Activity of the Day: November 30, 2011

Candy Canes
Draw or trace a candy cane shape onto a white piece of paper. Then have the children cut or tear red strips or paper to place on the candy cane. Have the children glue the red pieces of paper onto their candy cane as the stripes. After the glue has dried, the child (or an adult) can cut out the candy cane shape.

Activity of the Day: November 29, 2011

Hand Print Wreath
Trace each child's hands several times onto a piece of green paper. Have the children cut out these hand shapes. Supply each child with a paper plate and show them how to cut out the center of the plate. Have the children glue their green hands shapes onto the plate to make a wreath. You could also have them use a paper hole punch on red paper and glue the holes on for holly.

Activity of the Day: November 28, 2011

Cookie Cutter Tree Prints

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well) Show your child how to dip a Christmas Tree cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make holiday pictures or greeting cards by using holiday cookie cutters and colored paper.

Find more Christmas Ides on our Christmas Preschool Lesson Plans page.

Activity of the Day: November 27, 2011

Santa Belly Ornaments

Inspired by Crafts by Amanda.  I used the same red ornaments to make these super cute Christmas decorations.  I simply added a black ribbon around the middle of the ornament with a hot glue gun.  After the glue dried, I added the buckle.  The buckle is made from a piece of gold pipe cleaner. 

Be careful because the glue can make a mess if it is applied on any part of the ornament not covered by the black ribbon. 

Hope you all enjoy and have a most wonderful Christmas!!!!

Activity of the Day: November 26, 2011

Handprint Ornaments

These ornaments are just so super cute.  I have seen them most commonly done on blue ornaments, but since I am making them for Rosa's grandmothers, both of which have a red and white Christmas theme, I used red. 

I painted Rosa's hand with white craft paint, then had her grab the bottom of the ornament.  I then wiped her hand clean with a baby wipe and set the ornament off to the side to dry.  After the paint dried, I used a black paint pen to add the eyes, mouth and buttons, then allowed that to dry.  Finally I applied orange paint for the carrot nose and green paint for the scarves with a very small paint brush.  I wrote "Rosa 2010 on the opposite  side of the ornament with the paint pen.  After the paint had dried I applied a layer of Mod Podge glue to seal the colors.

Activity of the Day: November 25, 2011

Christmas Mason Jars

You will need one clean mason jar.  I used Miracle Whip jars since they don't have any embossing, which would make things difficult.  Also, colored tissue paper, Mod Podge glue, a paint brush and any embellishments that you might want to add.  

I let Rosa make a decoupage jar.  First I cut red, white and green tissue paper into a variety of different sized squares.  I placed a couple of fingers inside the jar to hold it, then applied the Mod Podge glue to the outside of the jar with a paint brush, then Rosa applied the tissue paper.  It is okay if the squares overlap.  After she finished, I went over the jar and filled in the gaps and around the edges of the top and bottom of jar.  I created a smooth edge by applying the tissue paper, then applying a layer of glue over the paper, up to the edge, the paper will tear easily at the edge. 

After all of the paper is applied, go over the whole jar again with another layer of glue.   Let that dry and apply another layer of glue. 

You can place Christmas lights, a real tea light candle or a battery operated tea light in the jar for display.

Variations:
I was inspired by a combination of two blogs to create this Santa Jar.  I saw these awesome Halloween Jars on Not So Idle Hands Blog.  Then on Crafts by Amanda's blog she posted some creative Glittery Santa Belly Jars. 

I applied strips of red tissue paper, with a black ribbon and a piece of gold pipe cleaner.  I had to use a glue gun to attach the pipe cleaner. 

I used white tissue paper for the last jar.  I applied silver glitter and snowflake stickers. 

Activity of the Day: November 24, 2011

Thankful Game 
Have the children sit in a circle and they should have a bean bag or stuffed toy to pass around the circle. Have the children pass the item around the circle while they chant: 
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, 
What am I thankful for, 
It's your turn to share with us, 
1, 2, 3, 4 
Whomever is holding the item when the chat is done should share what they are thankful for. 

Find more Thanksgiving ideas on our Preschool Thanksgiving Lesson Plan page.


HAPPY Thanksgiving!!!