Amazing Christmas Crafts for Upper Elementary

Table of Contents

The holidays are here, and what better way to celebrate than with some festive crafting? This guide is packed with amazing Christmas crafts for upper elementary students, perfect for making memories and unleashing creativity. Forget those boring, repetitive projects – we're diving into fun, engaging activities that will excite even the most reluctant crafters. Whether you're looking for unique ornaments to decorate your tree, thoughtful handmade gifts for loved ones, or exciting classroom projects to share the holiday spirit, this article has something for everyone. We'll explore a variety of easy-to-follow projects, using simple materials you likely already have at home. Get ready to transform ordinary supplies into extraordinary holiday creations. From dazzling ornaments to personalized gifts and fun classroom activities, we'll cover it all, ensuring that this Christmas season is filled with festive fun and creative accomplishment. So grab your glue, glitter, and imaginations, and let's get crafting! Prepare to be amazed by what your upper elementary students can create with a little guidance and a lot of holiday cheer. Let's make this Christmas extra special with these incredible Christmas crafts for upper elementary.

Festive Ornament Fun: Creating Unique Holiday Decorations

Sparkly Salt Dough Ornaments

Let's start with a classic! Salt dough ornaments are super easy to make and endlessly customizable. Mix flour, salt, and water to create a pliable dough. Roll it out, use cookie cutters to create festive shapes (stars, trees, snowflakes!), and bake until hard. Once cool, let the kids decorate them with paint, glitter, sequins, or even tiny pom-poms! They'll love personalizing their creations and hanging them on the tree. For extra inspiration, check out our ideas for easy Christmas ornaments.

Remember to supervise younger children during the baking process. Adult help is needed for the oven and handling hot materials. Older kids can take more responsibility for the decorating stage, showing off their artistic talents.

Beaded Wonders: Creating Festive Baubles

For a more sophisticated ornament, try beading! String colorful beads onto strong thread or wire to create unique patterns and shapes. You can make simple beaded chains, intricate snowflake designs, or even miniature Christmas trees. This is a great way to introduce kids to different types of beads and teach them basic beading techniques. The end result is a beautiful, handmade ornament they can be truly proud of. Looking for more festive ideas? Check out our collection of amazing yarn Christmas crafts for additional inspiration.

Use different sizes and colors of beads to create a visually stunning effect. You could even incorporate small charms or pendants for an extra touch of personality. Consider using wire instead of thread for more intricate designs.

• Large-hole beads
• Strong thread or wire
• Scissors
• Needle (if using thread)

Upcycled Christmas Ornaments

Get creative with upcycling! Turn old buttons, bottle caps, or even cardboard scraps into unique ornaments. Glue buttons together to create whimsical snowmen, paint bottle caps with festive designs, or cut and decorate cardboard shapes into festive characters. This is not only a fun way to create unique ornaments but also teaches kids about sustainability and reusing materials. For more ideas on using everyday items, check out these DIY Christmas crafts for kids.

Encourage kids to brainstorm their own upcycled ornament ideas. The possibilities are truly endless! Think about using natural materials like pinecones or twigs to add a rustic touch. You could even incorporate family photos into your designs.

Beyond the Basics: Elevated Christmas Crafts for Older Kids

Intricate Paper Snowflake Designs

Let's move beyond simple paper snowflakes! Older kids can tackle more complex designs, using various folding techniques and intricate cutting patterns. They can create stunning, multi-layered snowflakes with delicate details, showcasing their precision and creativity. This is a great opportunity to explore geometric shapes and patterns, transforming a simple craft into a mathematical and artistic challenge. For some inspiration, check out our amazing paper Christmas crafts for more ideas.

Encourage kids to experiment with different paper types, like metallic or patterned paper, to add extra flair to their snowflakes. They can even try adding glitter or sequins for extra sparkle. Consider providing templates or diagrams for more complex designs.

• Various sizes of paper (different colors and textures)
• Sharp scissors
• Optional: Glitter, glue, sequins

DIY Christmas Cards with a Twist

Forget store-bought cards! Upper elementary students can create personalized Christmas cards using advanced techniques like embossing, layering, or even creating pop-up elements. They can incorporate their own drawings, paintings, or photographs to make each card truly unique. This is a fantastic way for them to express their creativity and create a personal touch for their loved ones. Don't forget to check out our Christmas card craft ideas for more inspiration.

Provide a selection of embellishments like ribbons, stickers, and stamps to enhance their designs. Encourage kids to experiment with different paper textures and colors. They might even want to try creating their own custom stamps using potatoes or erasers.

Creating Personalized Advent Calendars

Advent calendars are a fun way to count down to Christmas, and older kids can create their own unique versions. They can make a traditional numbered calendar, a more creative version with small gifts or activities behind each door, or even a digital advent calendar using a website or app. This project encourages planning, organization, and creativity, making it a perfect holiday activity for upper elementary students. For more ideas on fun holiday projects, check out our classroom Christmas crafts.

Encourage kids to personalize their calendars with their favorite themes or characters. They could incorporate photos, drawings, or even small trinkets into their designs. Consider using different materials like fabric, wood, or recycled boxes to create a unique structure.

DIY Gift Giving: Handmade Presents Kids Will Love to Make

Cozy Christmas Coasters

These are super easy and fun to make! All you need is some felt, festive fabric scraps, or even pretty patterned paper. Kids can cut out circles (or any fun shape!), decorate them with paint, glitter, or fabric markers, and then glue them together to create a layered effect. These personalized coasters make thoughtful gifts for grandparents, teachers, or friends. For even more gift ideas, check out these DIY Christmas craft ideas for extra inspiration.

Encourage kids to use different textures and patterns to create visually interesting coasters. They could even add small embellishments like buttons, beads, or sequins. Consider using heat-resistant materials if they plan on using the coasters for hot drinks.

• Felt or fabric scraps
• Scissors
• Glue
• Decorative elements (paint, glitter, markers, etc.)

Personalized Photo Frames

Turn plain wooden picture frames into personalized gifts! Kids can decorate them using paint, markers, decoupage, or even mosaic tiles. They can add family photos to make it even more special. This is a great way to combine crafting with personal memories, creating a truly unique and heartfelt gift. Need more ideas for personalized presents? Check out our Christmas crafts for parents for even more inspiration.

Encourage kids to personalize their frames with the recipient's favorite colors or themes. They can add small embellishments like ribbons, charms, or dried flowers. Consider using different types of wood or other materials for a unique look.

Classroom Christmas Cheer: Group Projects & Festive Activities

Collaborative Christmas Tree Creations

Transform a large piece of butcher paper or a whiteboard into a collaborative Christmas tree! Each student can add their own unique ornament, creating a vibrant and diverse masterpiece representing the whole class's creativity. This fosters teamwork and encourages kids to appreciate the individual contributions of their classmates. This project is perfect for building community spirit within the classroom, and you can even use it as a festive backdrop for holiday photos. For more ideas on collaborative projects, check out our classroom Christmas crafts ideas.

Consider providing a variety of materials for students to use, including paint, markers, glitter, collage materials, and even small toys or trinkets. Encourage kids to think outside the box and create ornaments that represent their individual personalities or interests. You could even add some holiday music to set the mood!

• Large sheet of butcher paper or whiteboard
• Variety of art supplies
• Holiday music

Festive Garland Extravaganza

A giant, collaborative garland is another fantastic group project. Each student can create their own individual element – a paper snowflake, a small felt ornament, or even a handprint reindeer – and then the class can string them all together to create a magnificent garland to decorate the classroom. This is a great way to show off everyone's unique style while working together towards a common goal. This project is perfect for showcasing the individual talents of each student while contributing to a beautiful collective artwork. For more ideas on festive classroom decorations, check out our Christmas party craft ideas.

Encourage students to use a variety of materials and techniques to create diverse and interesting garland elements. You could even incorporate recycled materials to add a sustainable touch. Remember to have plenty of string or ribbon on hand to assemble the garland!