Christmas Tree Math Activity

This time of year, kids have Christmas on the brain.  So, when there are Christmas trees on every corner and in every classroom, why not go with the theme and make it a learning activity?  We made this Christmas Tree Math Activity for practicing single digit and double digit addition and subtraction.

Kids will love to practice math facts with this hands-on learning activity.  If this activity is a hit with your kids, try another Christmas tree themed math activity!

Christmas Tree Math Activity

You’ll need just a few materials to create this Christmas Tree math activity:

• Large green construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Yellow construction paper
• Rocks, painted and with numbers written on them

For this activity, I had my oldest child cut out a large triangle from the green construction paper.  She then cut out a small brown rectangle to form the trunk of the tree.  Using the yellow construction paper, we cut out a star shape and wrote a fun message on it: “You are a math star!” will make the kids smile!

We used rocks that we had painted previously for a math activity with rocks. These are river rocks that we have collected over the ears and painted. We used tempera paint to color both sides of the rocks. Then write single and double digit numbers on both sides.

Then it is time to decorate the tree!

Use the painted rocks for ornaments.  Kids can place the rocks on the tree shape and decorate the tree however they like.

For another simple Christmas tree themed activity, try this color busy bag activity.

To practice math concepts with this Christmas Tree math activity, ask your child to simply add or subtract the numbers together.  You can do this in several different ways to extend the activity:

• Have them randomly add two or three numbers together.
• Have them subtract two random ornaments.
• Have them add all of the ornaments that are the same color.
• Have them subtract two ornaments that are the same color.
• Have them add all of the ornaments on the tree.

How would you use this Christmas Tree Math Activity to practice math facts?