Hand Crafts in December

Hand-in-hand we grow....And to make crafts and gifts for our families.

Forever Handprint

This project has been a yearly gift to my families.  They grow up so fast.  Many parents mention that they bring this out year after year and remember when they were so small.  The print could be made on a square with the poem on the back and used as an ornament or as above all on one side as a wall ornament.
Even making the print on the front of a folded paper card with the words inside.  Or both parts on a horizontal folded card to put on a table top. 
"You clean my prints from wall and door,
for I'm not careful when I play.
But here's a print you'll want to keep,
it's made for you this Christmas Day.
Love,  "

Hand print snowmen ornament.

You will need clear plastic ornament balls for each child.  White acrylic paint, Sharpie markers in black, brown, orange, green/purple/red/blue.  Package of craft snow.  Ribbon and printed cards with poem. 

"You hang me on a tree, as you can plainly see,

but the secret you don't know,

is that the snowmen in a row,

are my five fingers oh so wee,

that belong to the one

and only Me!!" 

Paint child's hand using acrylic white paint.

Spread fingers like holding a ball.

Place the bulb and press fingers on the ball. 
Carefully remove the ornament.  Let them dry a day or so.  
*Write the child's name near the top of the bulb with a sharpie before painting.

Use the Sharpies to add details of hat, arms, eyes, mouth, nose, buttons and scarves.  (My orange marker dried up so I have to get another one.  They still look cute without the nose.
Remove the top and put a bit of 'snow' inside.  I think just enough to cover the bottom is plenty.

To wrap, we found that chinese carryout boxes are a perfect size.  We printed holiday clip art for the children to cut out and glue on the sides of the boxes.  To my family cards are made to send home.

More December Ideas

Make a Pine Tree.  (Diagonal fold)

Use a 9-inch square of green construction paper.  Fold on the diagonal and cut.

SAVE one, take one.

Put long triangle side on the bottom and fold over and cut.
SAVE one, take one.

Fold triangle in half and cut for the last two parts.

Begin with largest triangle and put a dot of glue on the top.  Lay middle size triangle on top and press (count to 10) to stick.  
Put a dot of glue on the top and glue one of the small triangles.  Repeat.

I demonstrate then put all the steps on the board and label step 1,2,3... 

It is important for them to learn how to follow written directions.  This shows how they do. Just to practice folding by matching corners and edges is difficult for some.  
You could add details to make this into a Christmas tree or a winter tree by painting snow on the points and edges.


Counting Up, Counting Down 
Get them moving by counting up and gradually standing up from a seated position to standing.  And then reverse the counting and shrink to sitting place.  I like to call out 'halfway' to help those who need direction.  Dr. Jean has a great counting song to count to 20 and backwards. "Country Countdown" on her Totally Math CD.  I have the children refer to our numberline to help with the counting backwards.  We close our eyes from 10 to 1.  The kids love it! 

Countdown to Christmas Bell and Chain
From now until Christmas is the longest time of year,
It seems as if dear old Santa never will appear.
How many days until Christmas?  It's mighty hard to count,
but this countdown chain will tell you the exact amount.
Take off a loop every night when the sandman casts his spell,
And Christmas Eve will be here by the time you reach the bell.

Preprint the poem on a bell shape.  Students select colored strips for the number of days until Christmas Eve.  We practice raising our arms and laying our hands on top of each other (NOT pointing our fingers up) to make a loop.  This is difficult for some to manage even after physically practicing.  Connect all loops to make a chain except the last one.  Teacher makes a slit on the bottom of the bell and puts last strip through slit.  Attach the chain to the last loop.

.

So keep them busy. 

And keep a countdown of days for you too!

Easy Reindeer Craft

 Precut the triangle.  Point the triangle downward.          Trace hands on two black 6-inch squares, draw a circle on the red and two ovals for eyes.  

I label the steps on the board for them to follow after I demonstrated how to make one.