1 2 3 Come Do Some Santa-Themed Activities With Me

Each month I like to have a little review of all of the 2D shapes, so this information stays stuck in my students’ heads.

With that in mind, I designed two “Shapin’ Up With Santa” packets.

The first packet is a "print & go" Santa craft, where Santa's "body" is made up of a 2D shape; topped off by his head, complete with a beard, which is cut from a paper plate. 

The 2nd packet includes  a variety of games and activities that provide a fun way to review these 2D shapes: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart and star.

Both packets are perfect for that last week of school before vacation; particularly the quick, easy & super-fun games, which also work well for your Christmas party day too.

First up, The Santa craft: The 2D shapes included are: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, & heart.

The packet includes patterns for the above shapes, so that children can make a “Shapely Santa” of their own.

Santa's paper plate beard is snipped along the ridges; then every other "tab" is  bent up, which is wonderful fine motor practice, that will help strengthen those finger muscles, at the same time providing a cool 3D effect.

There are 3 hat "brim" options.  Students can write the shape on Santa's hat, glue on the label, or use the pattern where children trace then write the word. 

Use a red and green marker to show an AB-AB color pattern and add some extra pizzazz too.  

Another quick, easy and fun way to jazz up Santa, is to pull apart a few cotton balls, then glue on a bit of "hair" for Santa.

Eyes and a mustache are a separate piece and simply glued on. Have a room helper pre-cut them to expedite assembly.

Another "finishing touch" that will add some 3D pop to your display, is to attach a white pom pom to the tip of Santa's hat.  I use a glue dot. 

As you can see by the photo, once students complete Santa's "head" they glue it to a red, 2D shape.

To help practice the “positional words” portion of the 2D shape standard, I’ve also included a “Christmas present” whole group, assessment game, as well.

The “Shapely Pokey” activity, is also super-fun and helps get the wiggles out.

The packet also includes shape posters and pocket chart cards to introduce your lesson.

For added reinforcement, try some of the activities from the "tip list" for how else to use the posters; such as playing the game "Catch the Claus".

My students actually beg to play this game at the end of the day.

I’ve also included a “Shapely Santa” bookmark for your students.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included several posters to add extra pizzazz, plus informational “tags” should you want your students to explain the attributes of their Shapely Santa.

You can hang these next to a child's "Shapely Santa" on you bulletin board.

The other Santa-themed packet which reinforces 2D shapes, is "Shapin' Up With Santa!" and includes a variety of games and other "print & go" activities.

There is an assortment of (12-on-a page) cards which can be used for “Memory Match” and “I Have; Who Has?” games.

I’ve included a 3-page “tip list” of ideas and other games you can use the cards for; such as: “Flip It”, “What’s Missing?” “Speed” “Who’s Got the Coal?” and “Kaboom!”

Games can be played independently or as a whole group, then put in your math center.

There are also 2 sets of black & white game cards, so that students can make a game of their own to take home for further reinforcement.

Game sheets like “I Spy a Shape” are a super-fun way to whole group assess. The same worksheet can be used 5 times!! Woo Hoo.

There are puzzles, dice and spinner games, as well as 2 graphing activities.

An emergent reader booklet, packed with Dolch words, also practices end punctuation, which can be done as a whole group or independent activity.

Children color the Santa, trace and write the shape words, trace and draw the shape, then cut and glue the matching shape to the empty box.

There are also a variety of worksheets which help practice a variety of standards, including two graphing extensions you can do as a whole group.

I hope your students enjoy these activities, as much as my kiddos do.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a writing prompt craftivity, which also makes a sweet, December bulletin board.

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

They glue their final draft to the inside of a construction paper square, folding the corners over to "close" their "gift". 

Add extra pizzazz, by having students glue a square of Christmas wrapping paper to the back of their square of construction paper. For that finishing touch, top with a bow.

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

Gotta get going.  I'm helping with my granddaughter's Christmas party today. 

As you can see I'm all decked out.  (Jingle all the way...) Not too good at taking selfies...

Wishing you a blessed day filled with lots of love, hugs and giggles galore.

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” -Dr. Seuss (From the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.)