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Faizan
The nativity scene is a classic Christmas symbol that represents the holiday in Christian faiths. Helping children create crafts centered on this image enables them to learn about the Christmas story and the true meaning of this yearly celebration. Many nativity crafts are suitable for a variety of age groups and skills, to try at home or with a church group.
Dioramas
A diorama is a miniature, three-dimensional scene placed in a box with a painted background. Dioramas bring pictures and stories to life. Start with an empty shoebox or tissue box. Spread natural materials, such as dried grass, twigs, and leaves, on the bottom of the box for the manger floor. Paint a scene in the back of the box, adding the night sky and the town of Bethlehem. Cut a star from construction paper and attach to the top of the box. Decide which nativity characters and animals you want to add to your diorama. Use oven baked or air dry clay to make the nativity figurines. Family Fun magazine created an alternative to the classic clay figurines by wrapping pipe cleaners with yarn to create the characters.
Felt Story Board
Reenacting the nativity story teaches kids about the true meaning of Christmas. According to the website DLTK, your child can create a nativity storyboard with sandpaper, glue and paper. Print out black and white templates of the nativity figures from the DLTK website or copy blank nativity coloring pages. Color the pictures and glue each sheet onto a piece of sandpaper. After the glue has dried, cut around each character. Read the Christmas story to your child, using the figures to act out the story. Your child also can orally retell the story with the felt board to help learn the narrative.
Edible Nativity
Instead of baking a gingerbread house this year, use the gingerbread pieces to make a gingerbread nativity. Assemble the stable using gingerbread walls and royal icing. Cut nativity figures out of gingerbread with cookie cutters. After baking, add decorative details with icing and other savory decorations. Arrange the figures in the stable to create the nativity scene. If building a gingerbread scene seems too difficult, the website AOK Corral created an edible nativity from graham crackers, gum drops, marshmallows, and other sweet delights.
Computer Crafts
With the new computer savvy generation, craft options have expanded beyond the traditional to include the Internet. Online programs allow kids to design their own nativity scenes. Players can place characters and animals in the manger scene on the screen. Once finished, the nativity scene can be printed or refreshed to start again.
Christmas Cards
Celebrate the Christmas season by creating a nativity card. Fold an 8 ½- by 11-inch sheet of cardstock in half. Glue Popsicle sticks or toothpicks to create a stable. Print or copy a picture of the Holy Family, including Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Cut out and color the picture. Glue the picture in the center of the stable and stick a gold star at the top. Use markers to draw additional details onto the card. Display the card or send with Christmas greetings to a special person.
Craft Kits
A variety of nativity craft kits, including foam picture frames and ornaments, are available for purchase from craft stores and online outlets. These kits include a pre-selected supply of materials to make specialty nativity crafts, many times pre-cut in the necessary shapes to complete the craft. Apples 4 the Teacher website provides an extensive list of nativity craft kits as well as the materials needed to put together each kit, allowing you to assemble the kits independently if desired.
Dioramas
A diorama is a miniature, three-dimensional scene placed in a box with a painted background. Dioramas bring pictures and stories to life. Start with an empty shoebox or tissue box. Spread natural materials, such as dried grass, twigs, and leaves, on the bottom of the box for the manger floor. Paint a scene in the back of the box, adding the night sky and the town of Bethlehem. Cut a star from construction paper and attach to the top of the box. Decide which nativity characters and animals you want to add to your diorama. Use oven baked or air dry clay to make the nativity figurines. Family Fun magazine created an alternative to the classic clay figurines by wrapping pipe cleaners with yarn to create the characters.
Felt Story Board
Reenacting the nativity story teaches kids about the true meaning of Christmas. According to the website DLTK, your child can create a nativity storyboard with sandpaper, glue and paper. Print out black and white templates of the nativity figures from the DLTK website or copy blank nativity coloring pages. Color the pictures and glue each sheet onto a piece of sandpaper. After the glue has dried, cut around each character. Read the Christmas story to your child, using the figures to act out the story. Your child also can orally retell the story with the felt board to help learn the narrative.
Edible Nativity
Instead of baking a gingerbread house this year, use the gingerbread pieces to make a gingerbread nativity. Assemble the stable using gingerbread walls and royal icing. Cut nativity figures out of gingerbread with cookie cutters. After baking, add decorative details with icing and other savory decorations. Arrange the figures in the stable to create the nativity scene. If building a gingerbread scene seems too difficult, the website AOK Corral created an edible nativity from graham crackers, gum drops, marshmallows, and other sweet delights.
Computer Crafts
With the new computer savvy generation, craft options have expanded beyond the traditional to include the Internet. Online programs allow kids to design their own nativity scenes. Players can place characters and animals in the manger scene on the screen. Once finished, the nativity scene can be printed or refreshed to start again.
Christmas Cards
Celebrate the Christmas season by creating a nativity card. Fold an 8 ½- by 11-inch sheet of cardstock in half. Glue Popsicle sticks or toothpicks to create a stable. Print or copy a picture of the Holy Family, including Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Cut out and color the picture. Glue the picture in the center of the stable and stick a gold star at the top. Use markers to draw additional details onto the card. Display the card or send with Christmas greetings to a special person.
Craft Kits
A variety of nativity craft kits, including foam picture frames and ornaments, are available for purchase from craft stores and online outlets. These kits include a pre-selected supply of materials to make specialty nativity crafts, many times pre-cut in the necessary shapes to complete the craft. Apples 4 the Teacher website provides an extensive list of nativity craft kits as well as the materials needed to put together each kit, allowing you to assemble the kits independently if desired.
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