Free Christmas Shadow Matching Printable
Looking for a simple Christmas activity for preschool? This free Christmas shadow matching printable gives your little ones a fun way to practice matching with Christmas trees, stockings, cookies and more!
When I taught preschool, I loved changing out our centers to go along with the season. We could keep practicing the same skills, but a new set of pictures made a familiar activity exciting again.
December is a perfect time for that! With so much anticipation surrounding Christmas, a simple holiday matching game can give little ones something fun to work on while they learn.
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What Is Shadow Matching?
Shadow matching is an activity where children match a picture to its solid black outline, or shadow.
Instead of looking for the same colors or decorations, children have to look closely at the shape. Does the bell have the same outline? Where is the bow on the present? Which shadow has branches like the Christmas tree?
These simple comparisons help children practice noticing details, recognizing similarities and differences, and looking carefully before choosing a match.
No reading is required, which makes this Christmas matching activity a good option for preschoolers. You can also use it in a Kindergarten center or as part of your homeschool preschool activities.
What Is Included in This Christmas Shadow Matching Printable?
This free printable includes 24 Christmas pictures with matching shadows in two different sets:
- 12 Christmas cookie designs, including a gingerbread house, snow globe, reindeer, mitten and angel.
- 12 other Christmas pictures, including a present, bell, Santa hat, stocking, candy cane and Christmas tree.
Both color and black-and-white versions are included in the 16-page PDF. You only need to print the pages you want to use.
If you don’t have access to a color printer, use the black-and-white pages. Your children can even color the outline pictures before playing!
The pictures and shadows are arranged six to a page, with three matching pairs on each page, for easy printing and cutting.
How to Prepare Your Christmas Matching Game
You don’t need many supplies to get this preschool Christmas activity ready. Gather your paper or cardstock, scissors and a laminator if you plan to laminate the pieces.
- Download the free Christmas shadow matching printable below.
- Print your chosen pages on regular paper or cardstock.
- Cut apart the pictures and shadows along the lines so each piece is separate.
- Laminate the individual pieces, if desired. Cut them apart before laminating, then trim around each laminated piece, leaving a small sealed edge.
- Mix up the pieces and start matching!
Cardstock makes the pieces a little sturdier, but regular paper works too. I recommend laminating if you will be using this as a classroom center or want to bring it out again next Christmas. This is the laminator brand I have and love. If you don’t have a personal laminator, add it to your Christmas list. You will not regret it!
Store the pieces in a zip-top bag or small container so they are ready whenever you need them.
Ways to Play with Your Christmas Shadow Matching Cards
One of my favorite things about a simple printable center is being able to use it more than one way. Here are a few ideas to try with these Christmas matching cards.
Match the pictures to their shadows.
Lay the shadows on the table and have your child place each picture beside its matching shadow.
For younger preschoolers, begin with just three or four pairs. Add more as they become comfortable with the activity. You don’t have to use all 24 pairs at once!
Sort the Christmas pictures.
Mix the picture cards together and have your child separate the Christmas cookies from the other Christmas pictures.
This gives you another way to use the same cards while practicing sorting. You can talk about what makes each picture look like a decorated cookie as you go.
Play a Christmas memory game.
Print two copies of your chosen picture pages and use the picture cards to play memory.
Place the cards face down. Take turns flipping over two cards to look for identical pictures. Keep the matches and turn the other cards back over.
Start with a small number of pairs so your child can learn the game without getting overwhelmed.
Talk about the pictures.
As you play, ask your child to name the Christmas objects. Talk about the shapes and details that help them find each match.
You might ask, “Which shadow has a bow on top?” or “Can you find the stocking with the toe pointing this way?”
A few simple questions can encourage your child to slow down and look more closely.
How to Use This Christmas Preschool Center
This Christmas shadow matching game is easy to add to a preschool center, small-group activity or homeschool preschool lesson.
In the classroom, place a set of pictures and shadows on a tray so children can see their choices. You can use the cookie set one week and switch to the other Christmas pictures the next.
At home, spread a few pairs on the table for a quiet activity during the busy Christmas season. It doesn’t need to be a long lesson. A few minutes of matching together is plenty!
Download Your Free Christmas Shadow Matching Printable
Choose your favorite pages, print them out and enjoy a simple Christmas matching activity with your little ones!
More Free Preschool Centers and Matching Games
Looking for more easy activities to add to your preschool centers? Try these other free printables I’ve created:
- Fruit and Vegetable Shadow Matching
- Printable Crayon Letter Matching
- Printable Apple Letter Matching
- Printable Popsicle Matching Game
View all the free printables on my blog here.
