Elves and the Shoemaker

This is one of my favorite Holiday stories.  It highlights the gift of giving without expecting a return for your generosity.

Here are some key hands-on links to tie into your learning stations. (Click on yellow links for instructions).  These are very engaging activities - just what you need as you approach Winter break!

 Make an elf hat. 

 Write a story about what you would do if you were an elf.  What kind deed would you do?  For who?

 Draw an elf.  

What is his/her name?  Where does she live? 

 Sew an elf.

Make an elfin village.  Create a house for your elf.

 Design your own Shoe Art.

Open a shoe art museum!

 Sew your initial.

Be like the elves and sew!  What other words start with the same sound as your name?  Make a list of 25 words.

Finger knit!

It's math! It's a pattern!  Loop and Pull!  A/B!  

Make friendship bracelets!

Enjoy!

Pine Cone Elves

I saw this idea all over Pinterest and had to give it a try with my kinders!

What you will need:

• assorted pine cones (mine came from a friend's yard)
• popsicle sticks
• wooden beads for head
• little red caps (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)
• pipe cleaners cut into fourths
• little pom-poms, glitter pens, and other items to decorate pine cones
• artist's gel medium -- as the glue agent.

 PREPARATION:
I had my assistant prepare the elves by gluing on the wooden bead heads and the popsicle ski's.  

 First, the hat is glued on.

 Next, glue on the pipe cleaner arms.

Add a face and decorate!

Weaving Like Elves

As a part of my Little Elves and the Shoemaker unit, I always introduce several hand working projects.  One of my favorite things to do is weaving.  It is simple and the children love the process.  I found this grapevine "ribbon" at Michael's for $5 and their holiday ribbon was 50% off.  Perfect!

Weaving is a wonderful way to build the pincer grasp for writing and develop fine motor control.    

 HOW TO DO IT:
Simple - give the children ribbons to weave.  I let the children loose to weave how ever they wish!

The end product is an explosion of joy! 

Elf Hats

Oh what fun!  With the Elf on the Shelf rage - we had to make Elf hats!

 I printed the ears on construction paper and the children cut them out.

 On a 12 x 18 sheet of construction paper, the children made a pattern.

Next, they folded the corners.

The hat is made by making a cone.  Glue on the ears. . . .

and there you have it!  An elf hat!

Make an Elf Hat and get a Free E-Book of "The Elves and the Shoemaker"

 

Look at these cute elf hats!  Cindy Williams and her gang at Philbrook Art Museum came up with this great craft activity for Second Saturday.  I am so taking this idea to my classroom this week!

I took a photo of the instructions!  Use a large piece of construction paper (12x18).

 Decorate and embellish!

Don't forget the ears!

RESOURCES FOR THE STORY:

I found a free e-book this wonderful tale and it is one of my favorite illustrated versions!  Check out this website:


The Elves and the Shoemaker E-Book CLICK HERE!


Website for free e-book of "The Elves and the Shoemaker"


Thanks to Eileen at the Little Acorn Learning Blog, you can read the Brothers Grimm's version.  It is the original tale.

For a free audio recording of the story - pop over to Storynory!

Here is an adorable youth production by the Mason Youth Theater of this story.  I love to have my class act out the stories!

Shoe Art!

During "The Elves and the Shoemaker" we create our own Shoe Art!

Begin by gathering shoes.  Each child will need one shoe.

Next, prepare the shoe by spray painting it.  I have used gold, silver, red, and even black!

To decorate, gather a variety of baubles, beads, trim and feathers.

I like using the Golden Gel Medium as it will hold the baubles and not fall off.  I put a scoop of the medium in little cups with a stick.

Let the children create their own shoe masterpieces!

I display the shoes in a little "Shoe Museum" in the hallway.

Sewing Little Elves

This week my class began sewing little elves.  We have been learning the tale of  "The Elves and the Shoemaker."  This is a wonderful tale about the spirit of giving.  It also offers a great opening to discuss wants and needs.

I used a traditional pattern for gnomes and altered it a bit for the elf.  I adapted the pattern found in the book, "The Gnome Craft Book" by Thomas and Petra Berger (page 9).  It is that pointy hat that gives the children the feeling it is an elf. 
(Disclaimer!) This is my first attempt to make a basic pattern in digital form and then link it!  If it fails - let me know!

Elf Pattern

Materials needed:  needles, embroidery thread, wool felt, wool batting, wooden discs.

To sew this little elf, use the whip stitch.  I double the thread and knot the ends.

 Cut out wool felt.

Fold in half.

Stitch from bottom to tip of the "upside down" L.   Then, sew from tip of hat to end of that edge.  (see pattern link for specific place to sew)

The pattern is "Push in, pull out."  The needle will require a little "push" to get through the wool.  The child will have the sewing when he/she gets the "rhythmic" movement of the stitch.

Let each child sew at their own level.   Do not demand too much at this point.  I like to engage the "love of the task" to build desire for future projects.

Stuff with wool.

My colleague, Mrs. Finch had a great idea!  She purchased wooden discs for the bottom of the elves.  This gives them the ability to stand without having to sew on the bottoms. 

I hot glued on the discs for the children and we wrote their names on the bottoms.

 These little elves are great for dollhouse and block play.

STANDARDS:

Math Standard 1: Algebraic Reasoning: Patterns - The student will analyze simple patterns.
2. Explain verbally and extend simple patterns (e.g. push in, pull out )

Math Standard 3: Geometry - The student will explore the relationship of objects in the environment.
3. Model and use words indicating relative position or direction (e.g., students describe the relationships between self and objects in space using on, above, below, beside, under, on top of, behind, and over).

Small Motor - Standard 1: The student will participate in activities that involve small motor skills.
1. Demonstrate increased control of hand and eye coordination.

Visual Art Appreciation - Standard: Demonstrate thoughtfulness and care in completion of artworks.

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES:  Visual Spatial, Body-Kinesthetic, Musical-Rhythmic, Intrapersonal

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY: Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, Creating.

How to Draw an Elf

This week we are inside the wonderful tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker.  I love teaching the children how to draw an elf.  It is easy and the results endearing!  I am including my state standards at the bottom of this post that this activity directly addresses.  This activity is reinforces the understanding of shapes, size and positional words.  Materials you will need are:  Sharpie pens, white card stock and watercolor paints.

Here's how to draw an elf:

I ask the children to put their finger in the middle of the page.  Next I ask them to point to the top of the page.  I tell them this is where you will begin your drawing.  "Draw a triangle that is the elf's cap.  Don't make it too big or too small."  It is important to establish a spatial relationship to the white space.

Draw a sleeping "C" under the triangle to make the face.

Draw a rectangle to make the elf's coat below the face.

Draw two smaller rectangles on either side for the sleeves of the coat.

Draw another rectangle below the big rectangle.  Draw a line in the middle to make pants.

Draw a hook shape for the shoes (it looks like a J) under the pants.   Draw a circle for each hand and add a little circle on top of it to make a thumb.

Draw the face - ovals for the eyes, an "L" for the nose and a sleeping "C' for the mouth.  Draw two triangles for the ears.  Add small circles on the shoes and cap.  You can draw stripes, buttons, curvy lines to add details. 

Aren't these paintings adorable?!

Here are some of the Standards in my state that this activity meets:

MATH:

• Identify, name, and describe a variety of basic two-dimensional geometric shapes such as squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, (regular) hexagons, and (isosceles) trapezoids presented in a variety of ways (e.g. with different sizes of orientation).
• Model and use words indicating relative position or direction (e.g., students describe the relationships between self and objects in space using on, above, below, beside, under, on top of, behind, and over).

ART:
Standard 3:    Visual Art Expression - The student will observe, select, and utilize a variety of ideas and subject matter in creating original works of visual art.
1. Manipulate a variety of materials (media).

THE MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES:
Visual-Spatial, Body-Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal

BLOOM'S TAXONOMY: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Creating


WILLIAM'S TAXONOMY:  Elaboration