Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Day Two - The Night Before Christmas

Reading
Preparation
Get book The Night Before Christmas
Materials
Book
Teaching
1.Read book to child.
2.Read book again, only this time, have your child act out the poem as you read it.

Phonics
Preparation

Write the poem, The Night Before Christmas." If you don't want to write it out, email me amyiswrite@gmail.com and I will send you a word doc of the one I wrote out, so you can skip this long step in prep
write the rhyming words on pieces of paper, and cut them into individual words

Poem
Marker
Paper divided into two sections, "twins" and "jail"
rhyming words
glue stick
Teaching
1. Read poem to your child and circle the rhyming words in the poem (you can circle, or your child can circle, your choice).
2. You don't need to do the entire poem, gauge your child's interest.  My son lasted about 1/2 way before he was done circling.  That's fine.  Stop before it becomes a chore.
3. Show the rhyming words to your child.  Line them up, one above the other so that the rimes align.
4. Ask, "Are these rhymes spelled the same, or are they different?"
5. If they are the same, your child glues them under "twins."  If they are different your child glues them in "jail."


Writing
Preparation
Using large dotted line paper, write a capital "N" on the first line and a lower case "n" on the second line.  On other lines write the following rimes: ab, ag, ap, est, et, ib, ip, od, ot, ub, un, ut
Materials
paper
pen
markers, etc
Teaching
1. Teach your child proper formation of the letter "N" both upper-and lower case.
2. Have your child add the letter 'N" to each rime to create a new word, word the word with your child.
3. On a separate piece of paper write, "If I met Santa I would"
4.  Have your child tell you what they would do if they met Santa.  finish the sentence, writing what your child told you.
5.  Have your child illustrate the sentence.


Math
Preparation
Draw a stocking on a piece of paper with sharp corners.  Placing another piece of paper behind your paper with the stocking.  Cut out stocking, so you have two exact copies. Cut the second stocking into about 5-7 shapes of triangles, rectangles, and squares.
Materials
Stocking
Pieces
glue stick.
Teaching
1. Tell your child that this is an empty stocking that Santa needs to fill.
2.Show the shapes to your child, have your child name the shapes.
3.Tell your child the shapes are presents for the stocking, and they need to help Santa fit all the presents into the stocking.
4. Have child rearrange shapes in stocking until they all fit, then have child glue pieces into the stocking.


Exploration
Preparation
For Christmas, all our Explorations are about doing kids things for other people.  Find a way to give gifts of kindness and services with your child.  Our church was buying presents for a homeless shelter so we signed up and I let my son help pick out a gift for the shelter.

Art
Preparation
Draw a picture, or print out a simple picture of Santa.
Materials
Santa picture
Crayons or markers
Cotton balls
Glue
Teaching
1. Have child color Santa's face and hat
2.Have child glue cotton balls on to beard and hat rim.

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.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Holiday Books - Christmas & Hannukah

Christmas Books
My Favorites:
Santa Mouse by Michael Brown
This is a favorite from my childhood.  This book sat near the fireplace  at my grandmother's house and every year I would read sit on her blue velvet couch and read this book.  This book brings me back to some of my fondest memories.
 I opened up my box of Christmas books this year, and this book was missing.  I plan on a thorough search of all my boxes, and if I can't find it, I'll have to find a copy.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsberg
This is a great book.  Every child would love to ride the Polar Express.  I'm sure my children listen just as intently for this train's whistle as they do for Santa's sleigh bells.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Classic! Every year I start to become a little Grinch-like as I think of all the unimportant To-Do's that surround the holiday, so this is a good book to remind me that Christmas doesn't come in a box, but is felt in the love we share.
Olive, the Other Reindeer by J. Otto Seibold
I love Olive. Please do not confuse this cute book with the awful Christmas special. Olive is a dog who believes in herself and makes things happen.
Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Berenstain Bears do a great job of explaining things, including a visit to Santa Bear.
This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten
Beautiful poem that explains in simple language the role of each person that First Christmas.
The Stable Where Jesus Was Born by Rhonda Gowler Greene
I love this book about the Nativity, too.  A poem that builds on itself.  Beautiful illustrations, beautiful poem, beautiful book.
Who is Coming to Our House by Joseph Slate
The animals in the stable prepare for Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus.
Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck
Very simple, sweet explanation of the Nativity.  I love Felicia Bond's sweet, simple drawings.
More Christmas Books






The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry
The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Felicia Bond
The Gift of the Traveler by Wendy Matthews
Snowmen at Christmas by Carolyn and Mark Buehner
That First Night by B.G. Hennessey
Little Porcupine's Christmas by Joseph Slate
A Merry Little Christmas by Mary Engelbreit
Come and See: A Christmas Story by Monica Mayper
When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem by Joseph Brickey
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey by
Christmas Treasury  Compiled by Dalmatian Press
Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parrish 
Mooseltoe! by Margie Palatini
Santa and the Three Bears by Dominic Catalano
The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever by Steven Kroll
Christmas Mice by Bethany Roberts
Jingle Bell Mice Illustrated by Lisa McCue
The Littlest Christmas Tree by Janie Jasin
My Favorite Hanukkah Books
Yes, I have a few Hanukkah books, too. I kept these after I"retired from teaching" (became a stay at home mom) because they are great books! My kids love them and they are as much a part of our "Christmas Books" as How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel My #1 favorite
The Chanukah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel I really love this book
The Magic Dreidels by Eric A. Kimmel

These are my favorite Chritmas books, what are yours? I'd love to hear about your favorite Christmas books, and Christmas memories.