Glitzy Garland

Deck your halls with a traditional, sparkling garland! Choose your favorite Christmas symbols and colors for a decoration to treasure for years.

• 1.

  Ropes of Christmas garland are traditionally made after the fall harvest. Greens for making garlands were gathered by day. In the evening, family members sat around the fireplace twisting the greens into garlands. Find out how this tradition started in Europe and was brought to North America by immigrants. What other cultures hang garlands in celebration of Christmas? What symbols are used for the holiday?

• 2.

  To make your own garland, draw several circles on a recycled file folder using Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils. Cut them out with Crayola Scissors. Set a few circles aside.

• 3.

  Cover your art area with newspaper. Paint one side of the remaining circles with gold Crayola Premier Tempera and Crayola Paint Brushes. Air dry. Paint the other side. Air dry.

• 4.

  Decorate your gold circles with swirls, patterns, and holiday symbols using Crayola Glitter Glue. Air dry flat.

• 5.

  Trace several circles on construction paper. Using Crayola Fine Tip Markers and your imagination, draw and color holiday pictures on each circle. Cut them out. Use a Crayola Glue Stick to attach pictures to file-folder circles.

• 6.

  Punch a hole at the top of each circle. Thread and tie ribbon through holes for hanging on your garland of holiday greens.

Benefits

• Students recognize that Christmas is celebrated with different customs and traditions in various cultures.
• Students gather information about Christmas garlands and other holiday symbols and decorations.
• Students create an original Christmas garland with decorated paper ornaments.

Adaptations

• Research the origins of various Christmas decorations such as lights, trees, and Santa Claus. Compile a class book.
• For a sparkling effect on a Christmas tree, create ornaments with geometric shapes. Decorate each ornament with Crayola Metallic Colored Pencils. Highlight them with Crayola Glitter Glue and pretend jewels.
• Find other items to string on a garland, such as pine cones, shells, or candy canes.