Manger Fingerprint Craft and Puzzle
The Christmas season is a wonderful time to introduce creative and meaningful crafts to children. This Manger Fingerprint Craft & Puzzle is perfect for helping little ones learn about the nativity story while also developing fine motor skills and creativity. Plus, it doubles as a puzzle that kids can take apart and reassemble, adding a fun twist to this Christmas craft.
Supplies Needed
Just a few supplies are needed for this craft.
- 10 jumbo craft sticks
- Washable paint in brown, yellow, blue, and tan
- Masking tape
- Paper plate or palette for paint
- Pencil (optional)
Craft Directions
Begin by lining 10 jumbo craft sticks in a row. I like using a tray to do this.
Then add two pieces of tape to the sticks.
Then flip over the craft sticks and begin creating your manger scene!
For younger students, I suggest using a pencil and lightly sketching a simple outline of a manger, including a roof, baby Jesus, and a star. This helps guide the children as they add fingerprints.
Fingerprint Painting:
- Roof and Stable Structure: Use brown paint and let the children dip their fingers to create dots along the outline of the stable. These dots form the walls and roof of the manger.
- Baby Jesus: Use blue paint for the blanket and tan for the face to represent Baby Jesus in the manger. Guide them to add these colors within the outline you drew.
- Star of Bethlehem: Use yellow paint to create the star at the top, symbolizing the light over the manger.
Allow the paint to dry completely. Once dry, carefully remove the tape to separate the sticks. Now, each stick becomes a piece of the puzzle!
Mix up the pieces and have students put the puzzle in order, re-creating the manger scene. This part adds a fun, hands-on activity that they’ll enjoy again and again.
If your child needs a little help, start by putting baby Jesus together first and then the star.
Additional Tips
- You can take a picture of your puzzle or print a picture of mine to help guide kids when they re-create the puzzle.
- For more help, you can put a number on each stick and have them place the puzzle in order from 1-10.
- If the student doesn’t want to use their finger, they can use the eraser side of a pencil. Simply dip the eraser in the paint and stamp it on the craft sticks to make the puzzle.
Educational Components
Not only is this a fun craft, it also has educational benefits!
This Manger Fingerprint Craft & Puzzle is a lovely way to celebrate the Christmas season in a classroom, Sunday school, or at home. It’s a great opportunity for children to practice their fine motor skills, learn about the nativity story, and enjoy a hands-on activity that they can cherish.
More Christmas Crafts
Another fun manger craft and fine motor activity is this torn paper craft.
And this Christmas alphabet puzzle is another fun idea.
Happy crafting, and Merry Christmas!
