Today's Classroom Activities :

What’s on Your Holiday Tree?

Pinecone Trees
Art Glue cotton balls around the base of a pinecone to represent snow. Wrap and drape red ribbon around the pinecone and glue in place. Glue on large seed beads in place for ornaments, then glue two paper or foil stars together and attach to the top.

Monogrammed Trees
Art Fold an 8 1/2" x 11" paper in half vertically and cut out a large triangular tree shape. On the outside of this tree draw a frame all around it, about one-quarter of an inch thick. On the inside area draw two large initials representing the first and last name. Double the initial lines one-quarter of an inch thick. Color in the lines of the initials and outline them with black marker. Decorate the frame and background areas and color the trunk. Display the trees from the ceiling or in one huge triangular tree shape on the bulletin board.

Fabric Mosaic Trees
Art On stiff cardboard (at least 9" x 12") students outline trees with popsicle sticks or similar materials. Inside is glued down cut-up green fabric or cut-up green yarn. Decorate with rickrack and glue a gold star at the top.

Story Trees
Art/Writing Cut Christmas tree shapes from 12" by 18" green construction paper. Have students simulate evergreen needles by making diagonal cuts down the sides. Fold the tree in half and make a starburst-shaped cut in the center. Unfold tree and glue the flaps of the starburst down to make an open window. Have students tape recycled Christmas card pictures in the opening. Students decorate their tree and add a brown paper stem. Ask students to write a caption about what's happening in the picture on their tree. Exchange trees and write captions for other trees. As the teacher holds up a tree, each student reads his or her caption aloud. Do we all see the same stories in a picture?