Christmas Activities for Kindergarten and Preschool: O Christmas Tree

This packet of activities contains a wide variety of ideas and materials for:
• Math
• Language Arts
• Science
• Social Studies
• Practical Life
• Art
Math and Language Arts activities correlated to Kindergarten Common Core Standards.

The majority of the activities are games and other hands-on activities. Many are inspired by the Montessori method. It works well to introduce several activities at first. Then add to and rotate throughout the unit. Centers can be set up for each subject area and students can be given the choice of what to complete.

All of the provided materials are secular, and many are centered more on the nature of pine trees than Christmas.

The activities have suggestions for differentiation and work well with a variety of students. This was designed for the homeschool, preschool, or kindergarten environment. The packet is 118 pages and 4 Smart board presentations are included.

The Table of Contents follow:


Table of Contents

Math Activities

The Greatest Pine Cone Game - Students compare the number of pine cones on trees in this card game with a corresponding Smart Board presentation.

Standard Correlation:
Counting and Cardinality
Compare numbers. 6. Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.

Counting Pine Cones - Given 55 objects and number cards from 1-10, students count the correct number of items for each card.

Standard Correlation
Counting and Cardinality
Count to tell the number of objects.
4. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
5. Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.

Geometry
Identify and Describe Shapes
2. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Decorate the Christmas/Pine Tree - Students play a game in small groups where they roll the dice and place the given number or shape on the Christmas tree. The game's objective is to work together to get all items on the tree.

Standard Correlation
Counting and Cardinality
Count to tell the number of objects.
4. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
5. Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.

Geometry
Identify and Describe Shapes
2. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Piney Patterns - Given the start of a pattern, students finish the pattern. Includes a one slide Smart Board example.

Standard Correlation
Mathematical Practices
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

O' Playdough Tree - Students are given playdough and items like sticks or straws to create shapes with.

Standard Correlation
Geometry
Analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes.
5. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.


Pine Tree Animal Sort - Students are given a variety of animals that live in pine trees to sort by size (small, medium, large)

Standard Correlation
Measurement and Data
Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category.
3. Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.

Christmas Tree Sort - Students are given a variety of items related to Christmas to sort into categories.

Standard Correlation
Measurement and Data
Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category.
3. Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.

Language Arts Activities

Christmas Tree Match Up - Students match uppercase (trees) to lowercase (stars) letters.

Standard Correlation
Foundational Skills
Print Concepts
1. Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
Under the Tree Rhyming - Students match animals of the forest to a present that rhymes.

Standard Correlation
Foundational Skills
Phonological Awareness
2. Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
Recognize and produce rhyming words.

Letter-Sound Match - Students match Christmas items to their initial letter.

Standard Correlation
Foundational Skills
Phonics and Word Recognition
3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Demonstrate basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or most frequent sound for each consonant.

Winter Wonderland Storytelling - Students create their own stories about the animals of the pine forest.

Standard Correlation
Listening and Speaking
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
5. Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
6. Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

Stocking Mix-Up - Students pull letters out of a stocking to spell simple phonetic words. Images and words provided.

Kindergarten

Standard Correlation
Language
Conventions of Standard English
2. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.

Pine Tree and Christmas Tree Reading List - A list of suggested readings to incorporate into the unit.

Science Activities

The following activities address the National Science Education Standard strands for students in k-4.

Science Inquiry:
- Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- Understanding about scientific inquiry

Life Science:
- The characteristics of organisms
- Life cycles of organisms
- Organisms and environments

Life Cycle of a Pine Tree - Nomenclature/3-part Cards - Use the provided book (Word and Smart Board versions included) to introduce a basic version of the life cycle of a pine tree. Please note this does not go into male and female cones and reproduction. Students then use the 3-part cards to identify the 4 stages and place them in the correct order.

Germinating Pine Seeds - Directions to germinate pine seeds. This is best done at the end of the year, and it is a long process. Don't expect seedlings until March or April!

Water and Pine Cones - Students will learn the amazing way pine cones protect their seeds with this easy, hands-on experiment.

A Treat for Nature - Use pine cones to create bird feeders.

Nature Table - Suggestions to create a natural display for the students to explore.

Social Studies Activities

U. S. National Geography Standards

Standard 1 - How to Use Maps and Other Geographic Representations, Tools, and Technologies to Acquire, Process, and Report Information From a Spatial Perspective

Christmas around the World - Read the provided book (Word and Smart Board versions included) to look at Christmas traditions around the world. A country from each of the 7 continents is covered.

Around the World with Santa - In this game students learn the 7 continents as they must help Santa reach each one.

Practical Life Activities

This section provides suggestions and when applicable materials for a variety of practical life activities related to Christmas and pine trees. These activities are inspired by the Montessori method.

Pouring and Spooning Activities - Not only do these activities give students confidence with daily tasks, but they also help improve their fine motor skills. The activities are easy to put together and to quickly modify for added interest throughout the unit.

Scissor Practice - Use the provided Christmas cutting strips or create a collage activity to help students practice using scissors.

Pony Bead Ornaments - Students use their fine motor skills to create this simple craft.

Decorating for Christmas - Students decorate a small tree and arrange flowers with this engaging idea.

Lacing Cards - Lacing cards are provided including two secret image ones.

Art

The following ideas are all process-based art activities.

Pine Tree Painting - Students use materials from nature to create one of a kind works of art.

Wrapping Gifts - Have students make their own wrapping paper and practice the skill of wrapping presents.

Tree Playdough - Using Christmas colored playdough, have students create their own trees to decorate.

Songs

The lyrics for "O Christmas Tree" are provided along with several links to fun songs and fingerplays.