Build A Tree!

I like to dream up games that double as art projects and review report card standards so that I’m multi-tasking during busy December days.  The Strip Tree Dice Game fits the bill.

Here’s How To Make It:

• Run off the strips on green construction paper and cut on a paper cutter.
• One side will make one tree the other another tree.

• You can laminate the construction paper before you cut the pieces out and make this an in-class game you use every year, or skip the lamination, and simply have it as a game your students can take home.

• This makes a fun activity for the day before vacation or for your class party day.
• If you want to do it now, it also makes a lovely December bulletin board! Simply staple them to a black background with the header: "Tree-mendous work!"


• As a game, students can play with a partner.
• I like to play with large foam dice.  They don’t make any noise and they stay on the tables.

• If you don’t want the students to re-use the pieces as a game, and you want to turn it into a lovely art project, have students glue the pieces down as they roll the dice.
• I use a star punch to expedite cutting out this piece.
• Make sure you remind students to put the glue on the side with the NUMBER on it.

• A royal blue construction paper background looks awesome.
• Give students a dollop of white paint and a Q-tip and they can dab on a flurrie of flakes to add a bit more pizzazz.

• So that their tree turns out with the appropriate proportions, students must decide to build it from the top down or the bottom up depending on what number they roll first.  i.e. if they roll a 1 they will start from the top and go down.

• They glue the star first and then they must roll 2 more 1’s to be able to glue the other two small green pieces down.
• If they roll a 6 they will start from the bottom and go up.  They would start with the brown trunk and then need to roll another 6 to put the longest green #6 strip down after that.

• If they roll anything else they must skip their turn until they roll one of those numbers.
• After they roll all three 1’s then they must roll a 2 then a 3 and so on.
• When they roll their 2nd 6 and start from the bottom, they must then roll a 5, 4, 3 and so on.

• Children glue their red heart on last and write their name on it.
• Demonstrate how to play the game by showing students an example of both top down and bottom up examples so that they understand.

• Have a completed sample so that they can see the shortest to longest pattern.
• Point out that there should be a space in between each rectangle.

• Review the shapes with your students.  How many rectangles are there?  Did they count the big blue one? How many squares?  What other shapes do they see? 
• Click on the link to view/print the Christmas Tree Dice Game