Quick And Easy Gifts For Your Students/Children To Make

With Tips On How To Go About It

     December’s quite a whirl wind month and it’s easy to be swept along in the Christmas excitement of children.  One can almost feel the energy in the air; it’s invigorating if you let it!

     So that I’m not overwhelmed with a zillion things to do, I incorporate the “making of gifts” as center activities instead of “extra” activities.  There’s also enough expense on the home front so I try to keep things on a low-budget scale in the classroom.  I do this in several ways:

• I shop for bargains after the holidays and during Christmas in July.  Garage sales and flea markets are also a plethora of “good stuff”. I Stock up on the things that I’ll need for the upcoming season at a fraction of the cost, and then store it for next year.  So that I don’t forget, I make a list of things that I’m out of as I pack up my December units and then hang that list inside my kitchen cupboard.  I also make a list of what I do have.
• Because I change things up each year and do so many different things, I jot down what worked and what I’ll be doing again.   I take a photo of finished projects and bulletin boards so that I know how the finished projects look and file a sample along with each of the masters.
• I’ve also found that parents are more than willing to help contribute ingredients for things, or send in an “extra” for another child that didn’t bring something, so don’t be afraid to ask and send a letter home.  This took me years to learn, until kind room mom’s prompted and assured me that it was OK to do so.  To alleviate this “last minute” asking, you can always let parents know way in advance via a list of necessities in your student handbook, monthly calendar, newsletter, or “sign up to donate things” that you display at open house and conferences. One parent also shared with me that because she works and leads a very hectic life with 5 children, she’d just as soon send in several dollars and have me pick up whatever her child needs.  When I discussed this with other parents it was pretty unanimous that all of them were happy to oblige when it came to sending in T-shirts, socks, a potholder or whatever. They’d much rather send in a few dollars than run around town trying to find something on a list and risk that it wasn’t correct.
• I’ve long since given up having everyone bring in a magazine, can, jar, Kleenex box, toilet paper, or paper towel roll on the due date. I simply have boxes in my basement and save them all year.
• Finally, the crafts I do use pretty standard supplies and I have most of them in my classroom.  I also have a “Could Use-Please Donate:” Section in my newsletter and I list things that we run low on such as wiggle eyes, pipe cleaners,  etc. Several of my teacher friends post a turkey with thankful feathers, or a Christmas tree with thankful balls with things their classroom needs for December outside their door during November conferences. They say this is extremely helpful to get them through a busy craft month.

Keepsake Potholder Christmas Gift For Mom: Ever since my daughter Kelli lovingly presented me with her handmade one years ago; I vowed that this would be a standard “have-to-do” on my make-it/take-it craft list.  It’s one of my all-time favorite gifts that she ever made me and it’s launched hundred’s of cute little handprints into other mommy’s hearts. Potholder Christmas Gift

Christmas Cookie Cookbook: Wrap the potholder along with a class-made cook book and a cute paper gingerbread ornament with their little darling’s face on it (See December bulletin board ideas-Gingerbread men.) and you have a “Wow!” gift that any mom will love. If you'd like to teach a Gingerbread Unit, or do more Gingerbread Art & Activities click on the links for all sorts of wonderful ideas. Christmas Cookie Class Cookbook.

Plaster Pins: Did you know that you can use chocolate molds to make plaster pins?  They pop out perfectly and can easily be painted by the youngest child and still look quite fantastic.  There’s a huge variety out there and they start at only a dollar!  Children can make these as another gift for mommy, or something for grandma as most grandparents will be popping over for the holidays. The one in the photo is painted with metallic lavender paint.   The metallic paints are wonderful to use because they not only have a shimmery luster, they also have a gloss finish.   Plaster pins Christmas gift 

Christmas Gift For Dads: A heat-filled "Soothing Sock": It’s easy to make a present for mommy, so often times daddies are left out.  Not in my class; and this is a proven winner.  Fill a tube sock with rice and cinnamon-clove Christmas potpourri, attach a note and you’re set. What could be easier than that?  Click on the link to view/print directions and pattern for how to make a "soothing sock" filled with rice for dad. . Christmas gift for dads.

Bun Warmers or Trivet Christmas Gift: These too are wonderful keepsakes. You can put a handprint on them, or use any kind of rubber stamp.  Children put the paint on with a sponge brush and then they pat, not brush the paint on the stamp; one hard press and you have a very professional looking picture.  So that it doesn’t scrape off, I take the tiles outside and spray them with clear-gloss varnish.

I choose a Christmas tree and the children decorate it with different colored balls using a Q-tip.  If you heat the tile in the microwave for 30-seconds it will get hot.  Tuck it in your basket of rolls under the napkin to keep them warm, or use your tile as a trivet.  This too is an inexpensive gift as you can pick discounted tiles up for as little as 29¢   Watch for them at garage sales at new homes.  Small tiles (4x4) are perfect for little hands, but I got an entire box full of 5x8 tiles for only $1.00 and we simply used a bigger tree stamp.  You could also use more than one stamp on the tile too.

Gingerbread Banner Christmas Gift: This is the same paint-stamping concept as above.  Go to a wallpaper store and ask them if you could have one of their discontinued fabric-looking wallpaper books. Then tear the neutral pages out and cut the bottom edges off using  pinking shears.  These stores also have fabric swatch books that make perfect banners.  Most stores will give them to teachers for free if you ask, and tell them that you’re a teacher.  I’ve only had to pay $1 or $2 in one store and it was well worth it to get such perfect backgrounds for my banner projects. 

These too look so neat and professional because “paint stamping” is very easy for even the youngest child to do.  I punch a hole in the top of this banner and use a pipe cleaner twisted into a circular shape so parents can hang it on a doorknob.  I've also glued a Popsicle stick to the top and knotted yarn to either end for hanging.

Puzzle Frame: When you lose puzzle pieces from puzzles in your class, don’t dismay: keep them for crafts! You can also pick up 100-piece puzzles at The Dollar Store, or at garage sales for as little as a quarter.  Simply glue them to a Popsicle stick frame and you have a darling keepsake for any member of the family.  If you don’t want to take pictures of your students, send a note home asking parents to send in a family photo for this project.  Make sure to tell them that it will be used in a craft and they will not be getting it back in the same form they sent it. Puzzle Frame Christmas Gift

Secondary-Color Study Wreath: Even though we are doing crafts and making gifts, all of these in some way or another are linked to my report card standards.  We are counting, measuring, reviewing shapes, comparing, writing, etc.  If you ever need clarification on that, just drop me an e-mail and I’ll send you the specifics.  The wreath is a mini science study of colors.  Your students will get so excited when yellow and blue change right before their eyes.  Mine squeal: “Mrs. Henderson come quick! It’s green. It’s green!”  It’s a bit messy, but they have so much fun, and works as a wonderful math equation of yellow + blue= green.  Just by doing this simple and fun project they remember that little bit of science because it was so “hands-on” (pardon the pun)!  Keepsake Wreath Christmas Gift

Don’t Open It Magnet: Is your fridge covered with magnets? Mine too! A warm feeling seems to flow through you when you glance at a child’s photo or work of art as you fly through your busy day.  That’s exactly what I want this little magnet to do, “So don’t  open it…there’s nothing but love inside.” Magnet Christmas Gift

Glass Pin Christmas Gift:  If you didn't want to mess with the plaster above, and still wanted to make a pin, you could make a flat-backed clear glass stone pin.  These too are easy and inexpensive.  Most craft stores sell these flat "marbles" that are used in floral arrangements or put in vases for wedding centerpieces.  They usually sell for $1.99 a bag at Hobby Lobby, but this department and product are always on sale for 50% off, so watch for sales.   Brush Elmer's glue or spray adhesive to the back of the stone and press on your cut out picture, add a piece of tag board so that the glue from the pin doesn't bleed through, and then glue a pin to the back and you are done.  You can use a child's school photo, pictures from wrapping paper, etc.  I designed labels with 3 Winnie the Pooh pictures in a row and printed them off.  I cut the labels into 1/3's so that each child had a Pooh head to glue on their glass pin.  Before hand they stuck the sticker on a circular piece of tag board and then glued it to the back of the glass, and then glued on a pin. 

"There's an Angel In The Kitchen" Towel:  I've been making these for over 20 years!   I designed them a very long time ago as thank you gifts for people who were angels in my life, and later sold them in my Victorian gift shop, Hastings House.  They were always a huge hit.   They make the perfect gift for those special volunteers who make your life easier by helping out in your classroom, but are easy enough to make if you want to do this as a class gift for your little ones to make.   Simply send the letter home so that your students bring in the towel and 2 dishcloths; you provide the ribbon and poem  I have poems for a parent, grandparent and volunteer helper. Angel in the Kitchen towel Christmas gift 

Chocolate Spoons: This was another "hot seller" in my store.  They came in a zillion different flavors.  My daughter's favorites were Irish Cream, and Raspberry Amaretto.  It only seemed natural that I would whip up a batch for my Y5's to help "dunk" , wrap and take home as a sweet treat for their loved ones.  I do this on our Reindeer Theme Day when my students are counting red-hot Rudolph noses! We tuck a package of those in with our chocolate spoon.  This is really simple, lots of fun for little ones, and a pleasurable gift for anyone on the list! Chocolate Spoon Christmas gift

Angel Toilet Paper Roll Christmas Note Holder: I save toilet paper rolls all year so it's not a big deal to whip these little angels together with my students.  Gather a bit of aluminum foil, some scraps of construction paper and ribbon, 2 coffee filters, and a child's photograph + a pair of scissors and a glue stick and you're ready to make this cute keepsake.  Besides being a table decoration you can hot glue a spring clothespin to the back and she becomes a note or recipe card holder.  Angel Christmas Gift

These are a few of my easy-breezy favorites.  I could go on and on, but that's what next year's for...I hope you got an idea or two here that will help you sail through the gift-giving dilemma of what on earth to do for a project this year!  As always if you have something fun that you do with your children I'd love to hear from you. diane@teachwithme.com  Sharing is caring and isn't that a big part of what Christmas is all about?

Click here for all of the projects directions and patterns + the article. All Christmas Gifts 

And if you'd like to tuck a "Merry Christmas!" note in with a gift to your students, click on the link for a nice selection, including some bookmarks, a slap bracelet and even a skill sheet for your students to practice writing Merry Christmas!

Happy Merry Making!