Children's Christmas Star
This takes 3 special materials - heavy duty tin foil, string,
and either rubber cement or temporary (waxy) adhesive stick (Scotch restickable
glue stick)
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Pounded Metal Star |
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This is a great hands-on activity,
especially for boys and those with a preference for tactile crafts.
Our kids 5-pointed Star of Bethlehem ornament is our
old favorite with a new twist. This year, this star
has popped up as a decorative home item for the winter season in many
metal finishes, so it has become trendy!
This nativity star is really easy with care, so better
suited for at least second grade through middle schoolers. This Sunday
School Christmas craft star ornament looks terrific when done.
And there's a bonus star
when you're done! |
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Grades 2 - 8 |
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New Testament, Nativity, Christmas Story
Craft |
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Matthew 2: 1-2 |
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Copy of the activity page for each student |
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Scissors |
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Heavy Duty Tin foil (regular just won't do!)
About 14" per child |
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Either rubber cement or temporary (waxy) adhesive
stick (Scotch restickable glue stick) |
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String - kite string, medium weight parcel string,
or waxed dental floss (not thread) |
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Pencil for each student |
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Wadding - like a paper towel folded over for
all to share |
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1 small plain paper clip for each child (double
use) |
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White glue- for string only |
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Print or print and copy activity page
for each student and one for the teacher.
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Distribute the star patterns, heavy
duty tin foil, scissors and pencils.
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1. Gently wad up the tin foil - but keep in mind you will be reopening
it and flattening it so don't squeeze hard. You don't want it to
tear.
2. Gently reopen the tin foil and wad it up again! This will give
it more crumples and be even stronger! |
3. After the second crumple, hand smooth
out the foil. You can pound on it with the side of your fist to
pre-flatten it! (This can be noisy so be mindful of your neighbors!)
If it would be too noisy tell them to pound with their fingertips
- not near as much fun, but it will work.
4. When it's pretty flat, take your pencil and roll over it to smooth
it out pretty well. You want it to have the crumpled look so don't
press really hard. It will be smaller
than when you started! If an edge tears, don't worry. If it is torn
in the middle, you'll have to start again and be more gentle in
step 1 and 2. |
5. Cut out the star pattern on the heavy
line.
6. Put rubber cement or temporary adhesive on the center back
of the pattern. (About an inch circle of temporary adhesive
just to hold the 2 pieces together temporarily - do not
glue edges)
7. Put the star pattern on the foil so you see the fold lines. Make
sure there are no rips or tears where you put it. |
8. Cut the tin foil.
9 Open one "leg" of the paper clip just enough
to be able to use the end of it. (you will use again it
later for something else) Put the pattern and foil over a wad of
paper towel and push the paper clip point gently through the *.
YOU WANT A LITTLE HOLE. |
10. Turn over the star so you see the tin
foil side.
11. Fold each of the flaps back making sure you have a bit of the
tin foil too. It may not be perfect, but don't worry! This is only
making an edge that will be strong. PRESS ALONG THE FOLDS. |
12. Turn it over so you see the paper pattern
with the fold lines.
13. Starting at the tip of a star, fold along the line to the center
of the star. Press hard! Be sure you have the paper and foil together.
14. Repeat all around the 5 points only. |
15. Take hold of 2 adjacent points. Bring
them together - you may have to tuck down the paper
between them. Pinch along both fold lines together - all the way
to the center. (This will make the inner fold between the points)
16. Let go of one point and take a new one next to it. Pinch all
the way to the center. Repeat around all points of the star. |
17. From the back, gently peel open just
the FLAPS
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18. Turn with pattern-side up. GENTLY AS
YOU CAN, peel away the whole pattern. |
19. Cut about 9 inches of string. Bring
the ends of the string together. Together, tie a knot an inch
or two from the end of the strings to create tails. Re-bend your
paper clip back into it's original shape. Tie the paper clip to
the string EITHER BY:
1 Put both tails of string into a round end of the paper clip and
knot the string around the paper clip near the first knot.
or 2. Put one tail into the round end of the paper clip; pull the
paper clip up to the first knot, and tie the ends together tightly.
(If your tails are long enough.)
20. Pinch the center loop of the string together
and from the back push it through the hole until it reaches the
paper clip or knot, whichever comes first.
21. From the back, put a dot of glue at the hole and string and
paper clip. Let dry.
The paper clip will help prevent the string from pulling through
the hole and if it is plain silver-colored it won't be obvious.
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BONUS STAR: Some child
may ask, "What do you do with the star pattern that's leftover?"
Either you can throw it away OR, you can cut off the flaps, cover it in
glitter and make a star out of it! Glue string loop to back. |
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Get the star pattern
 CLICK
THIS BUTTON TO GO TO THE PRINTABLE pounded star WEB PAGE
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Sunday School Resources FOR KIDS
from the Sunday School Director of Christian Education of Faith Congregational
Church, Mount Prospect, Illinois
©Jo Dibbern
We'd appreciate
a link to our website! Thanks
This page was updated on October 13, 2011
