Thursday, December 15, 2011

22 Fun Christmas Activity Trays!!

I have been preparing Christmas activity trays all week for our Homeschool Co-Op Christmas Party.  The kids have been helping me test them all out, too.  My children loved most of them, and I thought I'd share them with you in case you will be doing school next week.  Sorry no action shots on these, my children were working on them while I made others.  I didnt get the pictures until after they were in bed!


Peppermint Puzzles which I made.  They can be downloaded free, here.


Christmas Pattern blocks from Prekinders.  Thanks for the heads up Adventures of Bear!


Jingle bell tonging and patterning.


3 is for three kings magnet page from Making Learning Fun.



I Spy Christmas Tree.  I found this adorable idea from Kinder by Kim via Pinterest. 


Pouring jingle bells.  I saw this idea on Parenting in the Moment.



Candy size sorting.  I purchased a big bag of foam candy beads from Oriental Trading Company.  Then, I made a sorting mat for big and small pieces of candy.  The sugar bowl was a great yard sale find this summer.


I made Nativity lacing cards from graphics I purchased from Just So Scrappy earlier this year.  


I downloaded the adorable Gingerbread Baby printable pack from Homeschool Creations.


I combined the houses from her hide and seek game with gingerbread men from Oriental Trading Company to create a cards and counters game.


I added stickers on the back for self checking.



An oldie but goodie, pipe cleaner bead sculpture from My Montessori Journey.  Mini Cooper loves this one!


Tonging and sorting pom poms.  Inspired by a tray I saw on H is for Homeschooling.  


They can be sorted by color


or by size.  The tray is from our Melissa and Doug Birthday Party set.


I was just going to set this Christmas tree out to be decorated as the kids wanted.  But then I got an idea...


I decided to add instruction cards.   


Mustang is reading, so she is able to read these to herself.  Then she read them to Charger.


The end result.


Felt tree decorating.  I read about this idea on Criss-Cross Applesause and LOVED it!!  Then, I came across a premade set in Hobby Lobby for $2.50!!


I decorated the tree four different ways and took pictures.  I printed out the pictures and put them with the trees.



The object is to decorate the tree like the picture.  Criss-Cross Applesauce has made a free download available if you would like to make one too!


I made up a set of Christmas Tree Cards and Counters that can be downloaded free here.


Then I found some little presents at Walmart to put with the cards.


I added stickers on the back for self checking.


This lovely stamping page is part of a great set provided free from Our Worldwide Classroom.


I put out a little basket with all the letters needed to spell Nativity.  I also included crayons which didnt make the picture.


This alphabet match is also part of the Gingerbread Baby set from Homeschool Creations.  Using the pocket chart is always a highlight for my children!




I put self checker stickers on the back of the matching cards.



I am sure that these Nativity sticker sheets from Oriental Trading Company will be a hit tomorrow.  My children didnt get to try them out because there are limited amount-they will get theirs tomorrow, too.  The sheets dont come with a paper, so I included a tablet of paper to use.


I always put out an art box, because I have a few students in our Co-Op that would rather draw and color then do activity trays.


This one includes Christmas stampers (Walmart), mini cookie cutters for tracing (Hobby Lobby last year), markers and card stock.


Nativity Puzzle.  I found this at Hobby Lobby for a couple dollars and my children have really loved it.


Christmas tree color scratch ornaments.  I know these are going to be a hit!  They are from Oriental Trading Company.    I took advantage of their free shipping sale earlier this month and ordered a bunch of stuff.  I have loved all of it!


Nativity finger puppets.  These are also from Oriental Trading Company.  They come in packages of 4 sets, so I already gave my children one.  They have been having many plays of Baby Jesus' birth this week.



Last but not least, snowflake rubbing.  This basket includes paper, crayons, and a set of snowflake rubbing plates from Oriental Trading Company.  They are really cool!  

I found a ton of other great ideas that I didnt end up using this year.  Some of them I pinned on Pinterest you can check out my board here: http://pinterest.com/ourcountryroad/christmas-trays/

I hope you all are having a great Christmas Season!!

God Bless!

We are (or will be) linked up in the following spots:


Tot School Montessori Monday

10 comments:

Kylie said...

wow what a great set of trays :-)

Lovely to see my stamp and colour pages. I hope the children enjoy them :-)

I hope you will link this up to Christmas Fun over at my blog. :-)

Carla @ Preschool Powol Packets said...

What a fabulous party! It sounds like you guys had a blast! I love "learning" games!

Carla @ Whole Child Creative Curriculum

Carla @ Preschool Powol Packets said...

PS. I'd love to share this post on my facebook page--you have so many great ideas that I think a lot of people would be able to use! Let me know if that's a problem!

Carla @ Whole Child Creative Curriculum

Anonymous said...

What great activity trays! I know Sammy would love to come play with all of them!

Becca B. said...

Such great ideas! Now I want to go find little presents to use as counters! CUTE!

Brittney said...

My kids have loved the Christmas pattern blocks. I like the I Spy Christmas tree idea...we might try that when I need to keep my 5 year old busy!

Stopping in from Tot School!

Brittney
www.moms-heart.blogspot.com

Alyssa said...

Wow. So many wonderful ideas. I might must have to borrow these. Love the idea of rubbing snowflakes. I wanted to make some with my son but he isn't handy with scissors yet.

Sierra @ H is for Homeschooling said...

Thanks for mentioning my blog :) I appreciate the shout out and love all these ideas! I pinned this post so I don't forget where I found them :)

Cacheymama said...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these activity trays! There are just so many things that you have just lying around your home/classroom that you don't always think of using them in this way. Great fine motor and I know the children would LOVE them! Thanks for sharing!
Lori

Katie said...

I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! :) You have such awesome ideas. Can't wait to see what you link up to Thifty Thursday Next week...Thanks for sharing at Thrifty Thursday!! Hope you had a fantastic Holiday Season!