1-2-3 Come Make a Nativity Craft With Me

Would you like your kiddos to be able to sequence & retell the Christmas story?  With that in mind, I designed 2 simple & fun craftivities, which will help them do just that.

First up: “Follow the Star”, which is a nativity “flip-the-flap” booklet,

If you do a "Christmas Around the World" ed-venture, this craftivity makes a nice addition to your travels.

The stable is the base of the booklet and is printed on card stock to make it sturdy.

Once the booklet is complete, it is free standing and makes a cute decoration.

The “doors” of the stable open, to reveal graphics of the major events that take place; from Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus.

Besides black & white patterns for students to color, cut & glue, I’ve also included colorful templates so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

There are several page options as well.

I’ve provided pages with text for beginning readers, as well as pages without words for younger kiddos.

You can also use these pages for older students, so they can write about what is happening and explain the graphic, or find a matching Bible verse to record on the appropriate pages.

To use for extra writing practice, I’ve also included a completely blank page.

On the back of the stable, students can write “Jesus loves me.” or “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

There are add-on graphics included as well: 4 star patterns for children to choose from, plus a cow & donkey they can glue to the back of the last, opened pages, so that when the doors are completely open, the animals flank the manger.

Brushing some Elmer’s glue on the star, then sprinkling with gold glitter adds extra pop & pizzazz. 

The "looking down" photo on the right,  shows how the pages support the stable.

When everyone is done, read the booklet together as a whole group, calling on students to explain the various events taking place. Encourage children to sequence & retell the story of Christ’s birth to their families, as they share their nativity booklet at home.

Next up is a nativity "storytelling wheel".

Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I thought it would be fun to design one for the Nativity.

Great for parochial schools, Sunday school, Christmas Around the World activities, or simply for your own child.

Storytelling wheels are a quick, easy & fun way for students to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.

There are 3, “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

After students have completed their wheel, practice retelling the nativity story using the manipulative.

Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that Mary & Joseph, who are traveling to Bethlehem, appear in the “pie-slice window”.

Call on a child to begin the story. Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their nativity wheel with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

For more sequencing & retelling practice, I've also included a nativity puzzle . There are two "base" options, which will help practice ordinal numbers as well as reading.

For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

There’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Wishful Thinking" writing prompt craftivity.

Students finish the prompt: "If money were no problem and I could have 5 super-fabulous gifts for Christmas, I'd like..."

Completed projects make an adorable December bulletin board.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Two of my nine grandchildren are coming over today, so my feet have hit the floor running this morning. 

I've planned some "merry making" Christmas crafts.  Wishing you a day filled with warm hugs and happy giggles.

"Christmas is the kindling for hospitality." -Washington Irving