How to... make advent wreaths

Thought I would try a instructional post today. One of my favourite activities to do with my littlies.

Paper Plate Advent Wreaths

You will need:

• Paper plate
• Green paper (with leaf template on optional)
• Red card
• White card
• Orange tissue paper
• Sticky tape
• Glue

What to do:

1. Cut out leaf shapes and stick on the paper plate to create a circle.

2. Roll 4 red pieces of card and secure with sticky tape.

3. Make short cuts at the bottom, so you can fold out flaps and stick to the middle of the plate.

4. Roll a white piece of card and secure in the same manner. 

(I got distracted and forgot to take a picture of this stage!)

5. Add orange tissue paper to make flames.

6. The finished collection!

I took photos of each littlie holding their advent wreath which will be used to make a display with lettering from Primary Treasure Chest. Before we made these we had discussed what each part of the wreath symbolises and they wrote their responses to using candles to remember.

Advent ideas

Look who arrived in my classroom this week! As its the start of Advent, I thought it was time for my favourite knitted Nativity set to grace my classroom for the next couple of weeks alongside my Christmas tree to remind the children of the true meaning of Christmas! Also very useful when retelling the Nativity story for RE later this week. 

We also learnt about Advent candles and remembering. A very cute circle time about who we would remember with our candles. Then we made our very own Advent Wreaths (see next post!)

And finally, in my attempt at my first link up... a 'Currently' with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Listening - I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - I have a serious addiction to this show, in my defence it is the only reality tv show I follow!

Loving - I have literally eaten my body weight in mince pies over the last week... and its only the second day of December!

Thinking - I have a million and one things to do over the next couple of weeks and as I cross one thing off, I add about three others!

Wanting - I just LOVE snow, but unfortunately I now live in a country where this is simply not going to happen for Christmas! Will just have to do lots of wintery crafts instead...

Needing - A Christmas present buying fairy - How is it the first week of December already and I'm so unprepared? I need to do some serious purchasing or I will be running around on Christmas Eve at this rate!

Favourite tradition - My family always save a 'tree' gift to open after Christmas tea to spread out the presents, usually its a novelty gift too!

I wish it could be Christmas every day

So my favourite time of year is nearly here! Butterfly School is in full Christmas production mode (do I hear Oscar preparations?!) but I am still spending every spare moment indulging in my addiction to teaching blogs and in particular at this time of year, with the craft related ones.

My current top 3 Chrismassy activities I intended to inflict on my little Caterpillars

1. Absolutely gorgeous paper plate Christmas trees, I am considering adapting this into a Christmas card front (maybe just one?) 

I Heart Crafty Things

2. Reindeer and penguins!

Kerry's Craft Blog

3. Wreaths to decorate the classroom (and what brilliant fine motor practise!)

Our small-town Idaho Life

Reason Number 1

Why after x-number of years of teaching am I starting a blog? Well Reason Number 1 is its report writing time and over the years I have perfected my procrastination technique to a fine art. But Reason Number 2 is that I am addicted to reading other teaching blogs. I make no pretence at having new and innovative ideas, but I am hoping to gather together some inspirations of mine which help to change my teaching practice (and make me into a Butterfly Teacher!)