Feature Friday

It’s Christmas, David! by David Shannon.

Being a kid is hard. Being a kid waiting for Christmas to come is even harder and David Shannon remembers what it was like. As parents we try so hard to teach appreciation, gratefulness and patience but it’s so hard to be any of those things when you are little and very very excited! In this book we follow David as he gets scolded for trying to grab Christmas cookies, for peeking at gifts, and writing his name in the snow…with pee.  Over the years I have had readers say that they aren’t a fan of the original No! David because they worried it would spark naughty ideas but that is not what these books do. Young kids have a very natural sense of what is right and wrong and they are laughing because they know what he is doing is wrong and even David knows that he has messed up, as he fears Santa will leave him nothing but coal. Of course we all know that David is not a bad kid ( Are there bad kids? I don’t think so!) and his heart is in the right place even if sometimes he makes bad choices. Kids love this book and I love the underlying message to parents that being a kid is tough especially when parents are busy.

Workshop Wednesday

Christmas Tree Lights Game

Materials: Tree pattern or clip art; miniature bulbs cut from a strand of lights that was no longer working; dice or number cards

Directions: Have children roll die or draw number card and place that many bulbs on the tree. You could extend the activity by using two dice or number cards and have the children add or subtract.


Taken from Counting Coconuts

Transition Tuesday

S A N T A

(Tune:  “BINGO”)

There is a jolly bearded man          (Put arms out in front of you

And Santa is his name-o.                  like Santa’s tummy.)

S – A – N – T – A,

S – A – N – T – A,

S – A – N – T – A,

And Santa is his name-o.

He lives at the North Pole…                     (Clap instead of saying “S.”)

His wears a suit all red and white…        (Clap for “S” and “A.”)

He makes toys for girls and boys…        (Clap for “S,” “A,” “N.”)

He drives a sleigh with 8 reindeer…       (Clap for “S,” “A,” “N,” “T.”)

He’ll visit you on Christmas Eve…           (Clap for all letters.)

 

Taken from Dr. Jean

Make & Take Monday

Simple Craft Stick Ornaments

1. Reindeer Ornament

Materials: 3 craft sticks; brown paint; paint brush; pom pom (nose); wiggly eyes; glue; brown or black pipe cleaner 

Directions: 1. Paint craft sticks brown & allow to dry.

2. Once craft sticks are dry form a triangle with them & glue.

3. Point side down will be nose - glue pom pom there.

4. Add wiggly eyes (one on each side near top).

5. Form antlers from pipe cleaner - cut about 1/3 piece from end and then cut that in half to make additional antler  points. To set them in place, wrap them around the top craft stick.

6. Tie some ribbon onto the top & hang on your tree!

2. Christmas Tree Ornament

Materials: 3 and 1/2 craft sticks; green & brown paint; paintbrush; glue; sequins

Directions:

1. Paint 3 long craft sticks green & the 1/2 stick brown and allow drying time.

2. Using 3 green craft sticks form a triangle & glue in place.

3. Add brown craft stick to bottom as trunk.

4. Decorate with sequins as desired.

5. Tie some ribbon onto the top & hang on your tree!

 

3. Snowflake Ornament

Materials: 4 craft sticks; white paint; paint brush; glitter

Directions:

1. Paint craft sticks white & allow to dry.

2. Form a t with 2 craft sticks - gluing them together in the middle.

3. Glue the other 2 craft sticks forming an x on top of the t.

4. Apply glue onto snowflake with a paintbrush.

5. Add glitter as desired.

6. Tie some ribbon onto the top & hang on your tree!

 

Workshop Wednesday

Chocolate Bells-Sticker Matching

Materials: Christmas candy - chocolate bells or "kisses"; dot stickers or Christmas stickers; permanent marker

Directions: Write or draw shapes, numbers, letters, etc. on the stickers and place on the bottom of each candy bell/kiss.  Lay the candy bells in several rows. Have the children turn one bell/kiss over at a time and then look for the match.

Children will LOVE playing with the candy.  But the most fun is eating the bells! Yummy!



Photo taken from Little Family Fun



Transition Tuesday

Christmas Presents
See all the presents by the Christmas tree. (Hands in sweeping motion.)
Some for you (Point to children.)
And some for me. (Point to self.)
Long ones, (Hands spread wide apart.)
Tall ones, (Measure from the floor.)
Short ones, too. (Hands close together.)
And here is a round one (Make circle with arms.)
Wrapped in blue.
Isn't it fun to look and see
All the presents by the Christmas tree? (Nod.)

Make & Take Monday

Lacing Jingle Bells

Materials: bells (different colors) and stiff string

Directions: Have children lace the bells on the string. You could extend it the activity by including pattern cards. For example, make pattern cards using colored dots or pictures of colored bells - red, green, red, green or blue, silver, blue, silver. Children choose a pattern card and make the pattern by lacing the bells on the string. You could also have the children roll a die or draw a number card and lace that many bells on the string.  With or without specific directions children will enjoy lacing and ringing the bells!

Photo taken from Counting Coconuts