Free Come Follow Me lesson Helps: Christmas

It's here! The final Come Follow Me lesson helps for the Book of Mormon.  What a wonderful way to spend week focusing on the Savior and the true meaning of Christmas. 

Included this week:

•  Nativity puzzle with question mat, 
• Nativity Bingo. You can also use as a match game by printing 2 sets of calling cards on cardstock. 
• Journal page
• Scripture book or posters. I used some of the suggested scriptures from the primary manual this week. Printing tip: If you would like to make these smaller set your printer to print 2 or 4 to a page. 

I hope there is something that helps you this week as you teach your family or share with your primary class. The free Christmas printables are in the download below.   If you have any questions please let me know :)   I hope you all  have a very merry Christmas!  

 Download Here

Free Christmas gift tags

 My husband needed some gift tags this week and thought maybe you might need some too.  Download and print on cardstock. I used a hole punch and some curly ribbon to attach to some treat bags.  Enjoy!

Download Here

Christmas Movie Night Popcorn boxes

I just wanted to pop in and share these adorable popcorn boxes with you.  One of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season is to snuggle up under a warm blanket and watch Christmas movies with my family or relax with a Hallmark movie.  To add a little fun to your movie watching party pop some popcorn and add it to these adorable boxes.

Print on cardstock and follow the instructions below.  I do have to apologize some of the boxes have a white background in my effort to make them a little more ink friendly however it makes the folding lines hard to see. I promise they aren't to hard, we had to slightly adjust a couple of creases when we went to tape them together. 

I had plans of taking some pretty amazing pictures of them in use but we were having to much fun and I forgot :)  So here's a sample of some of our other popcorn boxes in action and you'll just have to click on the download below to see the adorable prints I used this time!  Happy movie watching!  Oh and I'd love to know your favorite Christmas movie...let me know in the comments:)

Download your Christmas Popcorn boxes here!

Christmas Tree Counting Cards and Number Hunt

One of my favorite activities to create are counting cards because there are so many ways to use them.  

We always start by hiding the cards around the room and then find thing them.  

Today we used our I spy... page and crossed off the ones we found. This is great for matching the numbers, becoming aware of number order, and overall recognizing numbers.  My kids are great at counting but actually knowing what all the numbers look like is another story so these activities really help.  

As they look for the numbers on their page I have them say the number. This is very helpful to assess what numbers they know and what they need to work on.

Some other ways to use these cards: 

1) put them in order from smallest to biggest

2) play what number is missing or what number comes next (we usually play with 4 or 5 cards.  Lay them down in order, have your little one close their eyes, hide one card.  Have them open their eyes and figure out which card is missing.

3) Add ornaments to the tree.  (aka m&ms, buttons, playdough, etc)  If the card has the number 5 place 5 ornaments/m&m's on the card.

4) Use them for writing practice with a salt tray or paper.

If you come up with some other ways to use them I'd love to know!

Download your counting cards and I spy page here

Adorable graphics use with permission from Krista Wallden - Creative Clips  and fonts by Hello Literacy.

Christmas Letter Sound Puzzles

Today's Christmas activity is all about letter recognition (capital and lowercase letters) and letter sounds.    There are 6 mini puzzles included and all pictures related to Christmas. The letters included are R, P, S, C, E, & T. To build the 3 piece puzzles your little learner will need to figure out what letter the picture starts with and then find the capital and lower case letters that match the sound. This is a great way to introduce new letters or practice the ones they already know.

Download your copy here

Adorable graphics use with permission from Krista Wallden - Creative Clips, Prettygrafik, and fonts by Hello Literacy.

Reindeer Color Matching Game

This free reindeer matching game is a fun way to practice color recognition and matching skills.  It's quick to prep which makes it even better!  Print the 4 pages.  The 2 with the border will be your game board and it is ready to go.  Cut around the candy and the reindeer on the other two pages.  I recommend printing on cardstock.  Also you can laminate for extra durability.  If you have clear Velcro use it but we often use it without and it works just fine.  You can also glue the two game boards into a file folder and glue an envelope to the outside to store all of your pieces. I prefer to laminate my game and store the small pieces in a sandwich bag.

I included 2 options for this match game and you can use both or pick one based on skill.  For those little learners without much matching practice start with the reindeer option.  Point out the nose color and watch them quickly catch on.  For those up for a little more of a challenge. Have them "feed" (match) the reindeer his favorite color of candy. Even if they are a pro at matching they will love this new spin.  Don't forget say the different colors.

*Want to save some ink or have another fun way to play?  Print just the board game pages (the 2 pages with the border) and use colored pompom for your matching pieces.  Add some tweezers for some great fine motor skill practice.

Come back tomorrow for another fun game to play with this set of printables!

Download the Reindeer Match Game here.

Adorable graphics use with permission from Krista Wallden - Creative Clips

Don't Eat Rudolph! (updated version)

Maybe you've seen my original post on this fun holiday version of the classic Don't Eat Pete game.  It's been one of my most popular posts and a family favorite.  I have a 2 preschool aged kids this year and thought it was time to give this game an updated look and add in a little color practice.

   If you've never played here's a quick how to:  Print off the board game.  Place one piece of candy (m&m's, Cheerios, or whatever you have) on each of the reindeer.  Send one person to out of the room and quietly decided which of the reindeer is going to be Rudolph for that round.  Lets say you pick the one in the center.  Have the person come back into the room and eat one of the pieces of candy off each reindeer UNTIL they pick up the one chosen as Rudolph (in this case the one in the center).  When they pick up this candy everyone yells "Don't eat Rudolph!" and their turn ends.  Add candy to the ones taken on the last turn and play as many times as you want picking a new Rudolph each time. 

Download your copy here!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  Come back each day this week for a new & fun Christmas preschool activity!

Adorable graphics use with permission from Krista Wallden - Creative Clips

Free Vintage Truck Christmas Printables

If you love buffalo check/plaid or all the fun holiday vintage truck signs I've been seeing everywhere then you will love these free Christmas printables.  Download a copy of your favorite print below.  Print from home or your favorite print shop.  Enjoy!

Download here

white wood background

buffalo check background

Jesus Christ is the Greatest Gift-Christmas Lesson (primary 2 Lesson 46) Primary Lesson helps

Here are some free primary lesson helps for Lesson 46 Jesus is the Greatest Gift (find it here).  Many of these activities would work well for a Christmas Family Night as well.

Attention Activity: I included a gift tag with the scripture for the present.

Role Playing:  Crowns for the Wise Men.  Print one for each child and let them decorate them.  Tape to fit their head. There is also a star for you to hold :)  (Save the 

Giving Gifts of Love Brings Us Joy Stories: After talking about the wise men show three more wrapped gifts (kids love opening gifts :)  In each gift wrap something to represent one of the stories from the lesson.  For example the story about S. Dilworth Young wrap a puzzle, the story about Beth wrap one of the blank cards found below, and for the 3rd story I thought this story about Peter and green beans (found in this months friend) would work well and wrap a can of green beans.  Unwrap one present at a time and share the story that goes with it.  

Card Activity:  Print one or two cards for each child.  There is enough space for them to draw or write their gift.  If you want to bring envelops the cards should fit in a 5x7 envelope.

Here are 3 activities to go along with the Wise Men following the star.  I plan to show this video it goes right along with the theme of the stories above...the greatest gift we can give Jesus is love and serving others.  

Help the wise men follow the star.  Take turns rolling the dice (one is included if you need it).  Move the number of spaces the dice landed on and then share one way you can "seek" Christ.  Be ready to help them with ideas until they get the hang of it...a few ideas are reading our scriptures, going to church, family prayer, helping our mom with dishes, reading a book to our brother, etc. another option would be to ask questions from the lesson, or give them scenarios and ask if this is a way to seek Christ.  There are scenario cards in some of my other lessons- here and here if you need some.    *For game board pieces buttons, candy, pieces from other games work :)

Decorate a star for the crowns.  Have them draw or write a way they can "seek him" or you've probably heard of giving a gift to Jesus, its the same idea :)  Once its finished help them glue or tape it to their crown.

Find the star-Have one person step out of the class room.  Hide the star somewhere in the room.  Play hot and cold to help them find the star.

Download the lesson helps here!

That's the last lesson for the year!  A big thank you to all of your for stopping by and using these lesson helps. It amazes and humbles me every week.  I love creating these lesson helps and sharing them with all of you.  I'm working on next year's lesson helps and will start sharing some of those ideas in a week or two.  My plan is to have primary lessons and family ideas ready at least a week before the week "start date" so you have plenty of time to prepare and use the ideas at home for those with young kids :)  Have a very Merry Christmas!

Adorable graphics from  Krista Wallden - Creative Clips, FREE YOUR HEART, Mather's Music, Chirp Graphics,  Creating4 the Classroom, DSart and Fonts by Hello Literacy

Free Christmas Printables O Come let us Adore Him

I have a couple new FREE printables for you today. I love these and this quote.  Rustic/Farmhouse or chalkboard.  Its hard to decide.  I think Printables make decorating for the holidays so easy and quick. Pretty much the best thing :)  Pick your favorite, print, and frame. They are all sized as 8x10 prints.

*please note these are for personal use only*

  I decided to make things extra easy today.  To get your free printable click on the picture.  Right click and save to your computer or copy and paste in a word document.  Again these are sized to fit an 8x10 frame.  However you can always insert into a word document and resize to fit your needs.

Print from home or send to your favorite print shop.

I'd love to know your favorite!

Christmas Bingo! (Free printable game)

Bingo is such a classic game all kids and adults love.  I wanted something fun to do with my cute kids one night and this is the perfect addition to any family fun night, class or family party, etc.  I included 5 different boards so you can have multiple players.

We use Christmas M&M's for markers and have fun eating them as well!  I printed mine on cardstock for durability.  Laminating would be a good idea if you have that option just to be able to keep them for years.

There are 3 pages of calling cards as well.  Print on cardstock, cut, and your ready to play.

As a bonus you can always print 2 sets of calling cards for an adorable Christmas Match Game.

Download your game here!

Rustic Pallet Christmas Sign

 Can I just say I love this sign!  I made it for a recent craft fair and was a little sad that it sold and I couldn't take it home with me.  I was in a rush and didn't take step by step pictures but it's not to difficult. 

 I cut my deer out with my scroll saw.  If you don't have one not problem...use paint or vinyl or even a fun patterned cardstock.  It won't be the exact look but it will still be amazing.   

Here's a quick how to if you are using a scroll saw...this is from another post so just pretend its a deer.  

To get started google deer silhouette...there are also a lot on pinterest..  Go with a basic one especially if you are going to be cutting it out with a saw.  Copy and paste in a word document and size to fit your project.  Print and trace on your board.  I used thin plywood for this part.  I used carbon copy paper to transfer image to wood.   

 

 With a scroll saw carefully cut along the lines.  Paint.

For the pallet background I actually used cheap cedar boards (I think they are used for fencing?) and cut 3 to about 12" long.  I think the board was around $2.50 and I easy had enough for this sign.   Sand and paint!  They start off rough but will get pretty smooth.  I was going for the rustic look and this type of wood works well because your edges are not going to be perfectly even.  If you want a smoother look you might want to use a nicer board.  Lay them where you want them and use wood glue to attach them together.  Once it's dry flip over and secure with some staples.  It might still be a little wobbly but your frame will help secure it.

Now to make the frame...back to the other post for instructions. You are going to use 1x2s (small side showing).  Measure the length of the top and bottom of your frame.  Mark and cut boards.  Put in place.  Then measure from the top of your frame to the bottom of your frame to come up with the side length (see picture below).  Mark and cut.  Stain or paint for boards.  Once they are dry use a nail gun to attach directly to your sign.

Glue your deer head to the center of your boards using wood glue.  Let it dry.  That's it!  

Countdown to Christmas Chalkboard Sign

I'm a little late getting this posted but its so quick and easy you can have it ready for most of December.

I actually made it for a craft fair and thought I took some pictures but I can't seem to find them so here's a quick run through.

Supplies: (this post does contain affiliate links)

Board from Walmart-I loved the shape but you can cut a board any size and leave the edges square and still have an adorable sign.

paint-your choice of color

Lettering-Vinyl but you can always paint it

mini board-scrap wood cut to size (you can also find small wood cutouts at walmart in the craft section)

Chalkboard paint (not be be confused with chalk paint)-I used one similar to this.

Gorilla Wood glue

Paint you main board and add your lettering.

Cut your small board to fit space and paint with chalkboard paint.

Glue your little board to the main board with wood glue and let everything dry.

season with chalk and you are ready to write your numbers.

*You can set your board on the shelf, add a hood to the back or some twine to hang.

Handprint Christmas Tree

There is something so sweet about a handprint.  Here's a quick and fun idea from my old preschool blog.

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I got this idea from A little tipsy. I just painted Aubrey's hand green and had her stamp it on the paper 3 times...one a little higher then the last one. Let it dry and then cut out. We glued it onto a piece of paper. Aubrey glued on pom poms and a foam star. The trunk is just construction paper.

Christmas Candy countdown

 When I was little we would make these countdowns every year.  They are really simple and you can add whatever you would like to each day.  I remember my mom using little toys, a toothbrush, pez dispensers, etc. as well as candy.  I wanted to start this tradition with my kids and since we were oh 9 days behind we just used candy.

You will need plastic wrap, yarn, and enough candy (or other prizes) for each day until Christmas.

Roll out a long piece of plastic wrap (don't cut it yet).  Place 1 candy in the center and evenly placed.  You will want about 2 or more inches between each (ours were a little close but work) and don't forget to leave that much space at each end.

 Once you are done cut your plastic wrap and fold each side across your candy.

 Next tie yarn (you can use ribbon, string or whatever you have) between each piece.

 Hang up and each day you cut one section off and enjoy.  This is why you want to have extra space for each day so you don't cut the next one too close.

Bring the snow inside!

This is one of my favorite parenting ideas.  We've done this several times over the years and my kids love it and ask to do it.  I think that's a good sign :)  It seem like every year it snows and for some reason or another it doesn't work to go outside and play...some ones sick, its dark, its 5 degrees, etc.   So we just bring it inside!  The best part is we stay warm, we don't have to add layers of clothes, and even my little ones can play.

Just scoop some snow onto a cookie sheet bring it inside.  I like to use a plastic table cloth and we still use gloves.  

 My little guy loved it.  (his hat was made using this pattern)

So next time it snows bring it inside!