Christmas Day One - Nativity

Reading
Preparation
Choose a simple children's book, or a few, that are about the First Christmas.  See my list of Christmas books for my favorites.  You can also read from the Bible Luke chapter 2 verses 1-20. and Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 12. Here is a link to the King James Version online for Luke (shepherds) and Matthew (wisemen).  Draw or print out small pictures of the naativity. Tape these to popsicle sticks to form puppets.
Materials
Bble, and/or natvity books
Nativity pictures (mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, wise men, shepherds, angel, king herod)
Markers, etc.
Popsicle sticks
Teaching
1. Read the stories.  I like to read and explain the Bible verses, and then read the Nativity books and explain as we go, how they relate to the Bible story.
2.  Child can color pictures.
3. Have your child retell the story of Jesus' birth using the puppets.  You can help encourage by holding up a puppet, asking (or telling if they forgot) who it is, and how they belong in the story.
4. Have your child put on the puppet show for relatives at Christmas, siblings, etc.

Phonics
Preparation
Write the word "Christmas" then cut into individual letters.
Materials
Letters, cut up
Teaching
1. Tell your child that all these letters together make a word that is special at this time of year.
Say the following:
1. Make the word "as."
2.  Add a letter and make the word "has."
3. Change the last letter to make the word "hat."
4.  CHange the first letter to make the word "cat."
5. CHange the first letter to make the =word "rat."

6.  Change the first letter to make the word "sat."
7. Change the first letter to make the word "mat."
8. Change the last letter to make "mas," the end of our special word.
9.  The rest of the letters make the word that Christmas is all about. (slowly spell out "Christ" and sound it out for your child).
10.  This is the word "Christ" because our special word (put "Christ" and "mas" together) form the word CHristmas, and CHristmas is all about that Jesus Chrust was born!

Writing
Preparation
Using large dotted line paper, write a capital "C" on first line, lower case "c" on second line
write the following rimes on the lines below: ab, an, ap, at, op, ot, up
Materials
Teaching

1.Teach your child proper formation of the letter "C" both upper and lower case.
2. Have your child practice writing the letter C in front of each rime, creating a new word.
3.  On a separate paper write "If I was at the First Christmas"
4.  Have your child complete the sentence verbally, while you write down what they say.
5.  Have child illustrate the sentence.


Math
Preparation
Draw or print 20-30 sheep.
Materials
Sheep
Die (one dice)
Teaching
1. Put sheep in a pile.
2. First person rolls, die, and takes that amount of sheep.
3.Second person rolls die and takes the amount of sheep shoen on die.
4. Players continue playing until sheep are gone.
5. Players count their sheep to see who has the biggest flock, and wins. You can watch a video of my kids playing it here.

Exploration
Preparation
Our entire Christmas exploration will be about serving others.  Find ways to help your child serve others.  We made treats for our cousins, one in the military, one on a mission, and sent them to them for Christmas. You can make a treat and send or give it to someone.


Art
Preparation
Prep Materials
Materials
Paper
Markers, crayons, etc
Teaching
1. Have your child draw a picture of baby Jesus.