Well, I wanted to do something that would create more memories and have more meaning than the ones we’ve done in the past. So, I made a simple Advent Calendar out of a file folder that contains a different activity for each day of December.
- Take a file folder (I used red), open it up, and fold the sides into the middle (all you lapbookers know what I mean).
- Take a different color (I used green) piece of card stock and tape (with clear packing tape) to the middle of the opened folder at the top so that you can flip the card stock up.
- Then make 24 pockets using the two colors you used for the the folder and card stock. You can make the pockets out of colored paper or card stock, whichever you prefer. I got the template for the pockets from Homeschool Share.
- Then go into whichever typing program you use on your computer and type the numbers 1-24 in big, bold print. Print them out on a third color of card stock.
- Put all the pockets together, glue the numbers on to each, and glue the pockets in the appropriate order onto the folder.
- Use your imagination, or search the internet for activity ideas that you can put on the cards. I made the cards by cutting a 3×5 blank index card in half and gluing an idea on the card. I typed the ideas on the computer, printed on colored paper, cut out, and then glued to the cards.
Here are the activities I have on my cards:
1. Make a Christmas craft (I have 3 cards that have this activity)
2. Watch The Polar Expressmovie
3. Go to the National Museum of Play (a local kid’s museum)
4. Make a gingerbread house
5. Sing and play Christmas songs
6. Make a bird feeder
7. Read The Legend of the Candy Cane
8. Go sledding (weather permitting), or make ice cream (we make ice cream every winter; I know, it’s bit backwards.
9. Drive around the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights.
10. Build a snowman (weather permitting), or make a sugar cube igloo, or make a snowman craft
11. Read The Legend of St. Nicholas
12. Do a sticker scene
13. Go ice skating
14. Read The Polar Express
15. Make and send Christmas cards
16. Make a prayer chain
17. Act out the Christmas story
18. Enjoy hot chocolate with marshmallows
19. Decorate Christmas cookies
20. Make a Nativity
21. Watch The Nativity Story
22. Bake a cake for Jesus’ birthday
I love that idea, I am going to try my hand at it, thank you for the inspiration 🙂 Tara.
This is a great idea!
I love this and the activities you have! I will have to try this next year with my son! 🙂 Thanks for sharing and what a cute blog you have!
http://www.gratefulwithtwo.com
This is a great activity for my son to follow advent through the church. Will get him to work on it as the weeks pass. Thanks for sharing and I am following you now.
Jillian
http://puzzlemecomplete.blogspot.com/2012/11/family-traditions.html
I especially like that you (the parent ) are able switch around the activities to suit the day (sit in and watch a movie kind of day or a go outside and sled kind of a day). Thank you for sharing!