Christmas Nativity Preschool Centers

The Christmas season is the perfect time to bring meaningful hands on learning into your classroom. These Christmas Nativity Centers for Preschool give young children the chance to explore the nativity story while building early literacy, math, and fine motor skills. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to set up, manage, and use these centers with confidence throughout December.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog post contains sample pages from my Christmas Nativity Preschool Centers. You can download FREE sample pages by CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS. To purchase the complete Christmas Nativity Preschool Centers packet, scroll down to the end of this post for links to my online stores.

Print and Prep Your Christmas Nativity Centers

Start by printing, laminating, and cutting all the pieces so they’re durable enough for repeated December use. Preparing everything ahead of time helps your students move smoothly through centers and gives you more time to support learning instead of managing materials.

Tip: Keep each activity stored in its own labeled zip lock bag or small task box so you can grab what you need quickly during busy mornings.

Introduce the Nativity Centers Slowly and Clearly

Before placing the centers out for independent work, model each activity so children know exactly what to do. A simple demonstration helps students work confidently on their own and reduces the need for reteaching during an already full December schedule.

Tip: Introduce one center per day during carpet time so students have a clear picture of the activity before trying it independently.

Build Literacy, Math, and Fine Motor Skills with Nativity Learning

These centers give children hands on ways to practice essential foundational skills. As students sort, match, clip, count, trace, and record their work, they naturally develop independence, strengthen their fine motor muscles, and build fluency across early learning areas.

Materials You’ll Need for Easy Setup

• Clothespins
• Pom poms, gems, beads, or mini counters
• Dry erase markers
• Zip lock bags or task boxes
• Binder rings or pipe cleaners
• Mini tins or cups for manipulatives
• Optional: themed counters for extra engagement

What Skills Children Practice with Nativity Centers

• Counting and number recognition
• One to one correspondence
• Ten frame fluency
• Number sequencing
• Graphing and recording
• Pattern recognition
• Alphabet fluency
• Beginning sounds
• Uppercase and lowercase matching
• Sight word writing
• Pre writing strokes
• Fine motor strength
• Visual discrimination
• Independence and task completion

Fine Motor Activities

Christmas Star Fine Motor Mat

This activity invites children to place small objects—such as pom poms, gems, or beads—inside each circle on the Christmas Star mat. As they carefully pick up and position each item, they build hand strength and coordination that support handwriting and classroom independence.

Tip: Switch manipulatives each week so the activity stays fresh and exciting.

Literacy Activities

Pre Writing Christmas Cards

Children trace simple lines from left to right across each Christmas themed card. This gives them practice with early handwriting strokes and reinforces the left to right direction needed for reading and writing.

Tip: Place the cards on a binder ring to keep the set together and easy to manage during centers.

Wise Men Letter Match

Children clip the matching uppercase and lowercase letters using clothespins. This activity gives students practice identifying letter pairs and strengthens their fine motor muscles as they squeeze the pins.

Tip: Offer only a small group of letters at first to help young learners feel successful.

Missing Letters Clip It Christmas Stars

Students look at the alphabet strip, identify which letter is missing, and clip the correct letter in the empty spot. This helps children develop alphabet fluency and recognize letter order in a playful way.

Tip: Use alphabet stickers on the clothespins for quick prep.

Beginning Sounds Clip Cards

Children look at each picture, say the word aloud, and choose the correct beginning sound to clip. This strengthens phonemic awareness and supports your phonics instruction.

Tip: Encourage students to exaggerate the first sound when saying the picture name to help them hear the initial letter clearly.

Sight Word Sheep Cards

Students write the sight word shown on each sheep card inside the shaped boxes. This gives children targeted fine motor practice while helping them build sight word fluency.

Tip: Offer a finger tracing step first for learners who need more support.

Math Activities

Christmas Counting Clip Cards

Children count the objects on each card and clip the correct number. This helps build one to one correspondence and strengthens number recognition.

Tip: Provide counters so students can touch and count before clipping.

Ten Frame Sheep Puzzles

Students match the numeral to the correct ten frame puzzle piece. This helps children visually connect quantities to numerals while reinforcing early place value concepts.

Tip: Sort puzzles into small groups to keep the activity focused and manageable.

Missing Christmas Numbers Clip Cards

Children identify the missing number in the sequence and clip the correct answer. This activity builds understanding of number order and fluency with counting patterns.

Tip: Model counting aloud and sliding your finger under the sequence so students learn to check their thinking.

Christmas Count and Graph

Children count each group of themed pictures and record their findings on the graphing grid. This introduces early data collection in a playful, visual way.

Tip: Use mini manipulatives as markers on the graph before moving on to writing with dry erase markers.

Christmas Patterns

Students look at the pattern strip, identify the pattern type, and clip the correct picture to complete the sequence. This strengthens logic, prediction, and visual discrimination skills.

Tip: Mix AB, ABB, and ABC patterns in a bin for a greater challenge.

Baby Jesus Shape Graph

Children count each group of shapes and graph the results on the mat. This builds early data handling skills and helps students connect shapes with counting and organizing information.

Tip: Let students build the groups with manipulatives first if they need concrete practice.

Christmas Animals Head and Tail Match

Students match each animal head with its correct tail using clothespins. This activity strengthens visual discrimination and fine motor skills while adding a fun, thematic twist.

Tip: Add an extension by asking students to sort the animals by size or color.

Classroom Management Tips for December Centers

• Offer fewer cards or pieces at a time for younger learners
• Keep all manipulatives in small cups to reduce spills
• Rotate centers weekly to keep interest high
• Use visual steps or simple picture instructions
• Provide fast finisher options like the fine motor mat or pattern cards

Quick Checklist for Easy Center Setup

• Print and laminate materials
• Prepare clothespins, counters, and markers
• Organize each center into its own tub
• Model each activity before independent use
• Rotate centers for variety
• Add seasonal manipulatives for excitement

These Christmas Nativity Centers for Preschool make December learning joyful and meaningful. With hands on activities across fine motor, literacy, and math, your students will stay engaged and excited all season long. Whether you’re using them for morning tubs, small groups, or center time, these nativity centers bring calm, purposeful practice to your classroom.

Happy Teaching 🙂

Purchase the Christmas Nativity Preschool Centers packet

To purchase the complete Preschool Christmas Nativity Centers packet, click on one of the store links below.

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