Christmas Tree Scissor Skills Crafts for December Fine Motor Fun
If you're looking for a simple, festive, and high-engagement fine motor activity for December, these Christmas Tree Scissor Skills Crafts are the perfect fit for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary classrooms. They make an adorable bulletin board display, strengthen scissor confidence, and require almost no prep—just print, cut, and create!
What the Craft Is
Each tree begins with a Christmas tree outline. Students cut out the tree shape first, then cut along the individual branch lines. Once the pieces are cut, they reassemble the branches on a sheet of paper—leaving a small space between each one—to create a tall, elongated, whimsical Christmas tree.This simple spacing technique gives the final project a stunning stretched effect. Even on plain construction paper, it pops. On bright, joyful backgrounds, it looks absolutely magical on a bulletin board or hallway display.
New Designs for Younger Learners
I recently added six new trees designed especially for preschoolers and kindergarteners. These versions feature:- A simple triangle tree shape
- One or two horizontal cutting lines
- Clean, accessible cuts perfect for tiny hands still developing accuracy
Beautiful… or Beautifully Simple
In the blog post images, you’ll see the trees decorated with crayons, paint, careful coloring, and thoughtful details—because yes, these projects can absolutely become a full art experience.But I want to reassure teachers: they look just as good with a quick splash of color, some trimming, or even on plain paper.
The spacing of the branches alone creates visual interest, and kids gain all the motor practice without pressure to “make it perfect.”
This resource truly works for:
- Fast finishers
- Centers
- Morning tubs
- Holiday “quiet work” stations
- Scissor practice sessions
- Whole-group craft days
Tips for Keeping Branches in Order
Young learners love this craft, but cutting the tree into pieces means the branches can quickly get mixed up. Two simple strategies help keep everything organized:- ✏️ 1. Number Before Cutting - Have students number the branches in order from top to bottom. This reinforces sequencing and number sense while ensuring the pieces get reassembled correctly.
- 📄 2. Use a Two-Paper Transfer - Place two sheets of paper side by side. Students move each branch—one at a time—from the cutting paper to the assembly paper, keeping everything in order without confusion.
Why Teachers Love This Resource
- Builds fine motor and scissor control
- Encourages focus, sequencing, and spatial awareness
- Low prep and high impact
- Works across a wide age range
- Turns into stunning December hallway or bulletin board displays