Holidays around the world
CHANUKAH
BOOKS:
Chanukah Bugs by David Adler
Eight Chanukah Lights by Annie Auerbach
My First Chanukah by Tomie dePaola
Oh, Chanukah! By L.J. Goodman
Who'll Light the Chanukah Candles? by Dandi Daley Mackall
Chanukah Lights by Judith Moffat
Eight Nights of Chanukah Lights by Dian Curtis Regan
Eight Candles to Light by Jonathan Zucker
MATH:
1. Estimation- Estimate how many candles or dreidels are in a jar.
2. Patterning- Create a color pattern using dreidels or candles.
3. Number Sequencing- Place candles that have numbers written on them on menorah in sequential order.
4. Number Recognition- Students identify numbers written on dreidel patterns.
SCIENCE:
1. Make latkes
2. Shamash Pretzel- Tell children that the shamash candle,the helper candle, is the tallest candle located in the middle of the menorah and is used to light the other candles each night. Have children dip pretzel rod in melted white chocolate to represent the shamash candle. Dip the tip in yellow sprinkles to represent its flame. Allow to harden.
ART:
1. Menorah- Color and cut out menorah pattern. Glue on construction paper candles. Paint yellow flames and add glitter. Attach poem to menorah:
See the Chanukah lights,
One bright for each night,
Glowing for the world to see-
Happy Chanukah to you and me!
2. Marble paint a dreidel pattern.
3. Spinning dreidel buddy- Add facial features and accordian folded paper limbs to dreidel pattern.
4. Crayon shaving dreidel- Cut 2 squares of wax paper. Place one piece down and sprinkle crayon shavings over it. Place 2nd piece over it. Place towel over wax paper and iron on low setting. Draw dreidel pattern on it using a permanent marker and cut out.
LAS POSADAS
BOOKS:
9 Days to Christmas
by Marie Hall Ets & Aurora Labastida
Pancho's Pinata by Stefan Czernecki
MATH:
1. Pinata Work Mats- Create pinata patterns with numbers written on them and laminate. Have children place candy on each pinata according to the number written on it.
2. Pinata Patterns- Cut out and laminate a pinata pattern. Have small groups of children take turns creating color or shape pattern on it using pattern blocks.
3. Number Sequencing- Make maraca patterns with numbers written on each and laminate. Have children put maracas in numeric order.
SCIENCE-
1. Taste nachos and cheese.
2. Sound Mystery Game- Have children guess the sound they hear (maraca).
ART:
1. Pinata- Make pinata by covering a balloon with paper mache or decorating a paper shopping bag with tissue paper. Fill with candy and treats and attach to ceiling.
2. Popsicle stick pinata star wand- Color and decorate with markers, sequins, and tissue paper.
3. Paper Plate Maracas- Decorate paper plate with markers. Fold plate in half, fill with uncooked beans, and staple shut.
CHRISTMAS
BOOKS:
The Night Before Christmas by Jan Brett
Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
The Twelve Bugs of Christmas by David Carter
The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie de Paola
The Legend of the Poinsetta by Tomie de Paolo
Little Miss Spider: A Christmas Wish
by David Kirk
MATH:
1. Christmas Tree Work Mats- Write numbers on Christmas trees. Children place the correct number of mini ornaments or mini gift bows ( I purchased mine from Dollar Stores) on each tree. Presents can be used instead of trees as shown below:
2. Patterning- Make a color pattern using ornaments or die cut bells.
3. Estimation- Estimate how many candy canes are in a jar.
SCIENCE-
1. Peppermint Taste Test- After tasting peppermint, graph who likes and who doesn't like its taste.
2. Use sense of touch to guess what is in Santa's sack (candy cane).
ART:
1. Handprint and Footprint Reindeer- Use handprints for antlers and footprint for head. Add wiggly eyes and red pom pom nose.
2. Hershey Kisses Wreath- Paint paper plate green and glue on silver, green, and red foil wrapped Hershey Kisses.
3. Pine Cone Christmas Tree- Paint pinecone green. Add glitter while still wet. Anchor in Dixie Cup filled with cottonball "snow". (I hot glue mine in for stability.)
4. Popsicle Stick Reindeer Ornament- Glue 3 popsicle sticks into triangular shape, making sure to leave 2 ends up for antlers. Glue on wiggle eyes and red pom pom nose.
8.. Pipe Cleaner Candy Cane Ornament- Slide red and white tri-beads on white pipecleaner. Bend pipecleaner to make candy cane shape. Attach yarn to hang.
9.. Candy Cane Mouse- Students cut out oval shape from green construction paper. Glue on red construction paper ears, red pom pom nose, and wiggly eyes. Teacher cuts 2 horizontal slits below mouse's ears and slides a candy cane through the slits. The candy cane becomes the mouse's tail and the hanger to hang the mouse from a Christmas tree. Write students' names and date on other side of mouse. I have made these to give to students for holiday gifts.
13. Popsicle Stick Snowflake Ornament- Paint 3 popsicle sticks white on both sides and sprinkle silver glitter on while still wet. When dry, teacher overlaps popsicle sticks to form a snowflake and hot glues them. Children glue a sequin or foam snowflake to each popsicle stick's end. Hot glue yarn to top to make a hanger.
14. Candy Cane- Paint red stripes on to candy cane pattern. Glue on green bow.
15. Handprint Snowman Ornament- The tag reads:
These aren't just five snowmen
As anyone can see.
I made them with my hand
Which is a part of me.
Now each year when you trim the tree
You'll look back and recall
Christmas of (year)
When my hand was this small.
16. Gingerbread Kid ornament- Glue photo of child's head on to gingerbread kid, write name and year, and laminate. Children decorate with buttons and foam shapes.
KWANZAA
BOOKS:
My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah Chocolate
Seven Days of Kwanzaa by Ellen Grier
It’s Kwanzaa Time! By Linda Gross
My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
Seven Days of Kwanzaa by Angela Shelf Medearis
A Kwanzaa Celebration Pop-Up Book by Nancy Williams
MATH:
1. Put kinara (candle holder) candles in numeric order.
2. Place the correct number of muhindi (corn patterns) on each mkeke (placemat) according to the number written on it.
Science:
1. Make banana bread.
2. Make bendera crackers- Spread red, green, and black frosting on graham crackers.
ART:
1. Make kinara using paper patterns for candles and yellow tissue paper for flames.
2. Weave mkelas (placemats).
3. Make zawadis (bead necklaces).
4. Make a kikombe cha umoja (unity cup)- Purchase plastic party cup. Children paint cups using red, green, and black acrylic paint and sponges cut into small squares. Dab with gold glitter glue. When dry, I add candy and attach the following tag to the cup:
One Kwanzaa symbol is the kikombe cha umoja, a unity cup.
Families drink from it to demonstrate their family unity.
DIWALI
BOOKS:
Diwali by Christina Mia Gardeski
Here Comes Diwali by Meenal Pandya
Lighting a Lamp by Johnny Zucker
ART:
1. Diya (lamp)- Form a diya using modeling clay. Press rhinestones into diya before clay hardens. When dry, paint with glitter glue and glue on flame.
Pin the Flame on the Diya Game
