Light is a focal point of many celebrations this time of year. We used loose parts to explore various ways to share that light. ADVENT WREATH Materials Felt sheet Holly Wreath template wreath Scissors Tape Organizing Tray Loose Parts (Use what you have. We went with caps, pom poms, foam shapes, gold beads, gems, bingo chips, gold rings, sequins) Directions Cut out your wreath template. To snip out the inside, fold it gently in half and make a starting snip. You could draw your own wreath as well. Tape your template to your felt and cut out the felt version. The tape will help hold it in place. Once done, create your holly wreath or extend it into an advent wreath. Each week leading up to Christmas a candl e is lit, symbolizing hope, peace, joy and love. Often a candle in the middle is lit on Christmas day. MENORAH Materials Felt sheet Template menorah Scissors Tape Loose parts (We went with glass gems for this one, but use what you have) Organizing tray/ containers Directions Cut out your menorah template. You could simplify it by trimming off the edges of the individual candle holders if you like. Tape your template to your felt and cut out the felt version. The tape will help hold it in place. Once done, create your menorah. A candle is lit for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah using the centre candle, the shamash (helper candle). Below are some books if you would like to learn more. KINARA Materials Felt sheet Kinara template kinara Scissors Tape Organizing Tray Loose Parts (Use what you have. We re-used game pieces.) Directions Cut out your kinara template. You could draw your own kinara as well. Tape your template to your felt and cut out the felt version. The tape will help hold it in place. Once done, create your kinara candles for the celebration of Kwanzaa. During each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, a candle is lit with the centre candle, each with their own meaning. Below are some book titles if you would like to learn more. Purpose Learning about the traditions and celebrations of various cultures. Loose parts lend to exploring design, the development of fine motor skills through manipulation and an opportunity for expressing one’s creativity. Safety Notes Use scissors with care and adult supervision. Small parts can be a choking hazard, therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths. Please like & share: Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Name* Email* Website Comment Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.