Holidays Around the World

This week the children learned about the different holidays that people celebrate around the world.  We began our celebration of holidays around the world by talking about Hanukkah.  Ms. Marlene came into our class to read a story, light the Menorah, and give our children gelt.  The children learned the dreidel song and also learned how to play dreidel.  They have absolutely loved playing dreidel.  At first they sat at the table and practiced spinning the dreidels but as the week went on they got really good at playing the game.  Most of them now know all the names of the symbols and what the symbols mean.  The dreidel game is great because they get to practice their math skills while learning good sportsmanship.  When they get 'heh' they have to figure out what half of what is in the middle pile is.  When they get 'gimel' they get all of the pieces in the middle and must count those.  They have also learned to always say good game to each other and be good sports if they do not win.  We also made latkes as a class.  The children helped make the mixture and got to see them cooking on the pan.  They each tried them and then had to write if they liked them or not.  Most of you have probably seen what the results were in the class hanging next to the colored sand Menorahs and Stars of David. 

The following day Sophia's nanna came in to read a story and do a very special art project.  She read a book about the story of The Nativity and then had the children create a beautiful Christmas wreath with baby Jesus in a manger in the middle.  The children were very excited about the story and then were just as excited to recreate it as a class.  Then they worked very hard on the art project.  They had to cut and glue baby Jesus on one of the paper plates then decorate the other paper plate with green tissue paper to make it look like a wreath.  The children spent a lot of time making their wreaths look perfect.  If you have not seen these yet please check them out on the have-to job board!

On Thursday we talked about two other holidays, Kwanzaa and Las Posadas.  We read a story about Kwanzaa where it discussed The Kinara and what each candle represents.  The children then got to color in their very own Kinara by looking at the color key and matching it to the words in the candles to properly make it.  We also read a story about Las Posadas which was a spanish counting book.  The children learned how to count up to ten in Spanish while learning what Las Posadas is.

On Friday Amelia's mommy came to read the class a story.  She read Elf on the Shelf which was a story about an elf that watches children throughout the year and reports back to Santa if they were bad or good and what they want for Christmas.  All the children got to tell the Elf what they wanted for Christmas and then got a special treat out of his stocking.  They then were asked to decorate their own elf and name it as a have-to job.

Music

Throughout the day the children continue to have individual violin practice with either Ms. Michelle or Ms. Amy.  They are really enjoying it and often ask for it!

* We need more sign ups for weekly fruit for after Christmas break.  The sign up sheet is right next to the sign in.  Thank you!


* Please join us on Tuesday December 20th at 11am for our holiday celebration where we will be making cookies, reading a Christmas story, caroling, and sharing a tradition from my (Laetitia)
Christmas! Please have your child wear red and green or something festive. :)