FREE Christmas: Star of Bethleham Activity Mat | EYFS & KS1 Printables

FREE Early Years (EYFS & KS1) Christmas: Star of Bethlehem Activity Multi-Mat (Playdough, Loose Parts, Art & Craft, Colouring, Whiteboard Pens)

Bring a sense of wonder and creativity to your Christmas celebrations with our wonderful FREE Christmas: Star of Bethlehem Activity Mat! This engaging printable 'multimat' is perfect for EYFS and KS1 children, providing a versatile platform for hands-on learning, fine motor development, and creative expression through a key symbol of the Christmas story.

Ideal for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders at home, this activity mat is a fantastic way to explore the religious aspect of Christmas in a fun and interactive way.

This versatile FREE download features:

• A "Star of Bethlehem Multimat" template. The mat shows a large, bold outline of the Star of Bethlehem, ready to be decorated.

• Multiple Use Options:

  • Laminated & Reusable: Once laminated, this mat is ideal for use as a playdough mat or a loose parts mat, allowing children to press, roll, and arrange materials to design their star. It can also be used with whiteboard pens, providing a reusable surface for mark-making and drawing.

  • One-Time Use: Without lamination, the sheet can be used with a variety of mark-making tools (crayons, pens, paint) or with art and craft materials for a fun cut-and-stick collage project.

(Note: Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity suggested on this page and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• 💡 How to use this resource in your classroom/setting

  Our FREE Christmas: Star of Bethlehem Activity Mat is incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years and KS1 environments:

  • Sensory & Fine Motor Centre: Place a laminated mat in a continuous provision area with playdough, sparkly loose parts (e.g., glitter, sequins, shiny buttons), or other small manipulatives. Children can use their fingers or tools like tweezers to arrange the materials, strengthening crucial fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

  • Art and Craft Activity: Turn it into a collage project! Children can cut and stick colourful paper, foil, tissue paper, or other craft materials to create a bright and shining star.

  • Mark-Making & Colouring: Provide the mat with different pens, pencils, or crayons. Children can fill the star outline with patterns, lines, and shapes, practicing their pre-writing and mark-making skills.

  • Topic Introduction: Use the mat as a visual aid to introduce the story of the Nativity. Discuss the Star of Bethlehem and its role in guiding the Three Wise Men.

  • Differentiated Learning: The mat's open-ended nature allows for differentiation. You can provide older children with more complex materials and encourage them to create intricate patterns, while younger children can focus on simply filling the star with colour or playdough.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐣 EYFS Framework

  EYFS Framework:

  • Expressive Arts and Design: Children explore and use a wide range of media and materials to create their own designs. They develop their own ideas and express creativity through the different ways they decorate their star.

  • Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): The acts of manipulating playdough, arranging loose parts, or using mark-making tools and scissors all strengthen hand muscles, improve dexterity, and enhance hand-eye coordination.

  • Communication and Language: Children can describe their creations, explaining their design choices and the materials they used.

  • Understanding the World (People, Culture & Communities): Children learn about a different faith and cultural festival, broadening their understanding of the world.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐤 KS1 Curriculum

  KS1 Curriculum:

  • Art and Design: Children use a range of materials to design and make products. They can explore colour, pattern, and shape to create their stars.

  • Religious Education / Understanding the World: Children learn about a significant Christian festival and its customs and symbols.

  • Design and Technology (indirectly): Designing a product for a specific purpose (decoration) and selecting appropriate materials.

Download our FREE Christmas: Star of Bethlehem Activity Mat today and bring a focused, hands-on, and educational experience to your setting!

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