Felt Christmas Tree

          Christmas Tree 
 
         Manipulative activities for youngsters is so very important.    I saw a stuffed felt Christmas tree on Pinterest and was intrigued.  It looked like something I could make for my grandchildren and nephews. 
             
           Now is a great time to get started on an activity for you little ones for the Christmas season. 

           I made a form from cardboard which is about two feet tall.  The large triangle shapes were glued together using a hot glue gun.   I used tacky glue to fasten the felt to the cardboard tree.    Then the tree form was filled with styro-foam packing peanuts to keep it light yet firm.       Finally, the felt bottom of the tree shape  was stitched in place to keep the tree together. 
           
          An old Advent calendar with little felt ornaments happened to be in my basement. These felt ornaments hung on to the felt of the tree much like a felt board.  The ornaments were the perfect size for little fingers and my tree.

           My granddaughter is 18 months old.   As you can see, she spend a lot of time arranging and rearranging the ornaments on her little tree. 

               We all need those quiet moments to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas, even the very small child.

  So start working on manipulatives for the young ones in your family.   You will not regret it.

           I have linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five for Friday Weekly Linky Party.     Lots of great ideas for the new year and winter months.
  www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com 

      Merry Christmas to all 

and to all 

a Good Night!

 

 

Please leave a comment if you have a minute. I'd love to hear from you.

Beti

Advent Calendar

       A Family Tradition

       Many years ago my  children received an Advent calendar from my husband's aunt.  She had made felt ornaments to attach to a felt tree.   All of the cousins used these Advent calendars as they waited patiently for Christmas to come each year for about 30 years. Aunt Marian had made four Advent calendars, one for each family.    Each ornament had its own little pocket, 24 in all.

       Two years ago, my two sister-in-laws and I decided that we would make an Advent calendar for our children now that they were grown and living on their own.    Some were married and having children.    We wanted this tradition to carry on for the next generation. 

       We divided up the 24 ornaments.   Each of us would make 8.    We had to make 12 of each ornament for our combined 12 children.  

       From the top we made sleighs, angels, train engines, drums, piggy banks, houses, stockings, candles, holly leaves, wrapped gifts, horses, snowmen, bells, gingerbread men, hearts, ornaments, tin soldiers, fish, birds, wreaths, candy canes, apples, mittens, and puppy dogs.   The stars at the top were made by our Aunt Marian. 

      Here is the tree before trimming at the beginning of Advent.   All the ornaments are tucked into a numbered pocket.

         And the tree on Christmas Eve all decorated.    The little ones love to choose an ornament and snap it on the tree.   This is great for eye hand coordination.     Children can talk about the colors and shapes of each ornament while placing them on the tree. 

         We added a Nativity scene under our Advent trees.    My sister-in-law found the darling set of buttons and had to purchase them.    They add a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.

      
     
Beti
 

Advent Journal

        As a part of my Religion class, I have the students put together an Advent Journal the week before Advent.  This way we are prepared, on the first day back to school after the first Sunday in Advent, to write in our journals.
        We begin with seven sheets of loose leaf paper.  One sheet is used to glue a standard size envelope.  This will be a safe place to store the Advent Journal in their Religion duo-tang each day.
In the past, I had the children store it in the pocket of their duo-tang, but they fell out easily and got lost.  This year I got smart with the envelope system.
 

The other six sheets of loose leaf were cut into three sections and stapled into a folded piece of paper or card stock.  Some students designed their own cover.  Others used the paper that was supplied.

The next step was to cut apart all the days of advent and glue each piece on to the correct page in the Advent Journal. Use both the front and back of each sheet in order to have enough pages.

     In the past years, Sister Carolyn, our Principal, had given these Advent Calendar sheets to use with our students. They worked very well for this Advent Journal.   On this page the children write about an act of kindness or generosity in order to get ready for the birth of Jesus.

The students write, "Dear God,  Please pray for, or watch over, or protect ..."  on each page as we discuss the people who we are praying for each day.

 Lastly, The loose leaf page is clipped into their duo-tang for safe keeping. The Advent Journal is kept in the envelope for use at the beginning of  Religion class each day during Advent. 

I hope this journal will be useful in your class or for your own children at home.  Make Advent special this year with your children.

1. Beti