Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

STEAM activity

Build A Christmas Tree STEAM Activity

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Invitation to build a Christmas tree from clear plastic serving trays, plates, and cups, A family STEAM activity with many opportunities for learning.

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This “Build A Christmas Tree” STEAM activity offers a unique opportunity to incorporate construction, lights, and Christmas decorations in an engaging way. Materials needed are readily available and easy to collect. In the process of building a tree and decorating it, young children progress in many areas of development.

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Supplies To Collect

  • clear plastic plates, cups, and serving trays
  • clear plastic lids (if needed to complete the size range)
  • Individual lights
  • nonbreakable Christmas decorations
  • picture/template of the completed project

The serving trays and plates should be of different sizes. I added one clear plastic lid because I could not find the size needed in a plate or tray.

Plastic serving trays, plates, lid and cups to use as a Christmas tower tree building prompt. A family STEAM activity with many possibilities for learning.

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Christmas bell decorations and garland add sensory appeal to this activity.

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Stage the “Build A Christmas Tree” Activity

Set out the construction materials and Christmas decorations on a table with ample space.

Display a picture of the completed project. (A picture can be downloaded further down the post.)

Challenge children to build a tree and decorate it. Offer help as requested or needed.

A snack tray works well as the largest and bottom piece, as decorations can be stored on it.

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“Build A Christmas Tree” STEAM Learning Possibilities

Building a stacked tree offers many opportunities for learning. Here is a list of developmental areas and growth possibilities for each one using this construction activity.

Math

  • Practice ordering sizes from smallest to largest.
  • Match sizes and shapes.
  • Learn about height, length, measurement, symmetry, and balance.
  • Count layers on the tree.

Science

  • Learn cause and effect when putting heavier and lighter decorations on higher or lower parts of the tree.
  • See the results of adding lights to different parts of the tree.

Fine And Gross Motor Control

  • Develop eye-hand coordination in placing decorations in just the right spot.

Language Development

  • Name objects.
  • Describe decorations as heavy, light, hard, soft, fluffy, metallic, bright red, rough, or smooth.

Creative Development

  • Create a unique tree by choosing from many kinds of trimmings and lights.

Sensory Exploration

  • Feel different textures and notice smells.
  • Observe seasonal colors and shapes.
  • Hear the jingling sound of bells.

Social Development

  • Learn to co-operate when building the tree with other children.
  • Enhance friendships when working together as a team.

Self Esteem Enhancement

  • Gain a sense of satisfaction in building and decorating a unique tree by oneself or with friends.
  • Opportunity to make choices.

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Learning Possibilities Download

Download this list of learning possibilities to use as a handout for teachers, caregivers or parents.

Build-A-Tree-Learning-PossibilitiesDownload

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A decorated tower tree using clear plastic plates, serving trays, and cups. A STEAM activity for young learners.

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This activity is perfect for an adult and children to work on. The stacked tree is challenging to make, and early learners may appreciate some grown-up assistance. And adults can offer decorating challenges to extend the learning experience, ie.

  • Can you make a tree shape with these circles and cups?
  • Can you put all the pompoms on?
  • Can you find a spot for the acorns?
  • Can you put two bells on the tree?
  • Can you put heavier pieces on the bottom tray?
  • Can you put a pom pom on each side of a circle shape?

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Reproducing A Design From A Template Or Photo

Studies show that reproducing a design from a template or photo enhances mathematical skills and brain development. This is a more structured kind of construction play. However, it’s perfectly okay to offer these materials in two ways:

  1. Challenge children to build a tree similar to a template or photo, and offer the materials in an open-ended way another day.
  2. Offer materials in an open-ended way first, and challenge children to build a template design as a follow-up activity.
Model of a tower themed Christmas tree for children to use as a template. Free printable for download.

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Download a picture to use as a pattern here.

Christmas Tree ModelDownload

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This “Build A Christmas Tree” STEAM activity can be offered on a tabletop, or placed on a light table. It can be set in the room at different places over a period of days or moved around by the children. The accessories can be saved for other light/light table activities.

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For more Christmas tree-building ideas, view a post on the website Left Brain Craft Brain.

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