HOLIDAY COOKING FUN

Let's get cooking with some of these recipes! Even if you can't cook in your classroom, I bet parents would appreciate these ideas. How about your children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews???

Snowman Soup
You’ll need instant hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows, zip sandwich bags, wrapped candy canes, and red ribbon to make this treat. Put the package of the instant hot chocolate in the zip bag. Tie on a candy cane with these directions:

Here’s a little snowman soup –

Complete with stirring stick. 

Add hot water, sip it slow.

It’ll warm you up real quick!”

Hint! This would be a great gift for school helpers and volunteers.


Wreath Sandwich
You will need bagels, cream cheese, green food coloring, and fruit loops to make this snack. First, dye the cream cheese green. Spread it on the bagel and add red fruit loops for berries.




Menorah Snack
Children will need a small banana, pretzel sticks, and a piece of red licorice to make this menorah. Peel the banana and insert a piece of red licorice in the middle. Insert 4 pretzel sticks (candles) on either side.

Reindeer Sandwich
You will need bread, peanut butter, pretzel twists, raisins, and a red M & M to make this yummy sandwich. Cut the bread into two triangles. Spread peanut butter on the bread and then decorate with raisin eyes and a red candy nose. Break pretzels in half and add for antlers.



Note! If children have peanut allergies spread with cream cheese or another topping.


Reindeer Oats

Put a few tablespoons of butter in a flying pan. Add a few cups of Cheerios and stir over low heat. Sprinkle with salt.

*You can also sprinkle on cinnamon sugar for a sweet snack.

TIS THE SEASON

Someone once told me that ringing bells make you happy. Sounds good to me! I'm tying bells on my shoes and I'm ready to "jingle all the way."

Note! I cut pipe cleaners into 4" pieces and attached my bells to my shoes that way.

Bell Bracelets
Let children thread several jingle bells on a pipe cleaner. Twist the ends together to make a bracelet children can shake as you sing.


Jingle Bell Painting
You will need an empty cheese ball container or similar cylinder shape with a lid. Cut a piece of paper so you can roll it and put it in the cylinder. Take two jingle bells. Drop one in red paint and the other in green paint. Use a spoon to transfer the bells to the can. Put on the lid, then shake up the can as you sing “Jingle Bells.” Take out the paper and you’ll have a jingle bell painting!

Paper Candy Canes
This is a craft idea that you can use to decorate your classroom. Take a square sheet of paper (8 1/2" x 8 1/2" works well) and color around the edges with a red marker or crayon. (Demonstrate how to cut a square by folding up the bottom edge to the side to make a triangle. Cut off the top and you'll always have a square.) Put a pencil at a bottom point and roll up as shown. Tape the end, remove the pencil, and use as a pointer or decoration.






*Use the candy cane as a prompt for descriptive writing. Children could also brainstorm creative ways to use candy canes or write original stories about how candy canes were invented.




Candy Cane Book
Fold 3 sheets of paper in half. Punch holes about 2" from the top as shown. Take a rubber band and insert it through one hole and slide one end of the candy cane through the loop. Insert the rubber band in the other hole and slide the other end of the candy cane through that loop.

*Make a similar book with a holiday pencil.

GOING ON A SANTA HUNT

I had a great time making this video a few years ago. I hope it makes your children smile and is a positive outlet for all their energy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXheMF7XAzs

Thanks to Sara Lensing for adapting these words from “The Cool Bear Hunt.” 

Santa Hunt
Get out your backpacks.
Open ‘em up.
Let’s put in some cookies for Santa and his reindeer.
And, let’s put in a thermos of milk in case he gets thirsty.
Oh. and don’t forget your Christmas lights in case it gets dark.
Zip ‘em up and repeat after me.
(Children repeat each line.)
We’re gonna find Santa (March and slap thighs.)
Before Christmas day.
He has a big, round belly (Extend arms.)
And a long, white beard. (Pull down from chin.)
Look over there! (Point.)
It’s a Candy Cane Forest!
Can’t go over it. (Arms over head.)
Can’t go under. (Arms down low.)
Can’t go around it. (Circle arms.)
I guess we’ll go through it. (Open palms and shrug shoulders.)
Slurp, slurp, slurp! (Pretend to suck on candy cane.)

We’re gonna find Santa
Before Christmas day.
He has a big, round belly
And a long, white beard.
Look over there!
It’s a hot chocolate river.
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under.
Can’t go around it.
I guess we’ll swim across it. (Stroke arms as if swimming.)

We’re gonna find Santa
Before Christmas day.
He has a big, round belly
And a long, white beard.
Look over there!
It’s a gingerbread house!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under.
Can’t go around it.
I guess we’ll go through it.
Yum, yum, yum! (Pretend to eat gingerbread.)

We’re gonna find Santa
Before Christmas day.
He has a big, round belly
And a long, white beard.
Look over there!
It’s Santa’s workshop.
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under.
Can’t go around it.
I guess we’ll go through it.
Shhh! (Finger over lips.)
Get out your Christmas lights. (Pretend to get out lights.)
Turn them on – click.
Let’s set out the cookies and milk.
I see a big, round belly.
And a long, white beard!
It’s Santa!
He-he-he! We can’t let him see us!
Tip toe! (Tiptoe.)
Quick! Go through the gingerbread house! Yum, yum, yum,!
Swim across the hot chocolate river!
Go through the Candy Cane Forest! Slurp, slurp, slurp!
Go home.
Open the door.
Shut the door.
Phew!
We found Santa.

Merry Christmas to all!

Note! Each year I bought some inexpensive canvas and let my grandchildren paint a holiday picture. We dated these and they are my favorite decorations. Some day when they get married I will pass the "gallery" on to them.

Guacamole Christmas
I don’t know why, but many teenagers are obsessed with my “Banana Dance” video. I think they are making fun of an old lady singing about fruits and vegetables, but I also think I might make them smile. Depression and anxiety are high in many areas of our society right now, so maybe we all need a little "Guacamole Christmas"!


http://bit.ly/drjeanGuacamoleChristmas

Form the avocado ...
Peel the avocado ...
Guacamole Christmas

Form the tree
Trim the tree
Lights to see pretty lights to see

Form the cookies
Bake the cookies
Eat the cookies

Form the snowball
Roll the snowball
Build the snowman

Form the house
Decorate the house
Rock the house

Form the stocking
Hang the stocking
See the goodies – candy and toy goodies

Have a happy Christmas, happy happy Christmas
Feel the love
Share the love

LITTLE MISS MUFFET

Here's a new video for your nursery rhyme collection.

https://bit.ly/drJMuffet

MERRY MATH

A package of pompoms, bows, erasers, or other small items from a dollar store and you're set for "merry math."

Materials: pompoms or other small objects

Sorting
Ask children to sort the pompoms. What was their sorting rule? Can they sort them another way?

Patterns
Use the pompoms for making patterns.




Estimating
Have children estimate the number of each type and then verify by counting.

Math Mat
Children place the correct amount on the trees.



Match Dot Cards
Pompoms are a perfect one-to-one activity for younger children.

Touch and Tell
Materials: foam numbers
Place numbers in a bag. Children reach in, feel a number and try to identify what it is. They can take it out to confirm and then write the number.


Number Hunt
Put numbers in a box of Styrofoam packing or sand. Children search through the Styrofoam packing and color off the numbers as they find them.

Stampers
Materials: stamp set
Stamp a pattern, stamp out math facts, or stamp a set.

JOLLY HOLLY WRITING

Today you'll find some books to "entice" children to write. I know some schools don’t allow “holidays,” so I tried to focus on a “winter” theme as much as possible. I mean, who can object to winter????

WINTER WRITING
Napkin Books

Materials: holiday napkins, paper, stapler

Cut paper the size of the napkin. Insert 4-6 sheets of paper in the napkin and staple at the top as shown. Place these in the writing center for creative writing.

Note! The front of the napkin could also be used as a story prompt.


Sticker Story

Materials: holiday stickers, paper, pencils, pens

Let children choose a sticker and put it in the middle of a sheet of paper. Challenge them to write a poem or story or draw a picture around the sticker.


Giving Book

Materials: paper, rubber band, seasonal pencil, advertisements and catalogs, scissors, glue

Fold 3 sheets of paper in half. Punch 2 holes about 2 ½” down on the crease side as shown. Insert a rubber band in one hole and slide one end of the pencil through the loop. Slide the other end of the pencil through the other loop. Let children draw or cut out pictures of items they would like to GIVE to family members and friends.


Holiday Card Center



Materials: paper, pencil, envelopes, markers, crayons, stickers, scrap paper, etc.

Place the writing materials in a tub. Make a seasonal picture dictionary similar to the one shown. Add a class directory with students’ names and photos. Teach children how to fold a sheet of paper into fourths to make a basic card. Invite them to make holiday cards for family members and friends.

Note! You could also ask them to make cards for school helpers and volunteers.


Letters to Santa

Some of you may not be able to do this, but an open center where children could write letters to Santa might get them excited about writing.

Note! There are several free templates for these letters on the internet.

CUT, STRING, SEW, SNIP

Keep those little hands busy with these materials. They'd be great for a center, take home activity, morning tubs, etc.

Note! I picked up most of these supplies at the dollar store.

Cookie Cutters
Materials: cookie cutters, pencils, scrap paper, scissors

Children trace around the cookie cutters on scrap paper and then cut out with the scissors.




Children can hole punch and then use the shapes to make ornaments or a necklace.

Paper Plate Sewing Cards
Materials: holiday plates, hole punch, yarn



Punch holes around the outside of the plates. Let children “sew” yarn through the holes.

*You can also make sewing cards out of old greeting cards.


Play Dough Writing

Let children make a pancake with the play dough and then write with a golf tee. This will strengthen those little fingers as they practice writing letters, numbers, shapes, words, etc.

Bells
String bells on pipe cleaners and string to make jewelry.



Gifts for the Birds
Materials: pipe cleaners, cereal with holes

Let children string cereal on pipe cleaners. Twist the ends to make a circle and hang outside for the birds.

Cut It Out
Materials: catalogs and advertisements

Put catalogs, coupons, advertisements, etc. in a center with scissors, glue, and paper.
Children can cut out objects they would like to “get or give” and glue them on a paper.

SEASONAL STANDARDS

Don't let standards be the Grinch and steal away your fun this month. Take a look at some of these ideas I’ve got for you!

Sight Words
Each day let children write a high frequency word on a strip of paper and glue the ends to make a link in a chain. They can practice reading over previous words each day as they add a new word and link.

Snowman Math
Give children the outline of a snowman similar to the one shown. They can take buttons or other manipulatives and place sets in the top two sections. Join them together in the bottom circle to make the sum. Ask students to write the equation.


*Give children a certain number of buttons. How many different combinations can the make on the snowman to come up with the same sum?


Descriptive Writing
Fold 2 sheets of paper in half and staple to make a book for each child. Children think of a title for their books and add their name as author and illustrator. Have them write and complete the following statements on each page:
(My holiday) smells like…
(My holiday) looks like…
(My holiday) sounds like…
(My holiday) feels like…
(My holiday) tastes like…

*For younger children run off the sentences and let them dictate sentences.

Preposition Elf
Hide an elf or similar seasonal toy in a different place in the room every day. Encourage children to use complete sentences as they describe where the elf is.

*Let children take turns hiding the toy and calling on friends to describe its location.


Read, Read, Fast as You Can! You Can Do It! We Know You Can!
I saw this delightful bulletin board many years ago. What an engaging way to get children to read sight words and entertain them while waiting in the hall.

HO HO HO HOLIDAY JOKES

Here are some holiday jokes to make you smile. Write one on the board each day to use for choral reading, double meanings of words, and phonological awareness. 

Hint! Each day write one of these riddles/questions on a piece of paper and tape it on your door. Discuss the answer at morning meeting.


Who delivers presents to dogs?
Santa paws!

Who delivers presents to cats?
Santa claws!

Why did the elf go to school? To learn his ELFabet!



What’s red and white and goes up and down?
Santa Clause in an elevator.

Why do rappers like Christmas so much?
Because of all the wrapping!

What did the ghost say to Santa?
I’ll have a boo Christmas without you.

What did the reindeer say when he saw an elf?
Nothing. Reindeer can’t talk.

How do you scare a snowman?
You get a hair dryer.

What do snowmen eat for Christmas?
Frosted Flakes.

What goes, “Oh, oh, oh!”
Santa Claus walking backwards.

What do you call the wrapping paper leftover from opening presents?
A christ-MESS.

What Christmas carol is a favorite of parents?
Silent Night.

Why is it so cold at Christmas?
Because it’s Decembrrrrrr!

What is in December that isn’t in any other month?
The letter “D”!

What do the cows say on Christmas morning?
Mooooey Christmas!

What kind of money do elves use?
Jingle bills!

What does Santa do in his garden?
He hoe, hoe, hoes!

Knock, knock!Who’s there?
Holly.
Holly who?
Holly – days are here again!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Dexter.
Dexter who?
Dexter halls with boughs of holly.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Mary.
Mary who?
Mary Christmas to you!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Avery.
Avery who?
Avery merry Christmas to you!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Wayne.
Wayne who?
Wayne in the manger…

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Oakham.
Oakham who?
Oakham all ye faithful…


Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Rabbit.
Rabbit who?
Rabbit up carefully – it’s a present.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Donut.
Donut who?
Donut open until Christmas.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive the other reindeer.