The Japanese art of making an origami flower ball always seems like a fitting thing to do at Christmas. It’s peaceful and calming, almost meditative to work on, and it makes a beautiful decoration when finished! As with many origami projects, this origami flower ball ornament looks much more difficult than it is. It’s really just the same simple sequence repeated over and over … [Read more...]
Christmas Project Collection
Need a fun art project for the last few days before Christmas break? Follow these links to some of my favorites! (Faux) Stained Glass Ornaments Origami Crane Ornaments Japanese Notan Ornaments Christmas Word Clouds Kindergarten Stars Jacob's Ladder Icicles Folded Paper Stars Candy Cane-O-Grams Art Gift Wrap Merry Christmas! … [Read more...]
Folded Paper Stars With Symmetry
These folded paper stars are a hit year after year with my 4th graders. You can make these in any size you want.... the size of the squares you start with will determine the size of your finished stars. When I teach this lesson, I use 12" squares in two different colors to demonstrate the folding and gluing steps on the white board. Instead of glue, I used tape rolls with low … [Read more...]
Jacob’s Ladder Icicles
I like to have each of my classes make a special ornament for Christmas each year. Here's an easy paper icicle that's fun for 1st grade and up. Once students get the hang of it, they'll be making these as fast as you can cut the paper! This project is a little more craft-like than I usually do with my students, but during those high energy days leading up to Christmas … [Read more...]
How to Make a Japanese Notan-Inspired Ornament
My 5th graders loved making these Japanese Notan-inspired ornaments. "Notan" is a Japanese word meaning "dark/light". It represents the design concept of arranging dark and light (2D) shapes together in a harmonious way. The Japanese Notan effect is easy to achieve with cut-paper. It tends to look more complicated than it really is, and students are fascinated with the finished … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Stars
Try these simple instructions to teach your kinders how to draw stars. As adults, we make these designs automatically, almost without thinking, but for a five year old drawing their very first star, it's nothing short of magical! Once it "clicks" for them, they will be drawing stars everywhere!First talk about types of lines, concentrating on "diagonal" and "horizontal". … [Read more...]
Origami Crane Ornaments
"An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.... In Asia, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family." (from Wikipedia)Origami cranes make … [Read more...]
“Stained Glass” Ornaments
Don't miss this FUN project.... it's a hit year after year!! Students in grade 3 and up will love spreading Christmas cheer when they hang these glowing ornaments on their tree or tie them on packages to give as gifts. All you need is black construction paper, tissue paper in bright colors, scissors and glue sticks.... and the school laminating machine! 1. Take two … [Read more...]
Faux Stained Glass Ornaments
Are your kids bouncing off the walls with anticipation of the coming holiday? Need a last-minute project to engage them? Try making these glowing ornaments with the look of stained glass! Students in grades 3 and up will enjoy spreading Christmas cheer when they hang these faux stained glass ornaments on their tree or give them as gifts. Make your own faux stained glass … [Read more...]
