Christmas Theme Ideas for Preschoolers
Though they do it in a wide variety of ways, most people in Western countries celebrate Christmas. Help preschool students understand and appreciate this tradition with a variety of Christmas-themed lessons and activities. If you will teach religious lessons, you may wish to first obtain parental permission.
-
The Birth of Jesus
-
Many preschools align with a religion, often a sect of Christianity. If you run a religious preschool, you can make your Christmas crafts religious in nature. Allow students to draw pictures of the baby Jesus being born, including the manger, Joseph, Mary and the three wise men. Accompany your craft with a lesson on the birth of Jesus and the struggles Joseph and Mary had to undergo in order to find a suitable birthplace for their son. Other related crafts include creating portraits of Jesus or the Shepherd.
Ornaments
-
Help preschool students create ornaments by providing them with paper ornament templates. Cut construction paper into appropriate shapes, such as circles or stars, and punch a hole in the top of the ornament. Give children markers, crayons, glue and glitter and allow them to decorate their ornaments in any way they see fit. Help students tie a ribbon through the hole in the ornament.
-
Cards
-
Personal cards often brighten the day of a parent or guardian. Many people, whether religious or not, send Christmas cards to their friends. Help preschool students make cards they can give to their parents, aunts and uncles or grandparents. Fold construction paper into the shape of a card and write a simple message on the front, such as "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." Have students draw pictures and write personal messages on the inside of the card. You may wish to include photographs of the students that they bring from home.
Letters to Santa
-
Write letters to Santa requesting specific gifts. Have students handwrite their letters with explanations of why they want and deserve a particular toy. Remind students that they can wish for not only gifts, but also intangible things like world peace and a wonderful holiday with their family. Teach students about the myth of Saint Nick and the current belief that Santa brings children presents every year on Christmas Eve.
Books
-
If story time is a normal part of your preschool class routine, read books that relate to the holidays, such as The Gingerbread Man, Dream Snow, The Wild Christmas Reindeer and Clifford's First Christmas.
Decorations
-
Decorate the walls of your school with holiday-themed objects such as posters of angels, Santa, reindeer, snow and Jesus. Consider adding a Christmas tree to your room and having kids help put up the ornaments and tinsel. You may wish to use a fake tree since real Christmas trees often cause allergy problems for those with mold allergies.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
