Making A Christmas Shape Book: Mathematical Art
Your students will love making this adorable book of Christmas shapes. Not only is it a great and memorable keepsake, it is a great way to teach mathematical shapes to mastery. At the completion of the project my students usually pass off this common core standard with 100% accuracy; even the tricky hexagon!
I have made this book with my students for years, each of them turn out unique and adorable. I simply use what I have available to complete a cute work of art made from a common shape. I vary the pages from construct (using construction paper), painting techniques such as marble painting, finger painting, etc., use fabric, felt, lace, ribbon, yarn, or whatever I have handy. I do create a page for students to use as support to scaffold their own original rendition. If you are lucky enough to have a die-cut at your school, cut out all of the shapes beforehand, along with all supporting pieces such as small strips of black for the reindeer antlers. Gather all supplies and have them easily accessible for your students.
Some of the pages can be completed whole group, others are best to complete at a center with some adult assistance. You can complete some of the pages using guided art methods, some can be free creations (using the template die-cut shape). I have found the cookie and the ornament are two pages that lend themselves to creative freedom.
Glitter is the secret ingredient on each page. I teach the students how to make small lines of glue, lay the piece in a flat tote and then sprinkle the glitter (or pinch the thumb and pointer together to pick up excess from the tray and sprinkle it on the page). Next, pick up the piece and dump all glitter back into the tray.
If you teach your students this technique, glitter stays at bay. In fact, I am able to use glitter all year because they know how to correctly use the art product.
If you are making a book that is already stapled or attached, as in this pre-purchased blank book, simply fold the other pages back and allow it to dry for a few hours or overnight. I generally do one page a day until my product if completed.
This little crowdpleaser makes a great gift from the students to their parents! Yes! A gift that is cute, easy to make and even fulfills a Common Core Standard!
