Make Cookie Cutter Crafts

 Cookie cutter crafts help children develop their imaginations and use materials in non-traditional ways. Of course it's fun to make cookies and decorate them, but there are so many other ways to use cookie cutters. You can draw with them, make frames, and use them to recycle broken crayons. Cookie cutter week, the first week in December, is the perfect time to break out these new craft ideas in your preschool class.

If there's one thing a preschool classroom has in abundance, it's broken crayons. This craft is creative and helps get rid of those unwanted pieces at the same time. Simply have all the students gather up all the broken crayons they can find. Then, have everyone peel the paper off of the crayons and throw the colors into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the crayons 1 minute at a time on the highest setting. Grab a large plate and cover with waxed paper. Then, place the cookie cutters on the waxed paper. Once the crayon pieces turn liquid in the microwave, pour the swirly colored mixture into the cookie cutters. These serve as molds for the crayon cookie cutter crafts. Place the plate in the refrigerator to set for a couple of hours and then pop them free.

Cookie cutters make awesome ornaments for the holidays. If your class usually makes gifts for the parents, this ornament can serve as that present. Take pictures of each student and have them developed. Let the preschoolers pick out a cookie cutter ornament. Then, trace the inside of the ornament on the picture and cut out the shape. Let the children laminate their own pictures with self-adhesive laminating paper. Then, cut out the laminated picture. Give the children a cotton swab and let them dip it in glue and rub it all over the bottom of the cookie cutter. Place the picture face down over the glued cookie cutter and flip over. The cookie cutter acts as a frame. Then, simply punch a hole in the cookie cutter and tie a ribbon through the hole to use as a hanger for the ornament.

You don't always have to provide structured crafts for preschool students to create artwork with cookie cutters. During cookie cutter week, simply provide an assortment of cookie cutters along with colored pencils, crayons, safety scissors, glue, and construction paper. Simply let them create and cut to make fun designs and cards. They can trace designs and glue different shapes together. Also, Amanda Formaro on Kaboose.com suggests using various cookie cutters with play dough. If you don't have time to make your own cookie dough, you can always use store bought play dough to roll out and create fun shapes.

Whether celebrating cookie cutter week, or simply enjoying the holiday season with your preschool class, cookie cutter crafts make fun additions to your lesson plans. Get creative and use your materials in ways you never thought of before.

Sources:

Ask a Craft Expert: Fun Kids' Cookie Cutters, Kaboose.com, accessed November 3, 2010.

Unless otherwise stated, all ideas are from my personal experience.