Tree Ornament
hot glue two small candy canes together to form a heart as shown and add a ribbon or whatever you desire. Simple and cute!!
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Christmas Mouse
Cut felt peices as shown. Add a candy cane - one end becomes the nose and the other end is the tail. Adorable!!
Dip a wide popsicle stick (ahhh sitck) a third of the way in black paint. Let dry. Dip the other end in white paint. Let dry. Add a black pipe cleaner piece for the hat brim and a ribbon for a scarf. The eyes, nose, mouth and buttons can be done in paint, with glitter glue, or even just colored markers.
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Melting Crayon Fun
Needed: electric griddle, hotplate, or frypan on lowest setting
tin foil
crayons without papers
construction paper shapes to fit inside the griddle or pan (evergreen Christmas trees for this project, but this can be done anytime of year by using other shapes.)
Always supervise this activity even though the pan is on the lowest setting. Have the children wear mittens while doing this just to be safe.
Lay a tin foil sheet on the pan and have the children use the crayons to color slowly all over the foil until they have their perfect design. Then help them lay the construction paper tree over top of the melted crayon design and press down. When it's lifted, a beautiful tree you will have!!!
I'm a Little Snowman
(sung to "I'm a Little Teapot")
I'm a little snowman
Short and fat (bend knees a bit and put arms out to show fat)
Here is my broomstick,(one arm out)
Here is my hat.(other arm point to head)
When the sun comes out(arms over head to form a circle)
I melt away
Down, down, down, down, (slowly fall to ground)
Whoops....
I'm a puddle!!! (shout)
Said the first little snowflake (Hold up one finger)
As he whirled from the sky(whirl finger around in the air)
"I'll land on the chimney,
It looks nice and high!" (land it on a pretend chimney)
Said the second little snowflake (hold up another finger)
"Oh that's not for me
I shall feel much safer
In the old apple tree."(land it in a pretend tree)
Said the third little snowflake(hold up another finger)
"Through the air I'll skim
Until I land on someone's shoulder(land on shoulder)
Then I'll go to school with them!!"
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Mr. Snowman
(Flannelboard pieces or thumbs)
Hello, Mr. Snowman. How are you today?(add one snowman piece)
I'm fine little friend. What a sunny day!!(add other snowman and a sun piece)
Come on, Mr. Snowman. Come and play with me.
But the snowman had disappeared. A puddle was he!!!!(remove both and add a puddle piece)
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Christmas Wreath
Fill the bottom of a shallow dish with green paint. Cut out a large circle from paper. Let the children dip a 20 oz plastic pop bottle bottom into the paint and make prints all over their paper. When dry, cut the center circle out to form a wreath. Let the children add "berries" by dipping a finger into red paint or ink and then onto the wreath. Add a paper bow.
Save the inner circle that you cut from the wreath and make smaller wreaths or cut out a tree shape and have them use fingers or Q-tips to decorate their tree.
Gifts Kids Can Help Make For Parents, Neighbors, Teachers, or Anyone At Christmas.....
**Soup mug with an individual soup packet inside. Wrap in colored cellaphane paper and attach this poem -
Hope Your Holidays Are "Souper"!!
**Frozen Homemade Pizza - "Topped" With Christmas Cheer, Just For You!
**Wrapped up Green or Red Popcorn Ball - Let's Have a "Ball" This Season!!
**Homemade Mini Loaf of Bread - Wrap in cellophane and add a ribbon and poem - Parenting is a tough job -
Thanks for not "Loafing" Around!!
**Bag of Jolly Rancher Candies - Have a Holly "Jolly" Christmas
** Bag of Chex Party Mix - (to teacher) You Always Get Good "Chex" in my Book!!
**Wire Whisk filled with Hershey's Kisses - I "Whisk" You a Merry "Kiss"mas !!!
**A biscuit and packet of jelly wrapped up in cellophane - Just Spreading A Little Sweet Christmas Cheer
**Small tray of Christmas Cookies - Hope You Have a Christmas to "Tray"sure!!!
**Bag of mixed nuts - I'm "Nuts" About You!!
**Pack of Lifesavers candy - You're a "Lifesaver" All Year Long!!
**Bouquet of Tissue Paper Flowers - If Teachers were Flowers, I'd Pick You!!!
**Bottle of Sparkling Cider- Wishing You a "Sparkling" Holiday!!
**Bag of Caramel Corn - Just "Poppin" in to say Happy Holidays!
**Decorate a paper bag and fill with Hershey's Hugs and Hershey's Kisses - Hope Your Holiday is Full of
Hugs and Kisses!!
**A jar with Apple Crisp dry ingredients and and Apple Crisp recipe card - Merry "Crisp"mas!!!
**a chocolate orange (can't think of the brand name) - "Orange" You Glad We're Friends??
**Snickers Candy Bar - Don't "Snicker", at least you got Something!!
**Box of candy mints - Teachers Like You Are Worth a "Mint"!!
**Chocolate Bear - Have a "Beary" Merry Christmas!!
**Box of Ho-Ho's - "Ho-Ho-Hoping Your Holiday Dreams Come True!!"
**Mix up Mom and Dad's favorite type of cookie dough and wrap up with cellophane in a tube shape
(refrigerate) - Thought You Could Use Some Extra "Dough" for Christmas!!
**Two large homemade brownies - Hope Your Holidays Are Rich With Love
**Mini loaf of Banana bread - I Love You A Whole "Bunch"!
** Frosted cupcake - Teacher, You Take The "Cake"!!
**Box of Mini Donuts - You "Donut" Know How Much You Mean To Me!!! Merry Christmas!
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Santa Windsock
Glue a pink sheet of paper into a cylinder as shown. Attach white streamers at the bottom representing the beard. Glue on other features like face, hat, mustache, etc.
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Candy Cane Reindeer
Each child needs a large white candy cane shape from paper. Color the candy cane stripes on using paints, crayons or markers. Trace handprints for antlers on brown paper, add red nose and draw eyes.
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Paper Bag Reindeer
Fold the top 1/4 of a brown paper bag over to one side and shape into a triangle shape as shown. Staple or glue it down. Add Rudolph's nose at the tip of the triangle. Add handprint paper antlers and other features.
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Edible Pretzel Wreath Ornament
Carefully and slowly, melt white or chocolate almond bark in a saucepan over low heat. Have the children work with you one at a time for close supervision. Let them dip a mini pretzel into the almond bark only covering the top two holes (I called them the Mickey Mouse ears) while they hold the bottom part. Lay it on a sheet of wax paper or something plastic with the "ears" inward. Repeat making a circle using as many pretzels as you'd like. I used anywhere from 5-7 to make my circles. Then repeat with a top layer that overlaps the first circle. While still warm, sprinkle goodies on like crushed peanuts or candies. I used crushed candy canes. Also add mini M&M's or Red hots for berries. Carefully set aside to harden. The fridge or freezer speeds set time. String with red string licorice if this will be an edible project. For a tree ornament, I used red curling ribbons. In the photo, I strung it and tied a bow. But add another white or green loop at the top to make it a nice looking ornament for the tree. They do crack eventually if handled, so then EAT UP!!!
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Make Cookie Mixes in a jar
Each family in my care made two to give away as gifts (to parents, grandparents, etc...) Buy 1 quart wide mouth canning jars with the lids. Fill with your favorite "mix in a jar" recipe. Add a 6 inch fabric onto the closed lid (I used a Christmas pattern) and secure with a rubber band. Type up the recipe and attach it to the jar with matching ribbon(s). I also attached this poem....(written by AKSmieja - do not re-print without permission)
Will you make some cookies with me?
We can share them on Christmas Eve.
We'll mix them and stir them and bake them just right.
What fun it will be one snowy, cold night.
We'll set out the milk with a cookie or two
I think Santa might enjoy that, don't you?
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Another Reindeer
Made from red, brown, green, black and yellow paper. Very cute!!!!!
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Very simple craft for any age! Needed: those paper clips that
are the shape as shown in the picture
bead for the head
ribbon for hanging as an ornament or a necklace
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Edible Pretzel Wreath Ornament
