New Year/Months in the year

Book Ideas:

(I had a hard time finding good New Year books--Most were Chinese New Year stuff which I'll probably do later in the month. The idea of a new year can be a hard concept for preschoolers to understand. I've included a few book selections talking about the concept of "months in a year" to help your child's understanding of what it means to begin a new year.)

Goodbye Old Year, Hello New Year by Frank Modell
Marvin and Milton want to celebrate the coming of the new year but fall asleep before midnight.

P. Bear’s New Year’s Party by Paul Owen Lewis
P. Bear has sent invitations to all of his friends for a New Year's Party. On the big day a variety of animals arrive, starting with one whale and ending with a dozen penguins. The book is filled with black-and-white animals, and each page shows a clock as readers count the hours up to midnight.



Twelve Hats for Lena by Karen Katz
Lena creates hats appropriate for each month of the year.




My Love for you all Year Round by Susan L. Roth
Two mice describe their love in terms of the special characteristics of each month of the year.





Jump into January by Stella Blackstone
This seek-and-find book is full of things to look at as you journey around the changing year.





Songs and Rhymes:



HAPPY NEW YEAR
Tune: “Happy Birthday”



Happy New Year to you.
May all your wishes come true.
Happy New Year my friend.
Happy New Year to you.



THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN
Tune: “The Farmer In The Dell”

The clock is ticking down.
Get ready for the sound.
Boom, Bang, it’s 12 o’clock
Fireworks all around!
(Hold up large clock. Move hands to 12 o’clock. Have child blow horn or use other noise makers.)



TOOT YOUR HORN
Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”



Toot, toot, toot your horn,
Toot it loud and clear.
Toot it high and toot it low
To welcome the new year!


(Add additional verses, such as, Bang, bang, bang your drum; Ring, ring, ring your bell; Clap, clap, clap your hands; Stomp, stomp, stomp your feet.)



BELLS ARE RINGING
Tune: “Frere Jacques”



Bells are ringing.
People singing.
New Year’s here.
New Year’s here
Happy, Happy New Year
Happy, Happy New Year
Let’s all cheer.
New Year’s here!




Activity Ideas:


Idea #1: New Year's Noise Maker
Read one of the new year stories and then make a paper plate noise maker. Talk to your child about how it is a tradition to make loud noises when the clock reaches 12 midnight on New Year's Eve and people shout out Happy New Year!

Have your child decorate the back of a paper plate with crayons, markers, stickers, confetti, etc...

Then fold the plate in half and staple half way around the plate edge. Then let your child put a handful of dried beans or dried pasta noodles in the open half and then continue stapling the plate closed. If you want to add some ribbon, punch a few holes with a hole puncher on the edge and knot it. Then shake your noise maker. Practice counting down from 10 and then shaking your noise maker.



Idea #2: New Year's Horn

Read one of the New Year book titles and, again, talk about some of the noisy traditions that occur when the clock hits midnight. Then make your own New Year's Horn.

You will need a toilet or paper towel roll, a rubber band, and a small square of wax paper.

Cut one or two holes about one inch away from the bottom end of the tube. Put the wax paper square over the bottom end and keep it in place with the rubber band.

Then let your child decorate the tube. (You could have them decorate or paint it, before putting the horn together--either way). Then hum into the open end like a kazoo.

Idea #3: New Year Party Hat

Read one of the New Year books and then make a crazy party hat to wear on New Year's Eve.

You will need to print off a set of clocks, cut out two small rectangles of colored paper(I used the clocks to help me judge the size of the rectangles), two pipe cleaners, and a paper plate.

Cut your paper plate like the photo above and write Happy New Year or 2009 on the middle. Fold the middle part forward so that it will be standing up on your child's head. Have this ready before you start the activity with your child.

Next, (do this part in advance too), staple the pipecleaner to the inside of your rectangle and glue closed by folding the rectangle in half. Do the same thing to the other side. You may need to put something heavy on it to keep it closed until it dries.

Give your child the paper plate and a bunch of art supplies that you have on hand and let them decorate their hats however they want. They can color it, they can glue things to it, they could paint it---whatever they want to do to spice it up. Set it aside and let it dry.

Once it is dry add the clocks to the front of the rectangles and attach the pipecleaners to the rim of the hat.


Idea #4: Mini Month Book--A year at a glance

Read one of the book titles that talk about the months of the year and then make your own mini calendar book to help your child understand the sequence of events that happens in a year. This is a great way to help young children understand what it means to begin a new year since time is sort of hard for them to understand. Holidays and celebrations are a good reference point for understanding a continuum of time for kids. You will need 4 pieces of construction paper, each piece cut in four so that you have 16 small rectangles. Staple 13 of the rectangle pages together to make a book. Write the title "A month for everything" on the cover.

Label each page with the a different month, starting with January and continuing on in order.

Copy and paste each of the clip art pictures listed below into a word document, dragging the photo so you can fit 4 clip art pictures on a page. Then let your child color the pictures and cut them out.

January-snowman OR New year horn blower

February- valentine

March- leprechaun

April- Easter bunny

May-Rose and butterfly (can symbolize mother's day or spring)

June- Father's day1 or Father's day2

July- Flag

August- Beach

September- Fall Leaf OR Apple

October- Jack-o-lantern

November- Turkey

December- Christmas Tree
Birthday month- Cake

Helping them with the order, let your child glue the pictures on the right month. (Glue stick works best so that the pages don't get all stuck together with wet glue). Say the months out loud as your child is gluing. When their book is complete ask them questions like: "Can you tell me what holiday comes after Halloween?" (let them reference their book to find what picture comes after the Halloween page). For my 2 year old I simply would ask her to show me in her book where her birthday month was, or which one was Christmas etc...

Christmas Nativity

Book Ideas: What star is this? By Joseph Slate
"As Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, another journey was taking place. High above the earth, a comet flew through the atmosphere with a purpose. Past smiling planets and reverent constellations it flew -- a magical light to show the way for the Wise Men to find Baby Jesus."



Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson
"Unhappy in his cramped, cold hole, Mortimer Mouse moves into a nativity scene thinking it is the perfect home for him, until he discovers who truly belongs there."





The Christmas Story by Patricia A. Pingry
"This little book, in only about 200 words, tells the story of the trip to Bethlehem, the birth of Christ, and the angels' announcement to the shepherds of the birth of the Savior."



Songs and Rhymes:



Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin
Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace


Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born


Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the heaven
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay


The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,'Til morning is nigh.


Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there




Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Paper Angel

Read one of the Nativity Books and then make an angel art project. You'll need white paper, yellow paper, a paper doilie and a yellow pipe cleaner. (If you don't have the doilie or pipe cleaner, just substitute it with colored paper or whatever else you might have that might give a similar look). Cut out a small circle from the white paper, a large triangle from the yellow paper, and cut the paper doilie in half.

Have your child glue all their pieces on colored paper.

Let them decorate their angel with glitter glue, sequins, etc.. and draw on a face.

Idea #2: Mini Manger

Read one of the book titles and then help your child make their own mini manger and baby Jesus. You will need an empty juice box(any small size box will do), some brown paper, glue, some toilet paper, some spanish moss or raffia for the hay (If you don't have either of these on hand, use more toilet paper or whatever. It might even be fun to ask your child what you could use around the house for the hay and see what they come up with), and some sort of round head for the baby(I used a wooden dowel end because I had it on hand. Find something around your house--A bottle cap, a round walnut, a large button, or even a thick cardboard circle cut from an old cereal box).

First you will need to trace all the sides of the juice box, so you have enough cutouts to cover the inside and outside of your box. Cut out one of the large sides of your juice box. Rinse it out and dry with a paper towel.

Cut out all your brown side pieces (If your child is 3 and up, let them help cut and practice their fine motor skills). Then let your child glue all the brown pieces on the inside and outside of the box. (You definitely don't need as much glue as my daughter used in the photo!)

Then glue in some "hay". I let the girls choose either spanish moss or raffia. Again, use whatever you have on hand and ask your child to help brainstorm what you could use.

Then, roll up some toilet paper into a little bundle and glue the head on the top, pushing it down inside the bundle a little. I used a wooden dowel because I had it on hand. Again, use what you can find around the house for the head--A bottle cap, a walnut, a large button, a circle cut out from a cardboard cereal box etc...

Add a face and lie your baby Jesus in the manger. My 2 year old was kissing her baby and singing to it by the time it was completed.

Idea #3: Craft Stick Star

Read one of the book titles and then make a star like the one at Bethlehem. You'll need six craft sticks, yellow paint, and some glitter and sparkles to make your star shine.

Glue the star together in advance and let dry. (I painted the back of the sticks too, but you don't have to).

Give your child the star and let them paint it yellow.

Decorate it with sequins or glitter and then let it all dry. (We put glue right on top of the wet paint).

When it's all dry you can put a string through it and hang it.

Christmas Presents/Gifts/Giving

Book Ideas:

Emily’s Christmas Gifts by Cindy Senning
Emily loves everything about Christmas, especially giving gifts. Her favorite kinds aren't those that can be wrapped up and put under the tree, but are the true treasures of kindness and consideration.



Little Rabbit’s Christmas by Harry Horse
When the Christmas Rabbit brings the red sled he's longed for (the one that goes "Whoosh!"), the small animal refuses to let anyone else play with it. Instead he pulls it far up a hill, much too far, so that when he whooshes down again he crashes and the sled breaks. It takes his friends to fix both the sled and his attitude, and everything ends happily.



The twelve Days of Christmas presents by Harriet Ziefert
A clever children’s variation on a favorite song. Instead of the old-fashioned partridges, maids-a-milking, and lords-a-leaping, youngsters will find colorful hula hoops, wind-up toys, furry bears, trains-a-tooting, and jelly babies.

The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

A gifted quiltmaker never sells her wares, but gives them away to the poor. When a greedy king demands a quilt, she agrees to make a quilt, only if he gives away all that he has. The king finally learns the joy of giving and what happiness really feels like.

The Christmas Box by Anee Stewart Wetzel
When Father is stationed with the military in Japan, he sends his family an intriguing wooden box at Christmastime.

Rhymes and Songs:

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.)

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the third day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves,

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming,

Six Geese-a-Laying, five golden rings, Four Calling Birds,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings,

Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves,

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Eleven Pipers Piping, Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing,

Eight Maids-a-Milking, Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying,

Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens,

Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me,

Twelve Drummers Drumming, Eleven Pipers Piping,

Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Nine Ladies Dancing, Eight Maids-a-Milking,

Seven Swans-a-Swimming, Six Geese-a-Laying, Five Golden Rings, Four Calling Birds,

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves, And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

12 days of Christmas Hawaiian Style (I grew up with this version:) )

Numbah One day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

One mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Two day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Two coconut, an' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Tree day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Foah day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Five day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink)...

foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Seex day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg (oink, oink), Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Seven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg (oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Eight day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut, An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Nine day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Nine pounds of poi, eight ukuleles, seven shrimp a-swimmin',Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Ten day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Ten cans of soda, nine pounds of poi, eight ukuklele, seven shrimp a-swimmin'

Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Eleven day of Christmas, my tutu give to me

Eleven missionary, ten cans of soda, nine pounds of poi, Eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin', seex hula lesson, Five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink), foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree.

Numbah Twelve day of Christmas, my tutu give to meTwelve TELEVISION, eleven missionary, ten cans of soda, Nine pounds of poi, eight ukulele, seven shrimp a-swimmin',Seex hula lesson, five beeg fat peeg(oink, oink),Foah flowah lei, tree dry squid, two coconut,

An' one mynah bird in one papaya tree!

Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Secret Santa Gift

Read one of the stories and then put together a plate of treats and deliver it secretly, without the person or family knowing who left it. Here is an easy treat that we love to make every year at our house. You'll need Pretzel Rods and Wiltons white candy melts (you can get them at Walmart or at Michael's craft store) and some holiday sprinkles or crushed candy cane.

All you do is melt the candy melts in the microwave, and then dip the pretzels (I sort of tilt my bowl to the side and roll the pretzels in the white chocolate. Then you set it on some wax paper or tinfoil and let the kids sprinkle on the toppings. Let them sit to harden before you bag them.

Idea #2: Explore with wrapping materials

Let your child wrap something- either an empty box or a real present that they got to pick out for someone at the dollar store. Let them explore using the tape and scissors and bows etc... Believe me your kids will love to do this all by themselves! My two-year old needed a little help getting started, but a child 3 and up will get into this.

Idea #3: Make homemade wrapping paper

Read one of the stories and then make your own wrapping paper using a paper grocery bag, some paint, and some Christmas cookie cutters.

Cut and open the paper bag so that you can lay it flat on the blank side. Then let your child have fun dipping the cookie cutters into the paint and stamping them onto the paper bag.

Let them have fun doing it however they want. My two-year old started rubbing the cookie cutters from side to side on the paper. She loved doing this all by her self. Let it dry and then use it to wrap one of their presents in it.

Idea #4: Make a coupon book

Read one of the books and then discuss that the best gifts don't have to be bought in a store. Brainstorm together ideas of things your child could help do for someone and make a coupon book of service activities your child could do for that person.

Santa and Reindeer

Book Ideas:Santa’s Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene
"When Santa becomes stuck in the chimney of a house on Christmas Eve, the dog, the cat, the reindeer, and a mouse try to free him."


What could be keeping santa? By Marilyn Janovitz
"When Santa fails to appear even though his sleigh is packed and the reindeer stand waiting, he has a very good reason for not being ready."




Choose your favorite version of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clark Moore




Songs and Rhymes:




Santa's coming
Sung to: "Frere Jacques"

Santa’s Coming,
Santa’s Coming,
Sleigh bells ring,
Sleigh bells ring,
It is Christmas eve,
It is Christmas eve,
Ding-Dong, Ding
Ding-Dong, Ding


I'm a Little Santa
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little Santa short and fat,
Here is my beard and here is my sack,
On Christmas Eve I hop in my sleigh,
With a "Ho ho ho" I'm on my way.




~ Santa ~

When Santa comes down the chimney, (downward motion with hands)
I should like to peek. (peek through fingers)
But he'll never come, (shake head)
Until I'm fast asleep. (palms together beside head)


Christmas

We are the elves. We work all day.
To make the toys so children can play. (Elves pounding toys)
We are the reindeer, around we go
Prancing, prancing through the snow. (use hands on head for antlers)
Here is Santa, delivering the toys,
He has something for good girls and boys. (put hands in front making a big belly and then pretend to pass out toys)



Santa Claus is Coming to Town
You'd better watch out!
You'd better not cry!
You'd better not pout! I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
He's making a list and checking it twice.
He's going to find out who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town.
He sees when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh, You'd better watch out!
You'd better not cry!
You'd better not pout! I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.


Up on a Roof Top

Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys

Chorus:
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go!
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn't go!
Up on the housetop, click, click, click
Down through the chimney with old Saint Nick


Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer
You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer(reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose(like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw it(saw it)
You would even say it glows(like a light bulb)
All of the other reindeer(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names(like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph(Rudolph)
Play in any reindeer games(like Monopoly)
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say(Ho Ho Ho)
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him(loved him)
And they shouted out with glee(yippee)
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer(reindeer)
You'll go down in history!"(like Columbus)


Activity Ideas:

Idea #1: Letter to Santa






Read one of the book titles and then have your child write a letter to Santa. We decorated the paper with stickers and then I had them draw a picture of what they wanted towards the bottom of the page. Depending on their abilities you can write the words for them or let them sound out the letters and write the words. I'm not sure if every Macy's department store is doing this, but our local store has a mailbox in their store to mail letters to Santa.

Idea #2: Cotton ball Santa

Read one of the books and then make a Santa with a cotton ball beard. You will need to print off a large Santa face (I had mine already printed and saved in my teaching files so the link is not the exact same clip art as the one seen in the photos). You will need to copy and paste it into a word document to make it as big as you can fit it on the page.

Let your child color the hat and face first with crayons.

Then squirt a blob of glue on the beard and let your child spread it around using a q-tip, until the whole beard and mustache are covered with glue. Then give them a pile of cotton balls and let them cover the entire beard.

Idea #3: Reindeer Treats

Read one of the stories and then work together to make some yummy reindeer cookies.

Here is the link to instructions for version #1. Here is the link to instructions for version #2.

(I think it would be a lot cuter to put a red nose instead of a green nose. I've even seen a version where they broke the pretzels to make the antlers more branch/twig-like).

Idea #4: Reindeer Prints

Read one of the stories and then make a reindeer using your child's foot and hand prints.

You will need colored paper, glue, scissors, a crayon, googly eyes, and a pom-pom nose (a button or paper could be used too)


Trace your child's hand prints on one piece of colored paper. Then trace one foot on a darker brown paper. If your child is 3 or older, let them practice their fine motor skills and help cut out the hand prints or footprint.

Then, let them glue down the paper prints, eyes, and nose. Guide them, but let them glue it down how they want.

Idea #5: Christmas stocking math/science game

Read one of the stories and then explore the concept of volume and size, using 3 different size stockings. (If you don't have various sizes of stockings on hand and don't want to buy some, just do the second option, listed below)



Option 1:

Gather a bunch of items of various sizes and lengths and have your child explore which of the stockings the items would best fit. Have them make a prediction and then see if they are right by trying to fit the item in the stocking. Obviously some of the smaller items will fit in any of the three stockings so make sure to emphasize which stocking would be best or most suitable for something that size.

Option 2:

For this version you can use just one stocking or all three. You will also need a large amount of some item, like blocks or Legos, that are all the same size. Have your child guess how many blocks (or whatever items you are using) will fit in the various size stockings.

This picture is sort of hard to see, but I had my 5 year old draw the 3 different sizes stockings and divide them with lines. Then she wrote her prediction of how many blocks she thought would fit, in pink, and then the actual amount that fit in brown. Recording and organizing information is an important skill for children to develop. Predicting and recording data is not an age-appropriate activity for my 2 year old. For younger children, let them just play with filling the stockings with items. This exploration will help them gain a sense of volume and size of objects. (My two year old had a blast filling up the stockings with blocks, over and over).