How to do a White Elephant in Your Classroom
White elephant gift exchanges are a fun and interactive way to engage students in the classroom, and adding a literary twist can make it even more educational and enjoyable. Here’s how to organize a white elephant gift exchange with books in the classroom:

- Choose the books: The first step is to select the books that will be used in the exchange. You can choose a variety of books, including fiction, nonfiction, and picture books. It’s a good idea to choose books that are appropriate for the age and reading level of your students.
2. Assign numbers: Next, assign a number to each student in the class. This will be used to determine the order in which students will choose their gifts.
3. Wrap the gifts: Wrap each book in a plain wrapping paper, so that students won’t be able to see what’s inside. You can also include a small gift or surprise, such as a bookmark or book-themed sticker, to add an extra element of fun.
4. Set the rules: Before starting the exchange, explain the rules to your students. In a traditional white elephant gift exchange, each student selects a gift from the pile or “steals” a gift from another student. You can decide on the number of times a student is allowed to steal a gift, or you can simply let the exchange play out organically.
5. Start the exchange: Begin the exchange by having the student with the number 1 choose a wrapped book from the pile. They can then open the book and keep it, or they can choose to “steal” a book that has already been opened by another student. The exchange continues until all students have had a chance to choose or steal a book.

A white elephant gift exchange with books in the classroom is a fun and engaging way to promote literacy and a love of reading. It’s a great activity for the holiday season, but it can be done at any time of year.