Holiday Classroom Crafts for Kids

holiday crafts in the classroom

As the holiday season seems to take over the rest of the year, you’ve probably found that your students are getting more jittery in class for their winter break. It can be hard to keep their attention, especially virtually, as those sleigh bells start jingling louder and louder. Take a break from your normal routine to incorporate some kid-friendly holiday classroom crafts! From handprint wreaths and reindeer ornaments to Hanukkah wall hangings, your students will be sure to get into a jolly spirit. ‘Tis the season for fun holiday activities, inspired by crafts from We Are Teachers.

Handprint Wreath

Kick off the holiday spirit with a do-it-yourself handprint wreath! Turn this inexpensive and easy classroom craft into a cherished Christmas decoration your students will get to take home and have forever, inspired by My Name is Snickerdoodle!

Materials:

  • Dark green and light green construction paper
  • Pen or pencil
  • Red construction paper
  • Red ribbon
  • Hole punch
  • Scissors
  • Stapler or glue

Step 1:

Start by having your students grab a few sheets of light green construction paper and a few sheets of dark green construction paper. Make sure each student has a pen or pencil and have them begin tracing their hand as many times as they want, on top of the green paper.

Step 2:

After the hands have been traced, use the scissors to cut out the hands, and place neatly on top of each other so that they form a circular shape. Once the handprints have been carefully placed, use the stapler or glue stick to secure the paper together. 

Step 3:

Once the wreath has been glued or stapled together, pass out the red construction paper. This can be used to cut out small circles that, once glued, will garnish the wreath with beautiful red berries.

Step 4:

Finally, use the hole punch to punch a small hole at the top of the wreath and tie the red ribbon through the hole. Once the ribbon is tied, the wreath is complete and can be used to hang as decoration around the classroom or your student’s houses!

Image courtesy of My Name is Snickerdoodle

Hanukkah Wall Hanging Craft

With the holiday seasons approaching, it’s important to teach your students about the history of every holiday that is celebrated worldwide. Discuss the Hanukkah traditions while creating this beautiful Hanukkah wall hanging craft, inspired by Busy in Brooklyn.

Materials:

Step 1:

Glue the blue felt sheet to one of the white felt sheets. Cut a piece of white felt 12″ long x 2.35″ wide and glue it to the center of the blue felt sheet.

Step 2:

Using the gift bow template and scissors, cut out around the bow shapes and staple them to the remaining white felt sheet. Then, use the scissors to cut out the bow shapes and the ribbon for the center. Glue one side of the ribbon around the back of one of the bows. Glue one bow to the white backing, and the other to the front blue sheet. Wrap the open end of the ribbon around the back and glue down.

Step 3:

To prepare the dreidel pockets, print out 2 copies of each of the dreidel templates. Staple the templates to sheets of felt (you can double the felt so you cut two at once) and use the scissors to cut out the shapes. Attach the pocket covers to the dreidels, making sure to only glue down the sides. Glue all the dreidel pockets to the blue felt sheet. For the numbers, cut eight very thin strips of white felt.

Step 4:

Draw the numbers with glue onto the dreidel pocket and press the strips of felt down on the glue, adjusting the strip to fit the number. Alternatively, you may write the numbers with puff paint, or use number stickers. Now that you’ve completed the wall hanging, your students can take it home to fill the pockets each night with Chanukah gelt, chocolate coins, or little gifts!

Image courtesy of Busy in Brooklyn

DIY Reindeer Ornaments

For our last classroom craft, have your students make these adorable DIY reindeer ornaments, inspired by Reading Confetti, that they can take home and hang on their tree!

Materials:

  • Clear fillable plastic ornament
  • Brown filler (pom poms, paper shreds, etc.)
  • Large googly eyes
  • Scissors
  • Brown pipe cleaners
  • Red or brown pom pom
  • Glue gun

Step 1:

Start by handing out a clear plastic ornament to each of your students, and pieces of brown paper and pom poms.

Step 2:

Use the brown pom poms and recycled brown papers to stuff the inside of the clear ornament, giving it a 3D reindeer fur look.

Step 3:

Glue the googly eyes to the front of the ornament and cut the brown pipe cleaners to make the shape of antlers. Once the antlers have been cut, glue these to the ornament as well.

Step 4:

Finally, glue the red pom pom to the center of the ornament, below the eyes, creating the appearance of a red Rudolph nose!

Image courtesy of Reading Confetti

We hope you enjoyed these quick and easy holiday classroom crafts! Show us your students’ creations by tagging us on Twitter (@Bostitchoffice)!

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