Illustrated Version of: 9 Days Until Christmas Countdown Calendar

9 Days Until Christmas Countdown Calendar

By Jan K., The Proofer

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	Using Mom's Break exclusive Christmas snowman free printables, you can make "Days Left Until Christmas" countdown calendar. It's a craft you can do with your child, and you can use it as a counting lesson---as well as a good lesson on "waiting" for a special occasion! Download the zip file of Christmas snowmen from Mom's Break (the link is shown below). You'll need: Mom's Break Free Printable Snowmen, numbers 0 to 9. Red or green construction paper Cardboard and/or foam board (two pieces, one for the backboard and one for the hinge board) Glue stick (I prefer Elmer's, it goes on purple and dries clear) Red or green yarn or twine
	Glue the construction paper to the cardboard. This creates the countdown calendar backboard.
	Using one of the numbered snowman sheets, line up the snowman on the backboard, and make two holes at the top, as shown.
	Use the snowman page with the holes in it to mark, and then make holes in the remainder of the numbered snowmen pages. At the same time, make holes in the other piece of cardboard (or foam board), to make the hinge board (see the last picture of this craft to help you visualize the backboard and the hinge board).
	Put all of the numbered snowmen pages on the backboard, so that Snowman 9 is on top and Snowman 1 is on the bottom (9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1). Line up all the holes. Put the backboard (with the numbered snowmen) on the hinge board. Line up all the holes. Now run colored yarn or twine through the holes, and tie at the top.
	Now you can stand up the calendar. Note that the hinge board (shown here as a piece of white foam board) is a little thicker that the cardboard backboard). This helps to make the countdown calendar a little sturdier. If you don't have two pieces of cardboard, then you can just make the backboard, and use two pushpins to put up the calendar on a family bulletin board. You can also just print the numbered snowmen and put up Snowman 9 on the refrigerator with a couple of Christmas magnets.
	The object is to start this countdown calendar on December 16. On December 17, tear away, or replace, Snowman 9 so that Snowman 8 shows (or is put on the frig). Now instead of your child asking you how many days until Christmas, you can help him/her to "count down" and understand both numbers and the concept of "waiting" until Santa Claus comes! Go to Mom's Break to download the free printable snowmen: http://christmas.momsbreak.com/
	Be sure to check out all the other Christmas crafts and gift ideas available in Jan's Reading Room, such as the Christmas stocking gift bag idea shown here. Go to http://readingroom.janktheproofer.com/ReadingIntro.htm and check out What's New! There are also more Mom's Break Christmas Crafts available, along with helpful tutorials for using many of the features of Mom's Break free printables! Go to http://freecontent.janktheproofer.com/#Crafts_and_Tutorials_for_Moms_Break_Printables

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This illustrated tutorial or craft may not be used as free content. For free content for your website or in your newsletter go to Jan's Free Content (http://www.jansfreecontent.com).