The last two weeks before winter vacation and holiday are full of energy and anticipation. Montessori teachers know that, in addition to regular work cycles, this exciting time is easily tempered with fun holiday crafts that not only provide an outlet to pent up energy, but they serve as keepsake memories for parents. Use the following fun Christmas crafts as a jumping off point for your own Montessori Elementary classroom activities!

Montessori Elementary Christmas Crafts and Activity Guide

Handprint Wreath

Looking at handprints of my adolescent son, I yearn for the days when I held those tiny fingers in mine.

What You Need:

• Lots of green construction paper! (And some red, too).
• Red ribbon
• Glue
• Pencils
• Scissors
• Glitter

What You Do:

• Trace the child’s handprint on green construction paper.
• Cut out 10 handprints for each child.
• Glue the handprints together in a wreath shape.
• Cut out holly berries from red construction paper.
• Glue on green handprints.
• Tie a red ribbon at the base of the wreath.
• Decorate with glitter or glitter glue.

Paper Gift Box Craft

Wrapping paper is nice, but receiving a gift in a handmade paper box makes it extra special!

What You Need:

• Heavy paper, like card stock
• Access to a box template and a printer: Printable Box Template
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or paint
• Glitter
• Stickers
• Ribbon

What You Do:

• Print box template onto cardstock.
• Cut out template.
• Decorate
• Fold along all lines.
• Apply glue to one tab and attach it to the other end of the template, forming a box
• Fold over tabs on each end and close ends.

Pine Cone Christmas Tree

These make great centerpieces for your holiday table.

What You Need:

• A large Pine Cone (preferably one that is tree-shaped and easily stands upright)
• Cotton balls
• Glue
• Glitter
• Ribbon
• Needle and thread
• Beads

What You Do:

• Attach a few cotton balls to the base of the pine cone. These will help the tree stand upright as ell as looking like snow.
• Put a dab of glue on the tips of the pine cone and sprinkle with glitter.
• Thread some small bead on to the thread.
• Wrap the bead garland around the tree, gluing it down where necessary.
• Top with a bow.

More advanced students might like tying in the Upper Elementary Geometry lessons while making Platonic Solids (Polyhedra) ornaments. A template for these may be found on the Enchanted Learning website.