Santa Claus

Santa Claus, illustrated by Thomas Nast 1881

Today’s Topic: Santa Claus

Did you know…

Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Befana, Kris Kringle, Hoteisho, Sinterklas, and Saint Nicholas are just a few of the many names Santa Claus is known by around the world!

Today’s Activity: Heart-faced Santa

Heart-faced Santa by Fran W.

You will need:

Construction paper, scissors, glue, cotton balls, large googly eyes (25mm), medium sized pink pom-pom, tape

Optional items: Template on Fran's World Yahoo! Group, a large white pom-pom, or jingle bell, ribbon, hot glue

Set up:

• Cut all the pieces needed to make Santa's face (triangle hat, oval trim, heart-shaped face, circles for the cheeks, mustache, and a beard)
• Print, cut, and trace this template, or 
• If you like the Santa in the picture above, use the template available on Fran's World Yahoo! Group.

Note: If you decide to make the pieces without the use of a template, remember that the hat trim, mustache and beard will be covered with cotton so only the shape will be seen.

What to do:

Print the patterns out on card stock paper, cut them out, trace the shapes onto construction paper and cut them out. Then, using the picture as a guide, glue all of the pieces together.

1. Turn the heart upside down so that the point is facing up and the "bumps" of the heart are closest to you.  
2. Glue the trim to the hat, then glue the hat to the point of the heart.
3. To make the mouth, glue a piece of pink paper to the back of the mouth before gluing the mustache and beard to Santa's face.
4. Glue circles to the outer edge of the heart above the mustache for the cheeks.
5. Glue on a medium sized pom-pom for the nose.
6. Glue the eyes below the trim of the hat.
7. Pull cotton balls apart and glue them to the hat trim, mustache and beard of your Santa. You will want to completely cover these areas with cotton.
8. Glue a whole cotton ball, a large white pom-pom or a large jingle bell to the top of Santa's hat. 
9. When everything is dry, hang or tape Santa to the wall.

Tip: If you choose to hang Santa up, hot glue a ribbon to the back.

Question of the day:

What is the origin of Santa Claus?

Learn more:

Santa Tracker

Track Santa as he travels around the world Christmas Eve

Santa Claus

Learn about the origins of Santa Claus

A Visit from Saint Nick or Twas the Night Before Christmas

Poem written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822

If you would like more information about Christmas, please join my Fran's World Yahoo! Group. It is free to join and open to everyone.
Already a member? Please use this link: 'Christmas'