The holiday season is the ideal time to teach young learners about important celebrations while creating corresponding activities to help them develop in their learning journey. The following five fun preschool activities will help children learn fine motor skills, counting, and how to get into the holiday spirit.
Turkey Math Mat
This activity is designed to help students work on their numbers and counting.
Materials:
- Turkey cutouts
- Feathers (enough for each student to have roughly 10)
- Sharpies
Directions:
- Write on the turkey bodies different numbers up to as high as the students will be counting.
- Distribute printed turkey cutouts to students.
- Give them each approximately 10 feathers, but this can vary depending on how high the students can count. Adjust for age.
- Tell students to put the number of feathers on the turkey according to the number written on the turkey body.
- For additional rounds, have students put the feathers back in their piles and pass their turkeys to the left or right. Teachers or helpers could also do this for the students.
Modifications: students can do this activity with smaller items like beads or Cheerios by simply placing them on the body of the turkey.
Holiday Wreath
This holiday wreath is the perfect opportunity to display kids’ creativity during the fall and winter holiday season.
Materials:
- Paper plates
- Scissors
- Glue
- Tissue paper in fall or winter colors–red, green, orange, yellow, etc.
- Brown paper torn into thin strips
- Optional: artificial twigs and flowers
Directions:
- Cut out the middle of the paper plates. Give them out to students.
- Have kids glue the fake twigs or brown pieces of paper to the plate as a base of branches.
- Then have them glue on the crumpled pieces of tissue paper as leaves. They can also glue on the fake flowers at this point.
- Attach a ribbon so kids can hang up their festive wreaths!
Tape Star Of David
Kids can have fun with paint while learning more about an important religion in South Florida.
Materials:
- Square pieces of paper, one for each student
- Masking tape
- Blue paint
- Brushes
- Water
Directions:
- Create Stars of David on the pieces of paper by making two triangles out of tape.
- Hand out the pieces of paper to students and give them each brush and a palette of paint in the middle of a table. This may require smocks.
- Have students paint over the piece of paper, taking the opportunity to explain the history of Hanukkah and the significance of the Star of David in Judaism.
- Wait for the paint to dry, at least an hour.
- Have students peel off the tape (or have adults do it) to reveal the shape of the Star of David underneath the paint.
Christmas Tree Ornaments
Materials:
- Popsicle sticks
- Green paint
- Elmer’s glue
- Scissors
- Yellow construction paper or star stickers
- Buttons of various sizes, sequins, or beads
- Hot glue gun
Directions:
- Paint the popsicle sticks green and hot glue three sticks together to create a triangle. Also, glue a piece of ribbon to the back so kids can hang up their ornaments.
- Cut out small yellow stars from the paper. You can also substitute star stickers. Distribute the “trees” once the paint has dried.
- Have kids use Elmer’s glue to paste buttons onto the tree as Christmas ornaments.
- Include a short conversation about the story behind Christmas as a holiday.
- Have kids finish off the tree with the star on top.
Geometric Scarecrow
Kids can learn shapes and color associations by constructing a scarecrow.
Materials:
- Construction paper in different colors
- Scissors
- Glue
Directions:
- Cut out shapes for kids to create the body and limbs of the scarecrow: make one large square for the body, four large rectangles for its arms and legs, a large triangle for the scarecrow hat, several smaller rectangles for fingers and toes, a circle for its head, a three small triangles for its eyes and nose. A marker can be used to draw a mouth.
- Review the shapes that correspond to each body part with the students and review the colors of the different shapes as well to reinforce these concepts.
- Distribute materials and have kids assemble their scarecrows.
Fun, Educational Preschool Learning In Parkland, Florida
The Parkland Children’s Academy will teach kids concepts that are both fun and educational. Reach out to us to learn more about the programs we offer.