Easy game and/or craft for 1st graders?

[shamrock bunch]

I am one of the moms helping out for my DS's Holiday (can't call it Christmas) party. Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy craft or game? We only have 45 minutes to do those plus have a snack.

 

[JetMom]

Pin the Nose on the Snowman

Jingle, Jingle, Bell (Duck, Duck, Goose)

Musical Chairs to Holiday Music

 

[tkd lisa]

You can get the picture frames to make with popsicle sticks. Wal Mart sells them. Then they can wrap them up with a picture they drew for their parents.

 

[always quiet]

When my DD was in first grade, they made little votive candle holders. What you would need is a clear votive holder, then paint. The kids can use their finger prints around the clear holder to make the body of a little bird. An adult can paint the little feet and beek on each finger print bird. If you would use black paint on their index finger to make one part of the bird, you could use white paint on their pinky and put it on top of the black print. Easy to make a little penguin!

 

[shamrock bunch]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. We are meeting tomorrow and I wanted a few ideas to give.

 

[always quiet]

I would also check out www.familyfun.com . They have all sorts of kid friendly crafts along with easy follow directions and supply lists that you can print out from your computer!!

PS While you are there, check out the recipe section! You can find WDW recipes as well!!

 

[Cindy B]

You can do so much...


You can do marshmallow snowmen... (its generic enough for everyone....


Use 3 large marshmallows and toothpicks for the body.


three small gumdrops on tooth pick for arms (or you could split the toothpick in thirds with scissors and make them buttons)

Use cloves for eyes (or raisins)

Scarf piece of twizzler or a gummy worm

Hat can either a swedish fish laying down (will look like a baseball hat)


Or you can make your own gingerbread houses...

Get from the cafeteria small milk boxes..

Use planks of gingerbread for the "houses", and icing to hold it..

Use more icing and other treats for decorations...

 

[Cindy B]

You can also do a different twist on the votive candle..

Get the small glass candle holders at craft store..


Get spray glue or elmers and spin the votive on its side with glue.. Dip the votive in glitter or put the votive in a baggie (like Shake and Bake)

Glittery votive candles!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am the roomparent for my daughters Holiday Party. So far what I have planned is making 2 ornaments. I have sent a camera to dd's teachers and she is going to take individual pictures of the kids. I bought some foam. I am going to have them paste on their pic and frame and decorate. I will try and do a group ornanment too.

I need a game. I was thinking like a "bow" relay or my neighbor has come up with a cute idea (for her class).
She is going to do a relay with 2 teams and the kids will go up to the tree and "find" their item. She is doing five items per kid.

I don't know...I need to finish this. What are you doing for snack?I was thinking cookies.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by The Mystery Machine
I am the roomparent for my daughters Holiday Party. So far what I have planned is making 2 ornaments. I have sent a camera to dd's teachers and she is going to take individual pictures of the kids. I bought some foam. I am going to have them paste on their pic and frame and decorate. I will try and do a group ornanment too.

I need a game. I was thinking like a "bow" relay or my neighbor has come up with a cute idea (for her class).
She is going to do a relay with 2 teams and the kids will go up to the tree and "find" their item. She is doing five items per kid.

I don't know...I need to finish this. What are you doing for snack?I was thinking cookies.

Are you allowed to do ornaments? I live in a very non Christian area, so my school needs to do WINTER ONLY crafts and activities.

 

[cati]

I am doing this with my 3 year old and my 10 year old and they both love making them.

Get White Pipecleaners (also called 12" CHENILLE STEMS) at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. I think they come in 25 a pack for 98 cents a pack.

Buy one bag of 11mm 3 point beads (one of each - may need 2 depending on how many children)
1) Red
2) Clear
These are all in the craft section.

Cut the pipecleaners in half. Barely bend the end of one side. Put 3 clear beads and then 3 Red beads, alternating until the pipecleaner is full. Bend the very tip over to hold the bead. Then bend the top of the pipecleaner creating a candy cane. I kids are making one for each of their grandparents for christmas.

You can also buy the green and blue beads and bend the pipecleaners creating a wreath. They are very easy to do and the kids love them.

Be sure to get the 11mm bags of beads so it will be easy for the kids to put the beads on the pipecleaners. Dont know why they call these things pipecleaners. LOL

This is what they look like:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/otcw.../browse/categoryForward.jsp?categoryId=342842

 

[Chipmunk]

I'd skip all ideas for painting. Too much trouble.
Buy candy canes, fake eyes, tiny red pom poms, and red pipe cleaners. Make reindeer candy canes. For a really cheap idea have children trace one shoe and both hands on festive or brown construction paper. Shoe cut out is face of reindeer. Attach hands to make the antlers. Children can decorate face with crayons or markers.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When I taught 1st grade, I used to bring plain sugar cookies in that I had baked - maybe in a shape or just a circle. I'd bring in frosting in different colors, lots of different sprinkles and other things to put on them. I'd set the kids up a few at a time at a table with cookies and the decorations and they could decorate the cookie any way they liked. Then they could eat it or take it home. Their choice. They usually loaded the cookie up a lot.

I usually had extras so the kids could even do another after everyone did at least one.

 

[mrsmom]

buy some epson salt and bowls and spoons and some different aroma scents and food coloring and each kid gets a scoops of salt in a bowl and you add the food coloring and scent and they mix it and you pour into a bag and and you have bath salt. for a relaxing gift for anyone.
Kim

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by Cindy B
Are you allowed to do ornaments? I live in a very non Christian area, so my school needs to do WINTER ONLY crafts and activities.

So far we can do ornaments but we can call them holiday crafts. As far as sticking to the "winter only" theme nope don't have to do that yet.
Just wondering if you can bring in homebaked/homemade goods? We can't. Everything has to be pre-packaged. (hepatitis C rule)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by mrsmom
buy some epson salt and bowls and spoons and some different aroma scents and food coloring and each kid gets a scoops of salt in a bowl and you add the food coloring and scent and they mix it and you pour into a bag and and you have bath salt. for a relaxing gift for anyone.

That sounds COOL! What kind of scents? I mean like oil scents? Where would you find them?

I would love to do the cookie craft but I have a diabetic girl in the class and she would not be allowed to eat it. For a first grader that would be tough. In fact I have to kind of plan with her in mind, so coming up with things is tough!

I also have a Russian girl and she is just learning English. So I can't do word things.

It has been a fun and challenging year for planning!

 

[Cindy B]

Even the ESL student can do crafts.. they will do fine.

I guess the oils can be bought at a health store.. I've seen the concentrate there.. (although they can get expensive depending on what you buy)

 

[shamrock bunch]

Wow - thanks to everyone who posted here. There are a lot of great ideas that I can use for the coming years too.

 

[mrsmom]

The oils scents can be bought at craft stores, The kids loved them and we are making them for all of our family.
Kim

 

[BethanyF]

Im the room mom for my son's kindergarten class and we came up with...
...the pipe cleaner candy canes (someone else already mentioned these)
...styrofoam ball snowmen (3 graduated sizes of stryofoam balls, mini pompoms for buttons, eyes and nose; ribbon for a scarf, black felt for a hat, etc)
....styrofoam Christmas tress. Ok, so we arent supoosed to do Christmas, but the teacher has a tree in the room, LOL. The trees will be at the same station as the snowmen, so the kids can pick one or the other
....decorated frames. The teacher is taking individual pics of each child and they will decorate a fun foam frame to take home and give to their parents.

For food we are just doing some cookies and juice. Maybe fruit snacks too.