Christmas tree prompts by age
“Use this prompt” fills in the generator and sets the detail level. Every page is drawn fresh, so if one misses, change one detail and try again.
| For | Prompt | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 2 to 5Simple | one big Christmas tree with round ornaments and a star on top, three wrapped presents at its base, big simple shapes, no background One tree, a few big circles and three boxes: the easiest Christmas page there is. |
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| Ages 3 to 6Simple | a Christmas tree with no ornaments, only a star on top and a thick trunk, big simple shapes, no background A bare tree. Children draw the ornaments and lights themselves, then color them (see below). |
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| Ages 6 to 9Medium | a Christmas tree with round ornaments, a swirling garland and a star, standing on a round tree stand The garland is one long shape that winds through the whole page. |
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| Ages 9 to 12Medium | a living room with a decorated Christmas tree, a fireplace with stockings and presents on the floor, clean bold outlines Many separate objects, so the page can last more than one sitting. |
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| Teens and adultsDetailed | a tall Christmas tree filled with zentangle patterns, with a different pattern in each ornament and a patterned star Every ornament is a separate pattern to fill, and the tree shape holds the page together. |
Draw the ornaments yourself
The bare tree prompt above gives every child the same green shape. What goes on it is up to the child:
- Ornaments. Circles, stars, bells, candy canes. Draw them in pencil first, then color.
- Lights. A string of small circles zigzagging down from the star. Count them: a page with 20 lights is also a counting exercise.
- Presents. Rectangles with a ribbon and a bow under the tree, each one a different size.
For a class, print one bare tree for each child and hang the finished trees in a row. No two will look alike.
The first Rockefeller Center tree
The famous tree in New York began small. In December 1931, construction workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money for a 20-foot balsam fir, decorated it with handmade garlands from their families and raised it on Christmas Eve. Two years later, in 1933, the tree became an annual tradition (Rockefeller Center).
Measure 20 feet along a wall or a hallway with a tape measure. Then ask children how many of them would have to stand on each other's shoulders to reach the top of that first tree.
Print the tree as a card or a tag
Print at 4 pages per sheet in your printer settings for four small trees on one letter page. Cut them apart, color them and glue each to a folded piece of card for a Christmas card, or punch a hole at the top for a gift tag.