Shapes, literacy, and fine motor skills are just a few concepts children practice with our Christmas cookie shape mats. Be sure to add them to your list of Christmas activities for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
My favorite thing about the cookie shape printable is their versatility. You can use them in so many different ways! It also doesn’t hurt that they’re super low prep, too. Just a few quick steps and the free Christmas cookie shapes are ready to go!
So, the cookie playdough mats are educational, easy to set up, AND tons of holiday fun?! In my book, that’s a win-win . . . win!
Related: Free Preschool Printables
Follow along below for tips on how to prep the mats and a few fun activities to use them in. Then, grab your free Christmas cookie shape mat printable at the end of this post!
Christmas Cookie Shape Mats
Each child comes to the classroom with their own unique learning style and approach. And that’s why versatility is a major bonus when it comes to preschool resources. The cookie shape activity can easily be modified based on the individual needs of each of your students.
How to Prep the Christmas Cookie Printable Shapes
The secret to any fun, low-stress learning activity is planning and preparation. And the key to that is making sure you have all of the materials you need before getting started.
If you get the class started on an activity and you have to step away in the middle of it to find something, it can start a domino effect of distraction and chaos! Especially in preschool!
So, I like to make sure I have everything I’ll need before getting started with any activity. Even easy, low-prep activities like this. Here’s what you’ll need for the cookie shape mats (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Free printable Christmas cookie shape mats (scroll down!)
- Printer
- Dry erase pockets
That’s it! Just a few items that you probably already have at school, a few minutes of prep, and you get several activities with hours worth of fun!
Of course, the materials list can grow or change based on how you choose to use the shape mats. Here are a few other items that might come in handy:
- Laminator and laminating pouches
- Mini cookie cutter manipulatives
- Play dough
- Play dough tools
- Dry-erase markers
- Mini erasers
- Red and green glass gems
- Chocolate chips
- Mini M&Ms
When you have all of the materials together, it’s time to prep the mats. Print out the free printable Christmas cookie shape mats then pop them into dry-erase pockets or laminate them. Now, they’re ready for the preschoolers to use!
How to Use the Christmas Cookie Shape Mats with Kids
Once the shape mats are printed and ready to go, it’s time for the best part – letting the kids use them!
A common way to use the Christmas cookie shape mats is with play dough! Slide each mat into a dry-erase pocket. Then pair them with play dough. We used a tan color to resemble sugar cookies and green for Christmas icing, but any color will work. Add cookie cutters and play dough tools to amp up the fun!
You might be surprised by all the different ways the kids engage with the activity. You’ll find some children spreading the play dough with their fingers until it fits the shape. Others will roll the dough into snakes and use them to outline the cookie shapes. There will be a few who are focused on cutting shapes with the play dough tools and cookie cutters. And still others will make their own unique creation, merely using the shape mats as a work surface.
In my opinion, each of these modalities of play is valid and important! The kids will be learning, having fun, and getting their sensory needs met along the way.
Other Ideas for the Cookie-Themed Shape Printables
As I mentioned above, there are so many ways to use the Christmas cookie shape mats. Here are a few more ideas:
- Pair the shape mats with dry-erase markers to use them as tracing practice.
- Use the page with all of the shapes on it as a scavenger hunt. Kids can search for shapes around the classroom and check them off as they find them.
- Pair the cookie mats with a simple sensory writing tray. Then students can draw the shapes in the sensory material for extra practice.
- Play a game to see if students can identify how many sides each shape has or if they can name an object of a particular shape. The shape mats can be used as a visual aid.
- Have the kids place small manipulatives, like mini cookie cutters, around the perimeter of the cookie shapes. Challenge students to make a pattern with the manipulatives as they outline the shapes!
As you can see, there are so many ways to use the Christmas cookie shape mats with students. I’m sure there are even more ways to use them. If you have some ideas of your own, be sure to let us know in the comments below!
What are Kids Learning with the Christmas Cookie Shape Mats?
All of the activities listed above are just plain fun for the kids. And I’m certainly not opposed to kids participating in activities just for the fun of it. But, in my experience, young children are always, always learning. Even when no one realizes it!
The Christmas cookie shape mats are certainly no exception. Printables like this have so much more to offer than your typical preschool worksheets. Aside from learning to identify shapes, there are lots of other things children will learn to do with this free printable:
- Read shape names
- Work their hand and finger muscles
- Practice fine motor skills
- Identify colors
- Form connections between these shapes and similar shapes in the world
- Practice counting if paired with math manipulatives
So much fun and learning, all packed into one simple printable!
Be sure to grab your own copy of the free printable Christmas cookies shape mats at the bottom of this post.
More Christmas Math Activities for Preschoolers
Planning for a Christmas theme has always been a hit in my preschool classrooms. I like to stretch this theme out over the entire month of December. Depending on winter break, it usually ends up being around two and a half weeks’ worth of lesson planning.
If you’re looking for some other Christmas activities to round out your lesson plans, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few Christmas math activities to get you through:
- Ornament Shape Mats
- Racing Reindeer Number Line Activity
- Geoboard Christmas Tree
- Christmas Counting Cards
- Jingle Bell Dice Game
- Count and Clip Printable Reindeer Activity
- Christmas Calendar Numbers
Do you have any favorite activities you usually plan in December?
Christmas Cookies Around The World Holiday Project
Planning for preschool can be so time-consuming and stressful, especially during the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be! Let Preschool Teacher 101 save you the time and stress of planning this holiday season. We have hundreds of comprehensive themed lesson plans, activity packs, and much more!
Take a look at our Christmas Cookies Around The World Holiday Project. This project allows students to travel around the world, baking and tasting 12 different cookies (and cultures) along the way. Click on the image below to learn more about this fun holiday project product.
Do you like these products? If so, consider a Preschool Teacher 101 membership. Members get access to hundreds of products just like this, all at a highly discounted rate! Here are some other Christmas-themed products to consider. Click on each image to learn more.
Free Printable Christmas Cookie Shape Mats
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, fill out the form below and the download links will be sent to your inbox. If you’re not a member, you can join us by entering your information in the form. Then you’ll receive the printable as a welcome gift!
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