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BLOG: Holiday Crafts for older students (in special education)

Holiday Crafts for Older Students in Special Education

As special education students get older, it gets harder to find age appropriate crafts that are also easy enough for students to do as independently as possible.  I found myself doing a lot of prepping for crafts, which is not what we want out of a craft that students will be sending home to their parents.  No body wants a craft that the teacher/paraprofessionals made…it defeats the purpose.  It’s also important to consider the cost of making some of these crafts. Over the years I’ve tested out some cost effective crafts with my students and here are some of my favorites that we made as parent gifts or for a holiday fundraiser! Click on any of the ideas to see the tutorials on how to make each craft,
or pin it for later!

Snowy Pinecone Jars

Mason Jar Candles

This is a great fundraiser craft! These make great gifts that people will want to buy as gifts around the holidays. Students can also personalize each jar with their creativity in what items they choose to put inside!

Dollar Store Candle Snowmen

How cute are these? Just a little glue and markers, and you’re done!

Clothespin Wreath

I love that this craft looks more complicated and fancy than it really is!
Students can practice their fine motor skills of stringing beads and clipping pins onto wire!

Melted Crayon Ornament

Have a bunch of broken useless crayons? Now you can put them to good use! This craft also serves as a sensory craft!

Pom Pom Pine Cone Ornament

Super simple and low prep, students just basically have to glue pom poms onto the flat parts of a pine cone!

Filling Clear Ornaments

I love this craft for more students that need a lot of prompting and practice with fine motor skills. This is as easy as it gets, stuffing items of choice into a clear ornament. If you provide students with the assortment of items, they can get as creative as they want, and the best part is that everyone’s ornament will be completely unique!

Sock Snowmen

This craft takes a little bit longer than other crafts, but most of the steps are fairly simple and the end result is so cute!

Peppermint Body Butter

This is great for practicing measuring and mixing skills! Makes for a great parent gift or fundraiser product!

Peppermint Soap Bars

This is also great for practicing measuring and mixing skills! Makes for a great parent gift or fundraiser product!

Light Fabric Garland

If your students know how to tie a knot or are working on those fine motor skills,
this is the perfect craft for them! Students can have fun picking out different fabrics, cutting out strips and then tying them onto a light strip to make a cute garland!

Countdown Charger Plate

A little chalk paint and festive colors to decorate the outside ring. You can find chargers for cheap at any craft store or dollar store!

Snow Globes

This one is super simple, cute, and there are so many possibilities! This can also double as sensory!

Button Wreath

Grab some buttons, glue and a canvas or a surface that you can hang. Super simple,
cute and make for great holiday decor!

Paint Chip Cards

Take your students out on a CBI to the local hardware store and pick up some free paint chips! You can do this craft in addition to another craft because of course you’ll need a card to go with your parent gift!

Star Ornaments

Dip Mix Ornaments

Orange Slice Garland

Gingerbread House Ornament

Want some more ideas on crafts for older students year round? Follow this board on Pinterest!

Product Reviews

from special educators

Theresa S.

This resource has been extremely beneficial. I teach students with moderate to severe disabilities who are on a certificate of completion for high school. This resource was helpful in establishing a routine for my students. Students remained engaged and enjoyed many of the activities. The consistency of the warm-ups allow for me to introduce students to working together appropriately and seeking help and support from peers not just teachers. The differentiated levels help save time and support students varying levels. Students remain engaged and it quickly hits on different life skills reviews.
Life Skills Daily Warm Up Worksheets BUNDLE

Christine S.

I love everything about this resource. There are enough activities to last a year. The lectures and digital activities are my favorite with the real photographs. My students are learning and there seems to be enless materials in this bundle. I also love the creative CBI (community based instruction) ideas that go beyond the typical scavenger hunt.
Vocation Units 1-12 Full Year MEGA Bundle + Supplemental Materials

Kaitlyn Dini (TpT Seller)

Adulting Made Easy makes the absolute perfect resources for my Life Skills students who are about to graduate. Her resources teach practical skills that they will use in their lives and they don't view as being too immature for them (which is common in sped). Thank you so much for creating these resources!

Stacey S.

As a teacher new to the role in vocational education, Adulting Made Easy's vocational products work great! It was an easy way for my students to understand various aspects of job searches and employment.   The vocational units saved me a ton of time by not having to create items on my own.

Erica B.

This was awesome to use with both my at-home learners and my in-person learners. I could use specific ones with our weekly theme during my vocational skills class. It was especially great at keeping my at-home kids engaged when I wasn't there to watch them.
 
Independent Skills - Boom Cards & Interactive PDF BUNDLE

Teaching Tiny Bugs (TpT Seller)

My students love using this resource for their morning work. I have many non writing students, so being able to engage in a lesson with them using drag and drop and visual icons is the reason this have become one of my favorite resources this year.
 
Morning Meeting Interactive Slides, Activities and Worksheets