Next week I will share 12 incredibly fun Christmas activities (so don't forget to check back!), but first I wanted to share some super simple ways to celebrate Christmas using all five senses. You probably already do at least one of these things. Do them all to bring the full sensory experience of Christmas into your classroom!

The Sights of Christmas

Everyone knows and loves Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. His bright, blinking light guides Santa's sleigh through the night sky. Provide Rudolph's light (I found a light-up blinking nose at Michael's) and strings of Christmas lights for an enchanting, Christmas-y atmosphere. Make Rudolph out of popsicle sticks or paper.

The Feel of Christmas

Frosty the Snowman is another beloved Christmas character. Since I live and teach in Nevada, most of my students have never seen real snow. I would love to have them go outside and make Frosty from the snow on the ground, but there isn't any, so I mixed some Insta-Snow in a bin for them to feel. Let your students play in the snow — real or fake. They can also make Frosty with glue, glitter, or crayons. 

The Sounds of Christmas

The most magical sound of Christmas — besides children's laughter, maybe — is the sound of bells. Jingle bells and silver bells, to be exact. My kids made bell necklaces for their mothers, and entertained themselves by singing "Jingle Bells" and making jingly music.

Listen to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman," "Jingle Bells," and "The Gingerbread Man."

The Smells and Tastes of Christmas


Certain smells are all it takes to bring the joy of Christmas into your heart. Cinnamon sticks, pine needles, and peppermints are easy to spread around. Combine smell and taste by baking gingerbread cookies, making cinnamon toast or rolls, or passing out candy canes.

These are just a few suggestions for making the holiday season merry and bright in your classroom. How do you deck out your room for Christmas?

Have a sensuous weekend!

~Allie

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<a href="http://blogs.scholastic.com/classroom_solutions/2010/12/christmas-sensory-integration-Rudolph-Frosty-Jingle-Bells-Gingerbread-Man.html">Christmas Sensory Integration in the PreK and Kindergarten Classroom/a>