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Lesson Plan Image

Holiday Pencil Toppers

Gift-giving is fun for both the giver and the receiver, and it becomes extra meaningful when presents are hand crafted. Students will create pencil toppers to give to a special someone on a special occasion.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    It's always a good time to acknowledge someone special in our lives, and holidays give us perfect opportunities to do so. Ask students to think of someone they would like to present a gift to, then have them discuss why this person is special to them.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a pencil topper made of Model Magic for the person they selected. The theme could align with an upcoming holiday, so they might create a turkey for Thanksgiving, Santa for Christmas, a dreidel for Chanukah, a ghost for Halloween, or anything else. Or it might simply be a symbol associated with the person who will be receiving the gift. When the topper is complete, have them press a colored pencil into the Model Magic.

  • Step 3

    While the Model Magic is drying have students write a few words of appreciation to accompany their gift. Then have them present the gift and message to their special someone.

Standards

SS: Individual Development and Identity: Describe factors important to the development of personal identity and the context of identity within families, peer or affinity groups, schools, communities, and nationalities. 

SEL: Relationship Skills: Establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. 

Adaptations

Have the class write and illustrate themed greetings that can be sent or delivered to residents of a nursing home for an upcoming holiday. 

Encourage students to learn about the origin of the symbol they created. For example, the Halloween Jack-o-lantern has its roots an Irish folktale that immigrants brought to the United States.