Surprise Nuts (See [page 23])
Snowflakes for Tree (See [page 59])
Snowball (White cotton batting, snowflake crystals from toy store, white cotton cloth, sewing thread, mucilage)
Cut two circles of cotton cloth, stuff with the batting, after sewing into shape of ball. Cover lightly with snowflake crystals, first dipping ball lightly into thin mucilage. Suspend from tree.
Candles (Paraffine or old candles, kettle, soft cotton string, small box of sand, pencil)
Candles have sometimes been made in the kindergarten in either of the following ways:
1. Heat a pound of paraffine (bought at grocer's), or melt up some old candle ends in a kettle. Place in front of the child a cigar box containing about a quart of moist sand, smoothed level. Then with his pencil let him press into the sand, making a deep, hollow mold just the width of the pencil. Now let him hold a short piece of string so that it hangs down into this mold. An older person will then pour some of the melted wax into the mold. It will cling to the string, and in a moment or two will cool enough to be drawn out, making a little candle that can be used for the Christmas tree, or put into a clay candlestick, also made by the child. ([See below.])
2. Put the kettle containing the melted wax before the child and let him dip into it a piece of string about four inches long. Then let him take it out in a moment and lay it aside to cool. A very little wax will cling to it. Meanwhile he dips in another string and puts aside to cool. When cool he takes up the first one and dips it in a second time, and a new coat of wax adheres. He proceeds thus until the candles are as large in diameter as desired (about ½ inch at base). The candles may be put into clay candlesticks, also made by the child.
Candlesticks (Clay, a tin or china candlestick to use as model)
Let the child take a candlestick and copy in clay; it should be of simple form, a mere cylinder, with just enough of a base to make a firm standard.