, as well as other compassion based charities. These lessons help deliver the RE and SMSC curriculum, fundamental British values, as well as helping with literacy skills through writing and discussion. The course is targeted at Key Stage 2.

Sample resource:

Register your interest as a school

Register your interest as a church to support a school

• Students and Shoeboxes

   

   

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