How to Make a Handprint Christmas Tree Bulletin Board

Celebrate the Christmas season in your elementary school or Sunday school classroom with a Christmas tree bulletin board made from handprints of everyone in your class.

You may have to alter these instructions based on the age-group of your class. Younger children will need more supervision and structure when creating their class handprint Christmas tree.

Pass out one piece of green construction paper to each child. Help them trace each hand on the craft paper and cut out the handprint. Provide glitter or makers for students to decorate each handprint with their names. If you want a "life-size" handprint Christmas tree, you may need to have each child trace several sets of handprints.

Begin at the bottom of the bulletin board. Arrange a row of ten handprints, fingers down. Place another row or eight or nine handprints just above, with the fingers pointing down and overlapping over the palms of the bottom row. Continue layering handprints in subsequently shorter rows until you reach the top.

Have students decorate an angel, bow or star to place at the top of the handprint Christmas tree. Add a row of garland, tinsel or construction paper ornaments around the handprint Christmas tree. You can add color by giving two or three children red construction paper and using an occasional red handprint among the green. Finally, add a trunk to the bottom of the bulletin board tree.

You can use this basic Christmas craft bulletin board as a starter for almost any age group. Even businesses, including hospitals and stores, can decorate with this personalized bulletin board.

Instead of simply decorating with names, ask children, or employees, to write down a Christmas wish for themselves or the world on each handprint. Religious organizations can include Bible or other spiritual verses on each handprint. Highlight local leaders, heroes, or needy children and families. Use the handprint tree to display needs for charity drives; employees or church members can take one handprint and purchase those items for the drive.