I have done this project with children as young as three and as old as 52. It never fails in beauty and in creativity. It does require some materials that you may not readily have at home, but you could always add the supplies in your next Walmart pick-up order (I do this a lot and they are so good getting even craft supplies into the order). You will need a rock, one with at least one flat side is preferable. You will also need copper wire, or you can try pipe cleaner, if you have that instead. Along with the wire, you will need a wire clipper and possibly a needle-nosed pliers. I have done it without the pliers though, but you will have to clip the wire with something. Then you will need beads. With the littlest people, I have done the pony beads, and with older children (even four year olds), I switched to the small glass beads. Be sure to wash your rock. Then, using one wire at a time, bring it around the rock and twist it tightly. Do this at least a couple of times to keep the tree in place and also to create the branches. You can always add branches to the trunk as well. Once you have the amount of branches that you prefer, then you are ready to string the beads onto the branches. Placing the tree and the beads on a plate or tray helps to keep the beads from rolling all over the table. Be sure to work on one branch at a time and leave room at the end of each branch. Once one branch is complete, take your pliers and curl the end into a loop. This step keeps the beads from falling off. Repeat until all the branches are done. This is such a great activity to do while listening to an audiobook or just enjoying each other's company around the table. Below you will see the various steps and also the trees my family created together.
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