Build an Elf for Preschoolers
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This Build an Elf activity is a great addition to your December lesson plans and is excellent for strengthening children’s spatial awareness, concentration, sequencing, one-to-one correspondence, and fine motor skills.
This FREE printable has two pages with two different elf bodies and accessories, one elf boy and one elf girl. You can get it at the end of the post.
Build an Elf
This is a fun way for children to learn how to build an elf, a classic Christmas character, and it is very easy to prepare. You will only need:
Print several copies using white paper. Have each child select an elf, count out the parts, cut them out, and glue them onto construction paper, shaping the elf and following the picture of the completed elf as a guide.
I suggest not giving the children instructions on where the pieces go. That will provide you with the opportunity to observe the level of maturity your children have and the development of their spatial awareness. Besides, the best artwork is the one they do on their own, especially because the result doesn’t really matter. What is important is to practice the essential skills that this activity allows them to develop.
To extend the activity, you can:
- Have the children draw the elf.
- Copy the word elf with magnetic, wooden, or foam letters.
- Create a group or individual story about an elf.
- Find other words that start with Ee for elf.
- Find words that rhyme with elf.
- Practice the letter E sound.
- Make it a matching activity by printing the pages on white cardstock, cutting the pieces out, and laminating them to make them last longer.
Books About Elves
Reading is something that you always have to take into consideration when you’re planning your lessons. Books help children develop their imagination and language, show them that you read from top to bottom and left to write (the same way you write), their learning process, and give them tons of fun, to mention a few of their benefits.
These are some of my favorites about elves. You can find them at your local library or at used bookstores, as well as on Amazon. For easy access, click the titles to purchase some (or all) to add to your library. It will take you directly to the page through my Amazon affiliate link.
- How to Catch an Elf by Adam Wallace. This fun holiday story about a mischievous elf who causes chaos on Christmas Eve is filled with zany traps, vibrant illustrations, STEAM concepts, and even Santa Claus himself.
- The Littlest Elf by Brandi Dougherty. Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa’s workshop. He gets lost in the toy shop, makes a mess at the book shop, and falls in the mixing machine at the bakery.
- If I Were a Christmas Elf by Shamika Lovett. In this fun and festive tale, children will follow a cheerful little elf through a day of Christmas wonder. Told in a rhythmic, question-and-answer style, this story encourages imagination, kindness, and holiday joy.
- Never Ask a Christmas Elf by Melinda Kinsman. In this silly Christmas story, kids will find out why it’s a terrible idea to ask a Christmas Elf to join your snowball fight, using bright, full-page illustrations, flowing rhymes, short snippets of text – suitable for beginning and early readers, and extra puzzles and activities.
- The Elves and the Shoemaker by Jay Mia. This sweet story teaches children about gratitude and helping others using five enchanted elves, who believe in the quiet magic of giving and rush to help a tired and kind shoemaker on a Winter night.
- The Little Elf in Your Heart by Anna Sparkle. This beautifully illustrated picture book gently reminds children that love lives within all of us, helping them explore emotions, gratitude, and empathy.
- Jingle the Elf by Mike Randle. This is the story about Jingle, the workshop’s most creative toymaker, famous for bringing toys to life with laughter, love, and a dash of holiday magic. But when a sudden Christmas surprise turns the busy workshop upside down, Jingle must use his clever tricks and quick thinking to help save Christmas Eve.
Pin It For Later
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable, but want to save it for later, pin this to your literacy or Christmas board on Pinterest.
I hope you like this Build an Elf activity. It will help and entertain your kiddos and give you another choice to add to your lesson plan this season.
Don’t forget to get your FREE printable! Click the button below to download and start using it.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.D. Let me know if this activity works for you. If you want to see an article or a printable about making something specific, please let me know, and I will try to create it for you.
