It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Yes it is! If you're going shopping this weekend stop by the dollar store and fill up your cart with decorations and "junk." Over the next few days I'll show you some fun learning centers you can create from inexpensive materials. I know some schools don’t allow “holidays,” so I tried to focus on a “winter” theme as much as possible. I mean, who can object to winter????
WINTER WRITING
Napkin Books
Materials: holiday napkins, paper, stapler
Note! The front of the napkin could also be used as a story prompt.
Sticker Story
Materials: holiday stickers, paper, pencils, pens
Let children choose a sticker and put it in the middle of a sheet of paper. Challenge them to write a poem or story or draw a picture around the sticker.
Giving Book
Materials: paper, rubber band, seasonal pencil, advertisements and catalogs, scissors, glue
Fold 3 sheets of paper in half. Punch 2 holes about 2 ½” down on the crease side as shown. Insert a rubber band in one hole and slide one end of the pencil through the loop. Slide the other end of the pencil through the other loop. Let children draw or cut out pictures of items they would like to GIVE to family members and friends.
Holiday Card Center
Place the writing materials in a tub. Make a seasonal picture dictionary similar to the one shown. Add a class directory with students’ names and photos. Teach children how to fold a sheet of paper into fourths to make a basic card. Invite them to make holiday cards for family members and friends.
Note! You could also ask them to make cards for school helpers and volunteers.
Letters to Santa
Some of you may not be able to do this, but an open center where children could write letters to Santa might get them excited about writing.
Note! There are several free templates for these letters on the internet.