Christmas, Secular: Day Five

Christmas Party

Invite some friends over for a party.

Have everyone make and decorate a stocking. Hang them and have each child fill the stockings up. (Before the party, ask everyone to bring several small gifts to place in friends' stockings.)

Gingerbread houses/Gingerbread Cookies
(Gingerbread Man Themed Activities)
Gingerbread People Recipe
You will need:
One 3 1/2 oz package of cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a large bowl, have children help cream together the butterscotch pudding mix (dry), butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg. Separately combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon, and then add this to the pudding mixture to form a dough. Chill the dough about an hour or until firm (you could even make it the day before and chill it overnight). On the day you make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350° and grease your cookie sheets in advance. Sprinkle flour on the surface of the table where the dough will be rolled out, then have children cut out small figures with cookie cutters. Place the cookies about 2" apart on the cookie sheets and bake 10-12 mins or until edges turn golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Play "Pin the Nose on the Reindeer" or "Pin the Beard on Santa."

Food/Drink Recipes:
*Easy Red Christmas Punch: Pour 2 quarts of chilled Cranberry Juice into the punch bowl. Then add 1 quart of Ginger Ale. Optional: Add 1 box of frozen Red Raspberries, thawed
*Green Christmas Punch: Combine all these ingredients in a punch bowl: 4 cups (1 Qt) CHILLED Apple Juice, 2 cups CHILLED Lemonade, 2-16oz (1 Qt) 7-UP, 1 Teaspoon Lime Juice, 2 Teaspoons green Food Coloring. Garnish with Lime slices.
*The Yum Yum Vegetable Tree: Using toothpicks, attach vegetable chunks to a very clean Styrofoam tree-shaped cone (green pepper chunks, cherry tomatoes, unpeeled cucumber chunks, carrot rounds, etc).
Provide a ranch flavored dip nearby.

You could also do a "Christmas Around the World" theme, incorporating some of these ideas.

Christmas, Secular: Day Four

Gifts and Good Deeds

Read a few Christmas books.

Sing some Christmas songs.

Santa brings gifts to good girls and boys. We should also celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to our family and friends.

Gift Ideas:

• Christmas Coupons: Here or Here

• More Gift Ideas

Talk about doing nice things for other people. You could put out a bowl and let child put in an ornament (or other Christmas object) every time they do a good deed for a friend or family member.

Make Christmas cards for friends and family members. Children could paint/color pictures to place inside. Have children help you fold, place them in envelopes, and put on the stamps. Make a trip to the post office to mail the cards.

Christmas, Secular: Day Three

Santa Claus

Read a book about Santa Claus.

Show a Picture of Santa. Talk about who Santa Claus is and his role at Christmas time. You might want to read this Tribute to Santa Claus.

Songs:
"Jolly Old St. Nicholas"
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

"Where is Santa"
(to the tune of: Are you sleeping)

Where is Santa? Where is Santa?
(Put hands behing back.)
Here I am! Here I am!
(Make a big belly with arms.)
Merry, Merry Christmas!
(Sing in Santa voice.)
Merry, Merry Christmas!
Ho-ho-ho! Ho-ho-ho!
(Put hands behind back.)

"S-A-N-T-A"
(sung to B-I-N-G-O)

I know a man with a long white beard
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A
And Santa is his name-o.

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T…, S-A-N-T…, S-A-N-T…
And Santa is his name-o.

He flies through the air with a Ho-Ho-Ho
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N…, S-A-N…, S-A-N…
And Santa is his name-o.

He slides down the chimney with a pack on his back
And Santa is his name-o
S-A…, S-A…, S-A…
And Santa is his name-o.

He leaves some toys with a twinkle in his eye
And Santa is his name-o
S…, S…, S…
And Santa is his name-o.

Then off into the night he goes
And Santa is his name-o
…, …, …,
And Santa is his name-o.

Santa Claus Coloring Pages


Santa Poem
'Twas the Night Before Christmas mini-book

Santa Crafts:
Ideas from Making Learning Fun
Santa Claus Jar
Santa Paper Face
Doorknob Hanger
Handprint Craft
Paper Craft
Santa Key
TP Roll Craft


Santa brings gifts for good boys and girls. As long as you are being good, Santa will try to bring you what you want. You can help Santa out by writing him a letter. Write a letter to Santa Claus!

Make a stocking to hang up for Santa to fill.

Christmas Stockings

Materials:

• Poster Board
• Hole Punch
• Yarn
• Tape
• Glitter
• Glue
• Markers

Directions:

• Cut out two stocking pieces per child from posterboard (making sure they are the exact same size. Hold two stocking pieces together and punch holes around the edge, leaving the top hole free. Wrap tape around the end of a piece of yarn and have your children lace their stockings together. Once they aredone lacing their stockings knot the yarn and encourage them to decorate with markers and glitter.

Activities:
The Hunt for Santa
Pull out you camera for this one, and go on a Santa Claus hunt with your child. Take pictures of all the Santas you can find. start in your own home (decorations, books), walk through your neighborhood, then make a final trip to the shopping center. Your toddler will enjoy finding Santa Claus virtually everywhere, and you can come home, download the photos, and view them together on the computer.

Santa Button Match

Santa, Santa, Reindeer
Directions:

• Play just like duck, duck, goose

Santa Claus Cookies
Ingredients:
• Nutter Butter cookies
• white chocolate chips
• mini chocolate chips
• red cinnamon candy or mini red M&M's
• mini marshmallows cut in halves or quarters
• red sugar
Directions:
1. Melt white chocolate chips.
2. Dip Nutter Butter into chocolate a little more than halfway to make the beard. Let dry (it does not take
long.)
3. Dip top in about two lines (grid on N.B.) and then roll into red sugar across the top but not all the
way.
4. Immediately attach marshmallow to the melted choc on the hat.
5. Using melted white chocolate as glue, dip mini choc chip in and then attach to cookie as eyes.
6. Repeat for nose with cinnamon candy dot or M&M. (I often just place the nose on when I make the beard,
at the top to save time.)

Christmas, Secular: Day Two

O, Christmas Tree

Read some Christmas-themed books.

Sing "O, Christmas Tree."

Let children help you start decorating the house for Christmas, especially the Christmas Tree and Wreaths.

Here We Go Round the Christmas Tree

(sung to HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH)

Here we go round the Christmas tree, Christmas tree, Christmas tree,
Here we go round the Christmas tree, at Christmas time.

This is the way we string the lights, string the lights, string the lights,
This is the way we string the lights, at Christmas time.

This is the way we drape the tinsel…
This is the way we hang the balls…
Look at our lovely Christmas tree…

Author Unknown

Little Pine Tree

(sung to I’M A LITTLE TEA POT)

I'm a little pine tree, tall and straight,
Here are my branches for you to decorate.
First you put the star on the very top,
Just be careful that the balls don't drop!

Author Unknown

Decorate The Tree

Directions:

• Cut out Christmas trees with felt. Next cut out ornament shapes out of different colored felt. Let your children decorate the felt Christmas trees. For older children tell them how many ornaments to put on the tree or have them roll dice to decide.

Five Little Christmas Trees
Five little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their heart were very sad
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax
And down fell the tree
And off they went with a happy family!
(continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees)
No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

Christmas Tree Shapes Craft



Christmas Tree Activities/Coloring Pages--DLTK's

Tree Activities--First School

Tree Crafts--Making Learning Fun

Christmas Wreaths

Materials:

Red Ribbon

Paper Plate

Bow Tie Pasta

Red Hots

Glue

Paint Brush

Gold or Green Spray Paint

Directions:

• Cut the center out of one paper plate per child. Have your children paint glue around the entire plate and then stick the pasta to it. Once the glue has dried, take the wreaths outside and spray paint them. After the spray paint has dried have your children glue on some red hot berries. Attach a ribbon to the top of the wreath and hang it up.

Christmas Wreath Activities/Coloring Pages

Wreath ideas--Making Learning fun

Christmas, Secular: Day One

Countdown to Christmas

Read books about Christmas such as:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry.

Here is a Christmas Book List to use as a resource.
Sing some Christmas Songs like "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."

Christmas Time
Talk about Christmas time drawing near. Make mention of the decorations throughout the neighborhoods and in the stores, and help him name the different icons and symbols - Santa Claus, wreath, Christmas tree, holly, bells, reindeer, etc.

Christmas Count Down Chain

Directions:

Cut out twenty four 4"x1" links and one red bell for each child. Help your children number the the links from 1-24 and then attach them to form a chain from 24 to 1, attach the top link to the bell. Explain that each day they will be able to tear off one link and when they reach the bell it will be Christmas.

More Advent Calendar Activities

Teach your child to say, "Merry Christmas." Look for these words everywhere you go around town.

Winter: Day Five

Winter Wonderland Party

Welcome the Winter season by celebrating some of the wonderful things about this time of year!

Make Welcome Winter hats for the party!

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Directions:

• Take your class on a winter walk. Help your children bundle up and explore the outdoors. Look for things that indicate it is winter (seeing your breath, trees without leaves, ice, smoke from chimneys) talk about why you see these things and think of other signs that are special to winter. Collect pine cones for a bird feeder! After the walk, help children to make bird feeder they can take home and put in a tree in their yard.
  

Bird Feeder
Need: Floral wire, Large open pine cone--one for each
child, Peanut butter, Bird seed, Plastic bag--one for each child

Tie the floral wire around and close to the inside of the
top ring of the pine cone. Give each child a pine cone.
Spread peanut butter on the pine cone and then roll, or
gently shake in a container, of bird seed. Provide
plastic baggies for child to transport bird feeder home.

Make a Winter Wreath for each child to take home.

Winter Coloring Pages:

here and here

Celebrate Winter with some snow snacks:

Directions:

• Have a white snowy snack day. Some suggestions: shaved ice with lemonade to drink, marshmallows, string cheese, coconut, milk, vanilla pudding.

Winter: Day Four

Cold Weather Wear

What special clothes do we need to wear when it's cold outside?

Books:
Under My Hood I Have a Hat--Karla Kuskin, Fumi Kosaka
The Mitten Tree--Candace Christiansen, Elaine Greenstein
Talk about the clothes needed when it's cold/snowing outside.

Do this:
Circle Time Rhyme for Under My Hood I Have a Hat.

Have children practice with:
Pocket Chart for Under My Hood I Have a Hat

Songs:

Gloves, Gloves, Gloves
(tune: Three Blind Mice)

Gloves, gloves, gloves,
Gloves, gloves, gloves.
I'm in love, with my gloves.
They are what I like to wear,
Especially in the cold, cold air,
I like to take them everywhere
Gloves, gloves, gloves.

Snowy Pokey

You put your right mitten in, You take your right mitten out,
You put your right mitten in and you shake it all about.
You do the Snowey pokey and you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about.
Note continue with additional verses:
You put your left mitten in
You put your scarf in
You put your right boot in
You put your left boot in
You put your hat in
You put your snowself in
etc

Activities:

Mitten Matching

Directions:

• Cut out several pairs of mittens. Draw snowflakes on half of the mittens and numbers on the other half. Have your children match up the mittens, the number of snowflakes on one mitten to the number on the other mitten.

Dressed for Winter Paper Doll: Let children practice putting on winter clothes with this activity. (Or, use this Rabbit Dressed for Winter idea.)

Then, let children practice getting themselves dressed to play in the snow.

Snow Fun
Place snow in the sand/water table with buckets, measuring spoons, and small shovels. If they want to let them wear mittens while they play.

Crafts:

Mitten Prints

Materials:

• String
• Mitten Stencil
• Paint
• Eye Dropper
• Construction Paper

Directions:

Fold a sheet of construction paper in half and have your children use eye droppers to drop paint onto one side. Once they are done dripping paint, fold the paper back in half and rub. Trace the stencil onto the paper and cut through both halves. You will then have two identical mittens. Attach ribbon to both sides and hang from a clothes line in your classroom.

Mittens & Hats
Cut sponges into mitten and hat shapes. Use a clothespin to create handles.
Provide trays with paint on them. Have children dip the sponges in the paint and creating prints on construction paper.

Mitten Paper Craft

Cold Hand/Warm Heart Craft: Even when it's cold outside, we can stay warm on the inside!

When it's cold outside, it's important to wear the right types of clothing to keep us safe and warm!!!