XMAS

Before starting remind children of the various ways PlayMais can be used:

    Cut - into circles, long strips, cut in half lengthways, chopped into small pieces

    Pinched into balls, rolled between the fingers into cylinders, small pieces rolled out with a rolling pin

   (or the side of a pen or pencil) and then cut to shape a hand for example.

Discuss how sticking on pieces all in a certain direction will make a difference to the texture of a picture e.g: arrange tree trunks vertically, fir tree branches diagonally, the cloak on a figure could have the pieces arranged all horizontally or all vertically or all diagonally

Large Composite Pictures or Friezes      

Draw the background scene first in pencil, freehand or use templates.

Set some children to work on making the background. Paint in large areas such as the sky and use PlayMais to create the stable, hills, the inn, houses etc.

Set others to make the individual figures. (Samples are provided below.)

Cut out the figures first, then dampen the PlayMais and stick onto the figure. Chop pieces up small and mix colours together to make patterns on the clothing.

Glue the paper backing to the main picture/frieze. Add foil stars to finish.

Standing Figures

Make a cone of paper  Template provided below.

Cut pieces of PlayMais in half vertically, dampen and stick flat sides around the cone. Covering the paper cone will strengthen it.

It's best to use only one colour for each figure.

Cut out a shorter cone from a white paper doily with a lacy edge. Slip over the cone and secure at the back with sticky tape.

Make arms from the small paper cones. Add pieces of doily to make sleeves if wished.

Fix a piece of PlayMais into each sleeve for hands. Make a tab by folding over 1cm of the narrow end of the cone.

Attach the tabs to the figure with glue or sticky tape.

Build a head onto the top of the cone. First insert a piece vertically into the neck opening and then build a head shape around it. Make it skin colour e.g. brown, or cover with tissue paper and draw on a face.

Finish the neck with a paper frill.

Add pieces of wool, paper or slivers of PlayMais for hair.

Make a paper song sheet for choir figures to hold or make paper wings for angels and add foil haloes.

Quick version

Cut body and sleeves from the white paper it's printed on. Make hands and head from PlayMais.

Finish as suggested above.

Winter Scene

Draw the background onto paper. Paint two-thirds of the paper as sky.

Draw some sweeping horizontal lines to represent landscape.

Paint the sky.

Make individual trees and glue them to the scene.

Add white PlayMais for snow.

PlayMais arranged in rows to make fir tree        

click on Infant Tree for template that shows        

children where to stick each piece    

Winter Scene on Glass

On the outside of a window use chalk to draw a rolling line to indicate background .

Tape fir tree templates to the outside of the window.

Children then dampen PlayMais and stick it on the inside of the glass.

Following the lines of the background, stick on white PlayMais for snow, on the inside of the glass.

Nativity on Glass

Tape templates to outside of window (perhaps enlarge them first on your photocopier)

Use the 3 Kings and make a giant star.

A host of angels.                           

Create the stable scene with Mary and Baby Jesus, stable walls outlined and a donkey head looking over a stall.

A string of camels with palm trees in the background

and a large star overhead.