An Activity for School Age children:
Form clay into festive trees and hats for a spectacular display!

Before You Begin:
To get started creating your festive classroom display, you'll need to gather air-dry clay,
paint, pipe cleaners and any collage materials desired. For this activity, each package of
air-dry clay will make one tree or hat.
This activity requires overnight drying, so prepare a space in advance where you can place
the in-progress crafts.

Activity Goals:
To create a festive, personalized craft.
To develop fine motor skills, gross mo tor skills, imagination, creativity and shape
recognition.

Furthermore:

While children's clay should be molded into a general cone shape, encourage them to
experiment with making them wavy, straight, pointed, rounded, thin, fat or whatever style
they may choose.

Steps:

1. Each child should receive one package of air-dry clay and form it into a cone shape. They
   may complete the remaining steps either before or after the clay has dried.
2. If using white clay, paint the trees or hats in the color desired. You may do this while the
   clays is still wet or after it has dried.
3. Add decorative stones, gems beads or other collage items by pushing them into wet clay or
   gluing them onto dry clay.
4. Add any other decorative items, and then arrange a festive classroom display once the
   crafts are dry.
5. Tie string to the top of the tree or glue magnets to the back for a festive hanging or
   magnetic ornament.