Winter Apple Snowflake Turkey Craft | Christmas Gift Ideas for the Classroom

Your class will show gratitude during the holiday season through this hands on Winter apple turkey or Christmas craft. It would make a perfect holiday gift for students to make for their families.

A turkey head and snowflake feathers will be decorated and hot glued to wooden skewers with the help of an adult. On each "snowflake" feather students will write about "Gifts in their life". The finished product is an adorable apple turkey which can be a table centerpiece for December holiday dinner tables.

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!  (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

Snow Beautiful

Well, it's a sunny 75% in California and I just got back from walking Harley.

He's decked out in bells and jingled all the way on our walk.

Since snow is a rare occurrence here I wanted some holiday inspiration.

"Snow" Beautiful

Falling Snow from Matt S on Vimeo.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday!

Find more great ideas on my Pinterest page or TPT store

Drawing Christmas

We drew holiday scenes today. The basic designs were from a directed step by step drawing book called Drawing Christmas, but I was surprised about the unique details students added on their own.

The tree in this picture was the only item that was copied from the book. The rest of the details was talent a la my student. I love her staircase and lamp.

Find more great ideas on my Pinterest page or TPT store

Take a Peek ....Holiday Tile Gifts

My students make these decorated tiles for their family holiday gift.

I bought the tiles at Home Depot for 16 cents each.  In all, it cost me less than $5.00 for a class set.

Then I cut squares of scrapbook paper.

Students picked the design they liked and modge podged it to the tile.

I chose more generic designed paper that could be displayed all year, but you can also use seasonal designs.

Then I sprayed them with a sealant.

This is one of the easiest gifts I've made over the years for both the students and ME!

The finished tile can be put on display or used as a coaster.

Find more great ideas on my Pinterest page or TPT store

Gift Writing

My students completed our Gifts of Giving Writing this week.

Their ideas were cute and thoughtful.

"First of all, without moms in my life it would be an awful time because they make your day bright."

This student thought that, "... fire is a good thing because we need it to light up a candle

so we can celebrate birthdays."

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I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

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December Holiday Read Aloud

Holiday Freebie alert!

Go grab my Rudolph Writing freebie

I always read the story Rudolph's Second Christmas to my students and have them then write their own version afterwards.  The sequel to the original Rudolph has an endearing set of "misfit" characters who, like Rudolph, seem a little different. Santa and Rudolph come to the rescue to bring back Christmas spirit to two children who were "forgotten" the previous holiday season.

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!  (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

Snow Globe Craft Project

If you missed my original post about my Snow Globe Project, take a look at some of these cute snow scenes.

It's Abe Lincoln in a Snow Globe!

The Big Apple in a Snow Globe

What I love BEST about this project is the variety of characters and stories created!

Year after year, I continue to be delighted with the creativity.

 This is a project you can do in January too!  Go grab it {HERE}.

Acrostic Poem for the Holidays

My students are writing about their holiday happenings acrostic style this week.

Click and print

Have yourself a merry little holiday!

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The Bell Still Rings Polar Express Art

My class rang in the season with this jingling display.

Do you still believe?

Click and print if you truly do!

Enjoy!

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!  (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

Bucket Fillers with Holiday Cheer

I'm spreading holiday cheer because..... 

My holiday bucket fillers are here!

Click and print

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

 (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

 

Stay in touch. Find me at:

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Holiday Ornament Gift

My students did this beaded ornament project for a family gift.

We used Fast Grab Tacky glue to stick the beads to the ornament and let dry overnight.

If there were bare spots the next day, we did touch up gluing of beads.

Then we wrapped the gifts and added this sweet little note:

Click picture to download notes

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Multiplication Card Games: Deck Out Your Holidays with a Deck of Cards

Give your students a holiday gift that keeps them learning!

I put my rhyming skills to practice with this little number:

"Your teacher is so smart

She wants you to do your part

For learning fame

Do a card game"

I typed up the rhyme and 4 card game directions.

I made 2 different versions: One set focuses on addition and subtraction and the other set includes addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

Attach a deck of cards to the game set and you have a gift for students to "Deck Out their Holidays"

Like this idea?  Grab your copy {HERE}

2 packs of cards at Dollar Tree makes your gift only 50 cents per student.

Keep in touch. Find me at:

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I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!

My Teacher in a Snow Globe

I mentioned in my Snow Globe project post that a previous student put ME into her snow globe and wrote the cutest story ever. I pulled it out of my FOREVER file to share with you!

The story adds even more cuteness:

It was a day before Christmas and Ms. T was sleeping with a snoring cat beside her. Then, within a step from the cat, there was a tricky mouse. Suddenly, the cat woke up and the cat started to chase the mouse all around the Christmas tree. To escape, the mouse ran up the tree. Then the cat knocked the Christmas tree over! As the tree fell, a snow globe ornament fell on Ms. T's head. She woke up and the water from the snow globe made Ms. T shrink. Of course, Ms. T was horrified when she shrank. She was as tiny as her cat, Mr. Wiskers. Mr. Wiskers started to chase Ms. Tiny T.

Then Ms. T yelled, "Help, help, I need help."  After a little while a cricket heard and said,

"Do not fear, Mr. Cricket is here." The cricket said to Ms. T, "You should go inside the snow globe." She replied, "In the snow globe?" and the cricket said, "Yes!" So, Ms. T ran inside the snow globe. While she was in the snow globe she realized it was cold, but she felt safe. So my teacher was happy inside her snow globe especially when we would pick up the globe and shake it around.

Let your class try their own creative writing efforts. Get the project {HERE}

Gifts of Giving Bags

My class is treated to "Gifts of Giving" goodie bags just prior to our winter break. The basic idea is to have students bring in a class set of goodies like seasonal pencils, candy canes, erasers, or holiday Dollar Store items. I send home a donation letter to parents, and those that want to send treats in do.  All students decorate their gift cover and glue it to the front of a paper bag. As donations come in I fill the bags with all the treats and on our last day together every student has their own "Gifts of Giving" goodie bag. You can take a peek at my sample letter below and also grab a copy of my "Gifts of Giving" cover.

Grab a copy of the bag cover:

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It's Snow Globe Time

I know I mentioned that my No Cost Gift writing was a favorite of the season, but my Snow Globe project is on the top of my list too.  I have my students do this as a take home project, but you can also complete it in class. Students create a character inside their snow globe and then write a story about how the character came to be inside it. The stories always turn out fabulous! My favorite story was one titled, "My Teacher in the Snow Globe". I've saved that one in my FOREVER file.  I'll have to dig it out and post it for you...it's adorable I must say.

Get this project {HERE}

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!  (Freebie ideas and giveaways are sometimes shared there!)

No Cost Gift Writing

My FAVORITE December holiday writing activity is related to No Cost Gifts.

I assign each student an item that costs nothing monetarily, and they write about how they appreciate it in their lives.  

Grab it at my store

I recently started a Facebook Group for teachers to share ideas, questions, and inspiration. 

Come Join the group!