Free Printable Folded Paper Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

Need some educational Christmas crafts? How about free printable cut-and-paste and folded-paper holiday decorations? Kids can practice math, measurement and fine motor skills while creating lovely, festive decor. These activities are perfect for elementary and middle school math classes, homeschool and winter vacation fun. With some assistance, these crafts will work with disabled students and preschoolers. Senior citizens will love them, too.

* Edupics: Known for their educational coloring pages, this site also has several dozen free printable Christmas craft activities. There are five folded-paper Christmas ornaments shaped like stars and balls. These make great math lessons because they provide hands-on practice in geometry, measurement and spatial relations. Edupics also has free printable cut and paste crafts to assemble, including Santa's sleigh, stand-up reindeer and a manger scene. There are several folded paper Christmas cards, too. If you set your printer to "print in grayscale" or "black ink cartridge only," they become coloring pages. Children can color these crafts and personalize them.

* The Toymaker: This site features free printable cut and paste crafts with a vintage flavor. Their specialty is holiday folded-paper boxes. Folded paper crafts work well for interactive math lessons. Paper folding develops eye-hand coordination, fine motor and VAKT (visual auditory kinesthetic tactile) skills. Special needs students with perceptual challenges often struggle with such tasks. They may enjoy honing their skills with these crafts. The Toymaker also has printable advent calendars, greeting cards, gift tags, place cards, ornaments and decorations.

* Noella Designs: Click here for all sorts of free printable cut and paste, paper-folding crafts for the holidays. For Christmas, Noella features Kris Kringle craft templates. There are patterns for a Santa village, holiday train, snowflakes, tabletop decor and Christmas tree ornaments. Children will enjoy making these projects and giving them as holiday gifts. To make the crafts, simply print and provide sharp scissors, glue and tape. Instructions are printed on the craft. These projects will help children practice reading instructions, following directions and sequencing steps. Some projects may require adult supervision.

To make these crafts with preschool or special needs students, be sure to provide enough teacher assistance. Children may become frustrated if they can't make their project look the way they want it to. Teachers might encourage students to help each other, also.