The holiday season can be a time of joy, wonder, and creativity. For educators, it’s a chance to foster imagination and learning through festive arts and crafts projects. With Elmer’s, a trusted brand known for its high-quality, non-toxic products, you can create a variety of engaging activities that will captivate your students.
Why Arts and Crafts Matter
Arts and crafts are more than just fun; they’re essential tools for cognitive development and can help spark imagination and creativity. Engaging in creative activities can help students:
- Develop fine motor skills: Cutting, pasting, and painting strengthen hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
- Boost problem-solving abilities: Crafting projects often requires children to think critically, find solutions, or follow directions.
- Enhance creativity: Open-ended crafts can encourage children to use their imagination and unique expression.
- Improve focus and concentration: Engaging in a creative task can help children stay focused and calm.
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Festive Craft Ideas for the Classroom
Here are some festive craft ideas that you can implement in your classroom using Elmer’s products and some helpful tips on how to execute them:
DIY Holiday Cards:
To create personalized holiday cards, students can use cardstock, markers, glitter, and Elmer’s glue sticks. They can cut and paste colorful shapes, add glitter, and write heartfelt messages on the cards to bring joy and festive spirit for the holidays. To add a 3D element, students can use craft sticks to create decorations like trees, snowflakes, or reindeer.
Winter Wonderland Dioramas:
To create a miniature winter wonderland, students can transform old shoeboxes into snowy scenes. They can paint the inside of the box blue to represent the sky and use Elmer’s liquid glue to glue cotton balls to the bottom to replicate snow. Students can then use various craft supplies to create houses, trees, and other wintery elements. To add a touch of magic, teachers can suggest using Elmer’s glue to add glitter to the snow for a sparkling effect.
Colorful Holiday Ornaments:
To create festive holiday ornaments, students can decorate Styrofoam balls with paint, glitter, and stickers. Once the ornaments are dry, students can add a ribbon for hanging. To add extra sparkle and texture, teachers can suggest using Elmer’s liquid glue to attach small, lightweight objects like sequins or beads to the ornaments.
Handprint Reindeer:
To make an adorable handprint reindeer, students can dip their hands in brown paint and press them onto construction paper. After the brown paint is dry, white paint can be used to add the reindeer’s face and antlers. They can use Elmer’s glue to add googly eyes and red pom-poms that can be used to create the nose and add to the antlers. For a personal touch, teachers can encourage students to personalize their reindeer by drawing accessories like hats or scarves.
Paper Plate Snowflakes:
For beautiful paper plate snowflakes, students can cut paper plates into snowflake shapes by following instructions led by a teacher. They can then decorate the snowflakes with paint, Elmer’s glitter glue, and stickers. It can be fun to add a piece of double-sided tape to these wonderful creations and stick them to the classroom window.
Elmer’s Products for the Classroom:
From liquid, to glitter, to glue sticks, Elmer’s has all different types of glue needed to bring creative projects to life. With a focus on safety and fun, Elmer’s empowers individuals of all ages to explore their artistic potential. Here are some of the Elmer’s products that W.B. Mason offers that can help with your festive holiday crafts this year:
- Glue Sticks: Elmer’s Washable School Glue Sticks, 30/Box
- Liquid Glue: Elmer’s Washable Clear School Glue, 5 oz, Liquid
- Glitter Glue: Elmer’s Glitter Glue, 6 oz, Red
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Making the Most of Your Crafts
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable holiday craft experience, it can be important to think ahead to what these festive learning opportunities will bring. By following these simple tips, you can foster creativity, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment in your students.
- Plan Ahead: Organize your materials and plan your activities in advance. Creating lesson plans based on the craft sessions can also help stick to the educational standards that are put in place.
- Create a Festive Atmosphere: Decorate your classroom with holiday decorations to inspire creativity in your students. Getting them in the festive mood can help foster ideas prior to the craft session.
- Encourage Individuality: Let students express themselves through their unique designs, and let their imaginations run wild.
- Clean Up Together: Involve students in the cleanup process to promote responsibility. This can be as simple as having them put away materials where they belong.
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Crafting Festive Fun with Elmer’s
By incorporating arts and crafts into your holiday lesson plans, you can help create a fun and engaging learning experience for students. With Elmer’s, you have the tools to bring your creative visions to life. Happy crafting!
