With the holiday season just around the corner, many students are looking for unique and thoughtful gifts to give to their parents, grandparents, and other important people in their lives. While shopping for gifts can be overwhelming, there are several DIY projects that students can undertake to create meaningful and personal gifts that will be appreciated for years to come.
In this post, we'll share some fantastic ideas for Christmas gifts that students can make for their parents. These gifts range from simple and easy-to-make crafts to more complex projects that require a bit more time and effort. Whether you're looking for a last-minute gift or something to put under the tree, these ideas are sure to please any parent on your list.
1. Decorative Calendar
A decorative calendar is a lovely way to celebrate the holiday season. Students can use a Sharpie to write out phrases like "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" on each month's page. They can also add fingerprint light bulbs to make the pages more festive. This calendar makes a great keepsake and can be displayed on the wall or refrigerator.
2. Handprint Snowmen
This winter craft is a fun and easy way to create a unique snowman礼物. Students can paint one of their hands brown and add details to the snowman, such as a scarf, hat, eyes, and mouth. They can then glue the snowman onto a base and add a string or ribbon for hanging.
3. Reindeer Ornaments
These reindeer ornaments made by Crystal, at littlebitfunky.com, are super cute and very simple to make. All you need is a little acrylic paint, bulbs (matte-finish bulbs are suggested), and a black sharpie. Check out this blog for a list of easy directions.
4. Mason Jar Lid Ornaments
I have seen many ornaments made with the lids from Mason jars, such as painted snowmen and fingerprint reindeer. My favorite, however, is this project that was shared in the Not So Wimpy Fourth Grade Teachers’ Facebook group by Wanda Roberts. I love the fine-motor practice students get from making this ornament. All you need to prep is red and green yarn cut into about 5-inch pieces and pictures of your students. The students get to complete the task of tying the yarn around the ring of the lid in alternating colors. After gluing their picture to the bottom of the seal, push the seal into the ring and your ornament is complete!
5. Time Capsule Ornaments
I love this idea so much from The Chaos and The Clutter blog, that I plan on doing it with my own children this year!
All you need to complete this project is holiday scrapbook paper, ribbon, clear ornaments, and a permanent paint pen. Cut the scrapbook paper into strips and have your students write their favorite memories from the year across the strips in pen. They will be so fun to open up and read in future years!
6. Snowman Wood Slice Ornaments
This snowman ornament made by the Easy Peasy and Fun blog, is so easy and very inexpensive. For this project, you will need wood slices, white acrylic paint, permanent markers, and a string to hang it with.
One year, I went to my local tree stand and asked them if they would donate wood slices to my classroom. If you can’t get any from a tree stand, you can likely find these at craft stores with the hole already drilled. You can find detailed directions here.
7. Personalized Candle
This is a simple gift, a candle with a hand-drawn picture on it. While the samples here aren’t complicated, students can do this craft with any colors or designs. They may wish to print some images for students to trace, color, and transfer. Or, they can write a note to their families on the candle. The possibilities are endless.
This post has more information about handmade candles.
8. Gingerbread Man Cookie Jar Lids
This fun gingerbread man ornament is the perfect addition to any home decor.
Students can transform a simple canning jar lid into a delightful gingerbread man with this charming canning lid ornament project. It's not only a creative way to repurpose unused lids but also a perfect Christmas keepsake or a whimsical addition to any gift. Just imagine the joy it'll bring tied into a beautiful bow on a present or hanging on a tree!
9. Simple Felted Reindeer
This one is great for older students who have a bit of dexterity and patience. Students get to create and sew small felted reindeer. This post has step-by-step instructions on how to create them, from drawing the sketches to cutting out the felt pieces to sewing them together in layers. It makes a great activity for following directions, too.
10. Gnome Toilet Paper Ornaments
This charming gnome ornament is the perfect addition to any home decor. Handcrafted with love, it features a toilet paper roll and yarn. The soft colors of the yarn combined with the classic curves of the roll create a unique look that is sure to grab attention.
11. 3D Popup Christmas Cards
This card doesn't need templates!
Just rectangular pieces of paper. It's the perfect way to send your holiday message. No special materials are needed-in fact, you can use plain white paper for a snowy landscape or colored paper for the Christmas season. The perfect pop-up Christmas cards!
12. 3D Christmas Cards
Take your Christmas card-making skills up a level with these three-dimensional Christmas cards. Use colorful paper and the linked template to easily create a dynamic card.
13. Personalized Candle
This is a simple gift, a candle with a hand-drawn picture on it.
Students can make a candle with a hand-drawn picture on it. Although the samples here aren't complicated, students can do this craft with any colors or designs. They may wish to print some images for students to trace, color, and transfer. Or, they canwrite a note to their families on the candle. The possibilities are endless.
