Nativity Craft for Kids: Nativity Stick Puppets with Free Printable Patterns

Nativity Craft for Kids: Nativity Stick Puppets with Free Printable Patterns Post Preview – Here are directions and free printable patterns for Nativity stick puppets featuring Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, and a star. You and your kids can use these for finger plays, songs, storytelling, bookmarks, and more.

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas! I’m not sure we’re entirely ready, especially since we’re still waiting on some packages to arrive. I had one package that seemed to take up permanent residence in Tulsa. But it’s not really about the gifts anyway, is it? If some are a little late, it’s okay.

Today, I have this super cute Christmas craft that focuses on the true meaning of Christmas – Nativity stick puppets. These can be used for storytelling, songs, and more. To make these Nativity stick puppets, I have easy to follow step-by-step directions. Plus, I have free downloadable Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and star stick puppet patterns for you to use.

Note: The downloadable pattern for the Nativity Stick Puppets is available toward the end of this post.

More Stick Puppet Fun:

• Shadow Puppet Shows: Fun for the Whole Family
• Nutcracker Ballet Stick Puppets Craft (with Free Printable Templates)
• Farm Animals Stick Puppet Craft (with Free Printable Templates) – you could add in a few animals from this set for retelling the Christmas story!
• Bat Stick Puppet Craft (with free printable templates using basic shapes to make the bat)
• Halloween Stick Puppet or Bookmark Crafts (with Free Printables Templates)

Religious Christmas fingerplays and songs for Kids

Here’s a big collection of religious Christmas songs and fingerplays for kids from Pre-K Fun.

Ministry to Children has some Preschool Christmas Songs to check out. Some of them would work with the nativity stick puppets in this post.

Born in a Stable is a simple Nativity song featured at Let’s Play Music. It uses a very familiar tune to sing all about the first Christmas.

Nativity Craft for Kids: Nativity Stick Puppets with Free Printable Patterns

Your kids or students may be able to make these Christmas stick puppets independently or they may need assistance with portions of the craft. If your kids or students are younger, you may need to do some or all of the cutting. Then they can assemble the Holy Family stick puppets.

Of course, if they aren’t able to do any of the work on the stick puppets, you can use the patterns to make them yourself. Then, they can use them for storytelling or props.

Supplies Needed for the Nativity Stick Puppets Craft

• Colored cardstock (here’s a great assortment pack with 18 different colors)
• Pencil for tracing
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Craft sticks (Popsicle sticks)
• Black sharpie
• Printable patterns (available for free farther down in the post)

Instructions for The Nativity Stick Puppets Craft

Step One:

Print out the free printable Holy Family stick puppets template available toward the end of this post.

I recommend printing the page on white cardstock, if possible. That will make them easier to trace onto your colored cardstock.

Step Two:

Select pieces of colored cardstock and trace the shapes for making Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and a star from the provided template. Carefully cut out the traced shapes.

Step Three:

Stick the small circle near a side of the small oval-shaped paper. This will be the baby Jesus stick puppet.

Step Four:

Grab the pattern cutouts for the Mary and Joseph stick puppets. Stick the hair pattern on one of the round cutouts and the beard cutout on the other round cutout.

Cut a slit along the line along the headscarf pattern. Stick the head cutouts (the round-shaped papers) on the top side of the body cutouts.

Step Five:

Slide the top end of the head through the slits you cut in the scarf patterns. Apply glue to attach and fix them in the correct positions.

Step Six:

Use a black sharpie to draw the eyes, nose, and mouth on the Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus stick puppet dolls.

Finally, attach the finished Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus crafts, as well as the star, on craft sticks (or popsicle sticks) using craft glue to complete the Nativity stick puppets.

Optional: If you would like to add a barn and animals, you can check out this free printable farm animals stick puppet set.

Terms of Use for the Printable Nativity Craft Template

This template is free for personal, classroom, and group use.

This set may not be sold, published, or hosted on other websites. (Example: an individual, church, school, or another blogger may not upload the file onto their website for others to download there.)

There are additional terms of use – you can read them here.

Using the printable means you agree to the terms. Thanks!

Free Printable Nativity Stick Puppets Templates

Download the free Nativity Stick Puppets Template

More Christmas Printables You May Enjoy

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