Christmas Tree Banner Activity

Inside: This Christmas tree banner activity strengthens fine motor skills while using droppers and watercolors. It looks great hanging in the classroom!

I love banners in our classroom, especially if they are made by my students. (I don’t think I’ve purchased a commercial one yet.)

We had so much fun making our leaf banners that I used the same method for Christmas trees.

I hung them so that they were visible as soon as you walk into the classroom and they were perfect for our Christmas theme!

Few materials are needed, which I especially appreciated during this busy time of the year.

Christmas Tree Banner Activity

With so much going on in December, I am always looking for easier activities that the children will enjoy.

My two year olds love using droppers with watercolors and it’s an easy way to get some fine motor into our day.

We actually use droppers year round, they are that popular! Some examples:

• Watercolors on Ice
• Watercolor Leaves
• Dropping Water Into Hearts

Get Their Hands Ready for Writing

In my 2’s class, I work a lot on getting the hands ready for writing, so that when they get into the 3’s class they are ready to hold writing utensils.

Every activity I set up I think about how their little hands are working.

Squeezing is very effective, plus it’s also great for hand-eye coordination.

Related: 17+ of the Best Fine Motor Activities

Moving On to Pipettes

Once our two’s master using droppers, we then transition to pipettes, which have a much smaller bulb and require a bit more fine motor strength.

Pipette activities include:

• Transferring Water to Ice Cube Trays
• Dropping Watercolors on Paper Towels
• Spring Chicks
• Fine Motor Shamrocks

So, let’s get on with the activity!

Supplies

• Coffee filters (you will need commercial sized filters for larger trees)
• Green liquid watercolors
• Droppers and/or pipettes
• Trays (to catch all the excess watercolors)

Preparation

Cut tree shapes from the coffee filters so that each child has at least one. (I like to make extras because I always have some children who want to keep on going.) I used the tree from our winter fine motor packet as a template.

Pour green liquid watercolors into small containers and dilute with water to your liking.

Set Up

Place trays at the art table. On each tray you will want:

• Coffee filter tree
• Green watercolors
• Droppers

Paint the Tree!

Invite your children to transfer the watercolor from the container to the coffee filter tree.

If this is their first time using droppers, take some time to show them how to dip the dropper into the container, squeezing the bulb to fill it with paint, then placing the dropper on top of the tree, squeezing to release the paint.

It usually takes my students a few tries before they understand how the squeeze and release works, but once they get it, they love the motion!

If your toddlers and preschoolers are like mine, they will make sure every part of the coffee filter is covered in watercolors, and then some.

This is why the tray is so important!

And even before the tree is completely green, excess paint will run off, like the photo shows below.

Tip: Pour the excess paint back into the container to use again!

And then I hung it in our Christmas-themed classroom between our ceiling lights.

Looking for more Christmas art to decorate the classroom?

• Cardboard Christmas Trees
• Star Suncatchers
• Cork-Painted Christmas Trees