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Student-Made Christmas Gift Ideas

December 3, 2015

I have always wanted my students to make gifts for their families for Christmas, but those gifts have varied from year-to-year based on the budget I have.  If you’re still looking for what to make for student gifts this year, here are some ideas I have used in the past.
This has been one of the easiest projects to make and each snowman’s face is packed with personality.  These are clear glass ornaments with white batting inside.  The faces are drawn with sharpie markers and festive ribbon has been attached at the top.
I’ve also done fingerprint ornaments that look like this:
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The biggest difference between the ones I have done and the ones in the tutorial are the materials used.  I have always purchased blue ornaments (saves a step) and used sharpies to add details to the snowmen.

Another great idea is a photo gift inspired by the book, The Best Part of Me.

This one probably takes the most prep time, but families love receiving photographs as gifts.  One year I even bought frames from the dollar store, but when I’m on a tighter budget, I’ve been more creative with mounting the photos on cardstock paper.

If you are on a super tight budget (aka if the school doesn’t supply it, I can’t afford it budget), these next two ideas are for you.

My class usually makes 3-D trees and wreaths out of construction paper then students can decorate with crayons and yarn.  Here are some great tutorials for these crafts:
3-D Trees
3-D Wreaths

Finally, with directed drawings all over the Internet and TpT world, students (and teachers) are feeling more successful as artists.  If you’ve already picked your gifts, these would be terrific on the front of a Christmas card, too!

Some of my go-to sources for directed drawings:
Jennifer @ First Grade Blue Skies
Mel @ From the Pond
Art Projects for Kids

The last thing I want to share with you is a helpful tip.  If you don’t want parents making their own Christmas gifts, find another teacher and see if you can swap parent volunteers for a day (or even a week).  You will both still get the help you need while keeping gifts a secret!

What gifts do your students make for their families each year?

 

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Related posts:

How Santa Lost His Job (Opinion Writing and Craft) December2BCrafts2BCollage.jpgChristmas Crafts for Kids Pinterest2BTemplate.jpgA New Improved Santa Activities & Crafts Night Tree Activities How Santa Got His Job (Anchor Chart Freebie)
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💛 LIBRARY STACK 💛 Thought I’d stop and take a mom 💛 LIBRARY STACK 💛

Thought I’d stop and take a moment to admire my current checkouts from the local library, especially since I was recently reminded that February is National Library Lovers’ Month. 

Do I often get strange looks and questions when another patron sees me with a large stack of picture books at the self-checkout desk? Yes, but that hasn’t stopped me! 

Which titles from this stack would you reach for first?
My favorite library find this week dives deep bene My favorite library find this week dives deep beneath the surface to explore hidden treasures.

Alternating between verse and facts, this book gives readers a front row seat to some of the biggest shipwrecks ever found. We also get introduced to some of the scientists, divers, and treasure hunters behind these discoveries. 

Whether you know an aspiring marine archaeologist or someone who loves a good treasure hunt, this book would be a good fit for any curious, adventurous reader!

Have you seen this book yet?

Shipwreck
📚 @tilburyhousepublishers 
✏️ Deirdre Laide
🎨 Carlos Velez Aguilera
A princess who is intelligent, has a kind & gentle A princess who is intelligent, has a kind & gentle heart, and one who stays true to herself? Yes, please!

Set in the mountains of Joseon, we meet Jeongsoon. She has a heart of jade, and wants to become princess so she can help the hungry children in her village. 

It isn’t long before she enters the Princess Challenge and faces three tests: Manners, Wisdom, and the Sleep Test.

While Jeongsoon is far from perfect, she stays true to herself and wins the favor of the queen. 

This story adds a fresh perspective on the classic tale of The Princess and the Pea. My favorite part was the Sleep Test twist! I love that the backmatter includes information about the real-life Queen Jeongsoon of South Korea.

A big thank you to the publisher for sharing this new picture book with my family! 
✏️ @tinamcho
🎨 @honeej
📚 @MacKidsBooks

Which do you prefer?
• traditional tales
• reimagined/fractured fairytales
• both
My favorite library find this week combines friend My favorite library find this week combines friendship and adventure with a story about how paper is made.

Under a tree, a boy with a book and girl with a paper plane meet and play over the course of a wonderful day. Then they are parted - perhaps never to meet again. 

Soon their tree is felled and starts a new journey to become paper to make hundreds of different things...including a book for a girl and a notepad for a boy. 

Can a new paper plane find its way to reunite the friends again?

⭐️ Not only would this story be a great addition to your friendship collection, but you might want to check it out before Earth Day since it also explains how paper is made. 

Have you read this book yet?

Paper Chase
📚 @scholastic
✏️ Julia Donaldson
🎨 Victoria Sandøy
As teachers and parents, we want our kids to be ki As teachers and parents, we want our kids to be kind to others. Through books, we can show students how to see the good in others, how to be there for other people, how to help others feel included, how to be kind even when it is hard, and how spreading kindness can come back around.

In other words, books can help us send the message that kindness is important and something we value. 

🩷 What are your favorite kindness books for kids?

🔗 Full list available on my website and Amazon page.
My favorite library find this week might surprise My favorite library find this week might surprise you, especially if you know how much I don’t like spiders! This one combines amazing artwork with a meaningful message, which makes it a must-read!

Kiara spent her days spinning webs to catch lunch. One day an extraordinary web catches her eye, and she becomes determined to create something just as amazing. Unfortunately, with every new creation comes someone (or something) that carelessly destroys her hard work. 

“HEY! I WORKED HARD ON THAT!”

Then Kiara meets Orb, a weaver, who helps her gain a fresh perspective - one that shifts the focus away from the result and towards the journey (and friends) she can make along the way.

Have you read this book yet?

I Worked Hard on That!
📚 @simonkids 
✏️ @robynjwall 
🎨 @annakangdesign 

⭐️This book would be a fun way to introduce a spider unit, or a great addition to your collection of books about overcoming obstacles and having a growth mindset.
There’s a new friend with a story to share in the There’s a new friend with a story to share in the Big Bright Feelings series!

Meet Sammy…

Sammy LOVES having fun. Especially at home. But in big groups - like at school, birthday parties, even the ice cream truck - he doesn’t love feeling like other people are looking at him, and it’s really hard talking to other people. Everyone tells Sammy not to be so shy. But one day, it gets so hard and scary that he starts to turn pink, and then pinker…until he’s bright pink ALL OVER! Then he doesn’t want to see anyone or do anything. But hiding out-alone-isn’t very fun. Can Sammy learn how to tackle his fears - and go back to his usual color?

Have you read this one yet? Be sure to swipe to see the rest of the books in this series. They are soooo good for starting conversations about feelings, and would be a great addition to your SEL collection!

Sammy Feels Shy
@bloomsburychildrens 
✏️🎨 @tompercivalbooks

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