Christmas Cheer

Are your students 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 grade 3 and up will enjoy spreading Christmas cheer when they hang these ornaments on their tree or give them as gifts. All you need is black construction paper, tissue paper in bright colors, scissors and glue sticks.... oh, and the school laminating machine!

Just take two pieces of 4"x6" black construction paper (one on top of the other) and together fold them in half. Then (on the fold) cut out half of a shape that will be symmetrical when opened (ex. tree, bell, star, etc.). Leave about a 1/4" margin and cut a smaller version of that same shape. Unfold the paper and you should have two identical "outlines" of your shape. Using a glue stick, spread a thin layer of glue along one of the outlines. Next, cut strips of tissue paper and press them onto the black outline, overlapping them so there aren't any gaps. Make sure they don't extend over the edges of the black paper. Now spread glue on the other black outline and carefully lay this paper over the top of the first one so that the edges all line up.

Once students get the hang of it, they should each be able to make several of these ornaments in one class period. Then run all the ornaments through the laminating machine. (It's usually best to do this at the slowest speed setting to ensure a good bond.) Trim close to the edge of each one and punch a small hole at the top for hanging. These are beautiful hanging on a tree at Christmas or in a window at any time of year!