Advent Calendar

What a busy and fun time of year! Currently in my classroom we are reading one of my favorite stories, The Gingerbread Man! Check out my post of gingerbread man activities here. I do many of the same things each year. I will add a few new ones this year and will post pics soon (saw a cute idea in the hallway and plan on stealing that idea!). 

Today, I want to share with you something I did with my two girls at home. We love activities and crafts in my house and this advent calendar was a great way to combine both. I searched a few ideas on pinterest and ending up combining  a few I found. 

To make the calendar I used the following:

24 clothespins

24 envelopes with tags (I found mine at Target in the Christmas tag aisle. There were 12 in each package and cost about $4 each)

Liquid glue

Glitter

Activities

I used my Cricut cutter to make the numbers and glued the numbers on each envelope. I did a pattern of green and red. My 6 year old is really into patterns right now! 

Next, I sat down with our December Calendar and picked the activities based on what we had going each night. So if we were really busy, I picked an easy activity for that night. 

Last, we made the glitter clothespins! I found a few links on Pinterest. One said to use double sided tape but I didn't like the results. I used good ol' Elmer's liquid glue. I bought green, red, sliver and gold glitter. We did our shaking in a shoebox lid to contain the glitter mess :) 

Here is my list of activities. Some of the items have links to Pinterest where I found the ideas/things to print. 

Happy Holidays!

Advent Calendar Ideas

1. buy a toy to donate

2. Make a paper plate wreath

3. Snowball fight with cottonballs

4. Read a Christmas Story

5. Pick stuffed animals to donate: Stuffed Animals for Emergencies is an organization that accepts gently used stuffed animals, small toys, books and blankets. 

6. Watch Frosty

7. Decorate Christmas cookies

8. Christmas tree footprint craft

9. Make Christmas card for a friend

10. Write letter to Santa

11. Color Christmas pictures-Grinch and Who Christmas tree

12. Christmas Tree bowling

13. Go to a friend's house

14. Decorate Christmas tree

15. Go see Santa

16 Paint nails red and green

17. Make a gingerbread book (I found mine on TpT. Sorry for some reason I forgot to pin it!)

18. Watch Mickey's Christmas Carol

19. make a Christmas craft

20. Drive around neighborhood to look at lights

21. Gingerbread houses

22. Make gingerbread man cookies (I use the Betty Crocker bag mix. Super easy!)

23. Snowmen milk jugs

24. Open special presents (pjs!)

Here are the links to the advent calendars I found:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/94575660898791424/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/94575660898833498/

I did keep a hand written copy (in cursive) on the fridge of our activities so I could check it and make sure I was prepared for the evenings activity! 

Good luck and have fun with your family this holiday season!!

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