[mhugs]

I am not crafty at all but need some to see some of the marvelous things other great first grade teachers have done in their classrooms.... I can spend some money but it will be from my pocket if I need to get special items. Can't believe it's almost December.
All my students' families celebrate Christmas.

[apple73]

I have the kids take 4 popsicle sticks and clue them to make a frame. Then I purchase a 100 or 1000 piece puzzle. The kids glue the puzzle pieces face down to the popsicle sticks. Then they paint them white and sprinkle irridescent glitter on it to give it the effect of snow. I take a picture of them outside in their snow gear and glue it to the frame. I attach a snowflake ribbon to the top and attach it to the back of the frame with a label that says "Happy Holidays First Grade 2009". The students then decorate bags to put their picture frame in.

[CindyLynn]

1. Christmas wreath-glue puzzle pieces in a circle. When the glue dries paint the pieces green and add red sequins or pompoms for holly berries. The wreath could be used as an ornament picture frame. Link to a picture: http://crafts.kaboose.com/puzzle-wreath-ornament.html
2. Purchase clear plastic or glass ball ornaments and remove the metal top. Squirt 2 colors of craft paint into the ball and show students how to slowly rotate the ball so that the paint covers all of the inside. Let the extra paint drip out of the ball. When it is dry replace the metal part. Link to picture: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html
3. Tri bead candy canes-purchase red and white tri-beads and string them onto chenille stems (pipe cleaners). Bend the string of beads into a candy cane shape and add a bow. This link has a picture of the ornament: http://crafts.kaboose.com/candy-cane-ornament.html

[funhaha]

A co-worker of mine shared this with me. You get a plastic ornament ball for each child (I buy 20 for $4 at a store called Big Lot). The children paint three of their fingers white, and press the fingers onto the ball, on one day. The next day when it's dry, they either use paint or markers, and decorate the three fingerprints to look like snowman. On the other side of the ball I write their name and the year. There's a cute poem that goes with it, that I type out in color, cut it with those design scissors, and attach it with yarn to the ball. They then wrap the ball in color tissue paper. It's a very cheap gift.

This was a great activity last year and I plan on doing it again this year. It did not take up a lot of time but the end results were fantastic. Parents and students loved it.

[Tiffany]

I do something similar to the picture posted below. I have the kids color the reindeer brown on all sides of the stick using a sharpie marker. Then I use hot glue to glue all the pieces together and glue the eyes and a nose. I also let the kids use metallic pipe cleaners to make antlers. Red ribbon is attached to the top so they can hang it.