Painted Pinecone Christmas Trees

What you need

• Pinecones, 1 per tree, plus a few spares
• Green paint, about 2 tablespoons
• White paint, about 1 tablespoon
• Brush or sponge, 1
• Paper, a few sheets, including yellow and colored
• Glue stick, 1 glue stick or a little white glue
• Kid scissors, 1 pair
• Small pom poms, a handful (optional)
• Table covering
• Old clothes for everyone

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Cover the table, find some old clothes, and set out green and white paint, a brush or sponge, paper and glue. The kids do the pinecone hunting themselves.

1. Go on a hunt for pinecones lying on the ground outside.
   Ask: Which pinecone looks the most like a tree to you?
2. Shake off the dirt and let your pinecones dry.
3. Put on old clothes and stand each pinecone on its flat bottom.
4. Paint or sponge the scales green, all the way around.
   Ask: Does it look like a real Christmas tree yet? What does it still need?
5. Wait for the green paint to dry.
6. Dab little white dots on the tips for snow.
7. Cut a small paper star and glue it to the top. Ask for help if you need it
   Ask: What else could go on top of your tree instead of a star?
8. Glue paper bits or pom poms onto the scales as ornaments.
9. Make more for a forest on the windowsill, or one for each plate!
   Ask: How big will your pinecone forest grow if you make more?

Play it again

• Snowy night: paint the trees all white and add silver or blue paper ornaments.
• Rainbow forest: give every tree a different color and line them up from red to purple.
• Mystery decorator: each person adds one ornament to someone else's tree, then trees get swapped.