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You are here: Home / Themes / Christmas / Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project

Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project

By Vin Giannetto Leave a Comment · This content may contain affiliate links.

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Christmas art activities are some of my favorite projects to make with children! The colors and images of the season get children excited and engaged as the anticipation of Christmas day approaches. Today’s Christmas tree art project is inspired by a classic Fantastic Fun and Learning favorite, Winter Tree Nature Art Project. I’ve always loved the simplicity of the activity and its focus on using items from nature as art materials. Today in this Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project we’ll build on this concept as little ones gather sticks from the yard and create whimsical Christmas trees adorned with small parts. 

Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project

Christmas Tree Facts for Kids

  1. The most popular types of Christmas trees are fir, spruce, and pine. 
  2. People may put up a real tree or an artificial tree during the holiday season.
  3. Christmas trees are adorned with lights and ornaments.
  4. At the top of the tree you can usually find an angel or a star.
  5. One of the most famous Christmas trees can be found in Rockefeller Center in NYC.

Art and Nature

Sticks are a wonderful found object from nature that can be used as art supplies. They are often plentiful and just the right size for little fingers to pick up and manipulate. Today let your child explore their surroundings and go on a stick hunt to find an array of sticks of different sizes and varieties. Optional activity: Experiment using a stick as a paintbrush and paint a variety of lines and shapes on scrap paper. How does it compare to painting with a real paintbrush?

Christmas Tree Stick Art Project for Kids

Materials  for Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project

  • Sticks
  • White Elmers Glue
  • Construction Paper
  • Green Tempera Paint
  • Gold Tempera Paint
  • Yellow Tempera Paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Beads
  • Pom Poms 
  • Buttons
  • Gems
  • Cup
  • Cardboard
Materials for Loose Parts Twig Christmas Tree Art Project

Step By Step Directions for Twig Christmas Tree Art Project

1. Search & Find

Gather a variety of sticks from the yard. 

2. Snap & Paint

Snap the sticks into smaller twigs and paint them green. Let them dry.

Painting tree branches for Christmas tree craft for kids

3. Stamp & Hop

Let’s decorate the background paper. Dip the open end of a small plastic cup into gold tempera paint and print circles on white construction paper. Use a small rectangular shape of cardboard to print lines on the paper as well. Dip the cut end into yellow paint and stamp about. These unique painting techniques add interest and excitement to the background. 

Creating background for Christmas tree art project

4. Put Up the Tree!

Set up the Christmas tree with the larger twigs at the bottom of the tree and smaller twigs as you get to the top. Glue them in place with Elmer’s glue. Use an unpainted twig for the trunk.

Adding branches to Christmas Tree Art Project

5. Decorate the Tree!

Search the junk drawer for loose parts such as buttons, beads, and pom poms. Glue them on the tree to represent ornaments. Add a star on the top or a special gem. 

Loose Parts Twig Christmas Tree Art Project for Kids

6. Frame it!

This art project would make a wonderful holiday gift. Use a simple black mat to display your work.

Stick Christmas Tree Loose Parts Art Project for Kids (1)

Talk About Art

  1. Identify the parts of a Christmas tree, including the trunk, branches, and needles.
  2. Identify the loose parts you used as ornaments.
  3. Count the number of ornaments on your tree.
  4. What painting technique did you enjoy the most, the paintbrush, cup, or cardboard?
  5. Compare and contrast the tree you made today with the tree your family put up at home. How are they different? How are they the same?
Finished Loose Parts Christmas Tree Art Project for Kids

Whether creating art at home or in the classroom, I hope you enjoy this art activity! Be sure to tag @fantasticfunandlearning and @youngschoolartwithmr.g on Instagram. We would love to see and share your work!

CONNECT WITH VIN GIANNETTO

Learn more about Vin here on his author bio page. Follow along with him on Facebook at Young School Art with Mr. Giannetto and on Instagram @youngschoolartwithmr.g for art project ideas.

MORE ART AND CRAFT PROJECT IDEAS FROM VIN

Winter and Winter Holiday Art Projects for Kids

Click on the images below to see the full tutorial for each art project.

Torn paper penguin craft. Winter art project for kids
Cardinals in Winter-Art Project and Winter Craft for Kids
Paint with Snowballs Snowman Art for Kids. Winter art project for preschool and kindergarten
Color Wheel Christmas Ornament Art Project
Coffee filter snowflake art projects. Winter art activity for kids
Ice Painting Process Art for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Christmas Tree Loose Parts Play Sensory Art Project for Kids with natural materials Christmas Craft for Kids-Loose Parts Play Christmas Tree Art Project
Bumble Bee Valentines Art Project for Kids
Polar Bear Art Project Winter Art for Kids
Potato Masher Snowman Art Project Winter Craft for Kids
Kids will love exploring a new painting technique as they create tinfoil process art Christmas ornaments in this fun Christmas art project for kids.

GET A FULL SET OF CHRISTMAS THEME PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Explore the symbols and traditions of Christmas and incorporate reading, math, science and more in this 169-page preschool secular Christmas lesson plan set full of fun and playful Christmas learning activities for preschool. Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:

The 169-page Christmas Lesson Plan Set includes hands-on activities and these additional printables:

1) Beginning Letters Gift Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

2) Reindeer Math Mats (2 versions in color and b/w)

3) My Christmas Senses Activity Book Making Pieces

4) 0-35 Christmas Number Cards (2 versions in color and b/w)

5) Christmas Counting Syllables Sorting Game (in color and b/w)

6) Christmas Picture-Word Cards (in color and b/w)

7) Ornament Play Dough Mats

8) Candy Cane Play Dough Writing Task Cards (shapes, uppercase letters, lowercase letters, number 0-20)

9) Christmas Light Patterns Activity Pieces (in color and b/w)

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Loose Parts Stick Christmas Tree Art Project
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Filed Under: Art, Christmas, Kindergarten, Preschool, School Age Tagged With: loose parts play, nature-inspired activities

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Hi, I’m Shaunna!

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