DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Preschool Christmas Pageant

Contributed by:  Petersburg Children's Center, Petersburg, Alaska
"WE USE THIS IN THE PRESCHOOL ROOM FOR 4 AND 5 YEAR OLDS. FOR CAROLING, I CAN CARRY ALL PROPS IN 2 PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS FOR 10 KIDS.  (WE ALSO INCLUDE THE 3 YEAR OLDS IN THE PROGRAM FOR PARENTS."
 

 
Program:

• place a non-skid runner in front of all the children (need about 15-18 inches per child)
• the children sit behind the runner
• each child has a pile in front of them on the runner, which includes a halo, bells, hat and fireworks
   
  Program begins...
• halo (on head)
• sing: "You Are My Sunshine", "10 Little Angels" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star""
• halo off, and back on pile
• bells (pick up bell/bells)
• sing:"Jingle Bells",  "Five Little Bells" and "Ring Those Bells"
• bells back on pile
• hat (put on reindeer hat)
• sing: "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Reindeer Pokey"
• hat back on pile
• sing:"Chubby Little Snowman"
• fireworks(pick up fireworks)
• sing:"Macarana" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
• fireworks back on pile
  End of program....
   
• then 3 and 4 year olds are excused to join their parents for juice and cookies which we made the previous few days, while the five year olds pick up the piles
• assign 2 kids to pick up halos, 2 for hats,2 for bells, 2 for fireworks, and 2 to roll up the runners.
   

SONGS

You Are My Sunshine
(CHORUS ONLY)
We also make up hand motions for it, but it's not necessary.
 
Ten Little Angels

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Jingle Bells
(CHORUS ONLY)

Five Little Bells

Ring Those Bells

Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Most of the time it's just a few kids and teachers singing, but oh well, they all sing the beginning and end.
You can make up hand motions to this.

Reindeer Pokey

Chubby Snowman

Macarana
(Actually it is just counting to 12 and say "Happy New Year" but with hand motions.  Some teachers use the 12 months instead of numbers, and it's a great way to teach the names of the months anytime of year, and fun too!)
 
1   (right hand out-palm down)
2   (left hand out, palm down)
3   (right hand-palm up)
4   (left palm up)
5   (right hand on left shoulder)
6   (left hand on right shoulder)
7   (right hand on right side of head)
8   (left hand on left side of head)
9   (right hand on left hip)
10   (left hand on right hip)
11   (right hand on right hip)
12   (left hand on left hip)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We Wish You A  Merry Christmas
(Chorus only with a couple of modifications.  Here is the full version if you are interested.)
 
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year

Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
Let's all do a little clapping
and a Happy New Year

Let's all do a little jumping
Let's all do a little jumping
Let's all do a little jumping
and a Happy New Year

Let's all do a little twirling
Let's all do a little twirling
Let's all do a little twirling
and a Happy New Year

A FEW TIPS...

(After using this program for quite a few years...)

We send a list of songs home but it's not necessary, some parents may put too much pressure on the children to practice and make perfect, but I do give out words to the songs in the program at the pagaent, because sometimes you can't understand the words they sing.

The first line in the program is a request for applause only at the end of the presentation, because it's hard enough for some kids just to do the props, and for myself, to not lose the attention of 20 to 30, three to five year olds, you must keep the show going.

You only need about 8 practices, also keep it going during practice.

The first four practices, only the teacher has the props.
 

PROPS

Runner
I use to use a rug runner but it's very heavy, then I discovered a blanket at the thrift store, it's almost kind of foam.  I cut it into 12 to 15 inch wide strips the full length of the blanket, to get a runner long enough for all the kids.  It's light weight and I can carry it when we go caroling at the hospital or where ever.

Halo
We've tried the starry wire and lots of things, but the best is garland tree decorations.  The thin is the best.  Make them up ahead of time, they don't have to be exact fit, because the thin garland (gold or silver) sort of sticks to the hair.  There will always be those who pull it down over their head, but just keep the show going.  You cut a piece and just use scotch tape to join the ends for a circle.

Bells
You can use single bells or the bells that have about 6 to a bunch.

Hat
We use birthday party hats. right now we have cow looking hats and we add antlers to them, or we have had brown hats in the past.  We tried having each kid make their own, but when it came time for the program, there were a lot of kids arguing over whose hat was whose so now we make all the hats the same.  Place the wrist of a small hand, on the fold of a brown piece of paper.  Trace around hand, cut around handprint.  Unfold paper, and that's your antlers.  If wrist is at an angle, antlers will go up.  Tape to front of party hat, and you are a reindeer.   What is great about this is--you press the antler around the hat, then you can stack them all together, one on top of the other.  Then have kids fold out antlers as they put then on or while you are setting up the runners with each kids pile of props.  You can if you choose, put a light brown oval face with eyes and a red nose, (I used reinforcement circles for eyes and nose)
(Suggestion from Leanne: 
You may like to use the Reindeer Paper Bag templates for eyes, nose and mouth.)

Fireworks
Anywhere from 6 to 30 strands of thin shiny ribbon.(you could probably use crepe paper) cut about 6 or 12 inches long depending on the behavior of kids in the group.  Tape strands to a non-bending drinking straw.  The kids would probably even go for a bow on a popsicle stick (maybe tape it on).

Use your imagination! 
I just know this has worked for me.  I get so nervous.
We do the whole routine in 15 to 20 minutes. 
The props all  store in a fairly small area and the same props can be used over and over.
We also use our fireworks during the Fourth of July and the bells are from our music area.

GOOD LUCK!

Printable version of these instructions