For an easier challenge: -Instead of stickers, give the earlier children green and red markers and let them color their pictures.
For most children: -Ask, "What makes this tree special?"
For a trickier challenge: -Give the children glue and glitter and let them decorate their ornaments with glitter.
Follow-up Ideas
-You can also cut your own ornament shapes, such as stars, snowflakes, snowmen, penguins, ect.
-You can also perpetuate a child's sense of self-identity by glue a picture of themselves in the middle of the ornament.
-You can also have the children help decorate the classroom for other holidays (make pumpkins for Halloween, hearts for Valentine's day, shamrocks and rainbows for St. Patrick's day, ect.).
Originating Idea
Like I said in the "Wrap the Gifts" activity, I love decorating my classroom during Christmas. I wanted to make an activity that not only incorporated my love of Christmas, but got all my students together in decorating our classroom.
How to Make It
You take the garbage bags and tape them to the table using the masking tape. Then place all the stickers and markers across the table, making sure there are enough supplies for all the children to use and reach. Then, take all the foam ornament decorations and weave a piece of curling ribbon through the hole and tie it. The put an ornament in front of each student's chair. Finally, place the tree in the classroom where the children can easily reach it.
How to Implement It
During circle time, the teacher points to the Christmas tree and ask, "Did everyone notice the new Christmas tree in our classroom?" She then listens and responds to the children as they talk about the tree. Then she says, "Well, today we're all going to work together and decorate our tree. We have all the supplies we need to make pretty ornaments out, like stickers and markers. Let's spend our morning making pretty ornaments for our trees!" Then have all the children come to the table and work on their ornaments.
Most children will be able to remove the backs on the stickers and put the stickers on their ornaments. While most children may only need a little help getting the backs off their stickers, earlier children may need more help that others. However, later children will be able to work independently on their project.
Once the children are done with their ornaments, let them put it on the Christmas tree. Afterwards, have the children wash their hands and then go enjoy free choice.