December

THEME: CELEBRATIONS WITH LIGHT COLOR: GOLD AND SILVER

SHAPE: STAR


OBJECTIVE:
1. To experience on them own level some of the various family
traditions that are celebrated
this month.
2. To learn about lights - all kinds - and the importance of light
in their world.
3. Age appropriate experiences with the anticipation and
satisfaction of giving and sharing
with others.

Blocks:
Building light houses for boats.
Building gingerbread house.

Art: (Creative Experiences)
Wreaths from materials found around here on nature walks.
Wish books for their loved ones (What I would give them if I could).
Homemade wrapping paper (ink stamps and ink or paint).
Homemade holiday cards / tree ornaments for the tree IN THE LOBBY.
Bird feeders.
Gift wrapping center - tape, paper, cards, and misc. objects to wrap
(blocks, cars, small people, etc.).
Holiday homemade puzzles - greeting cards glued to heavy cardboard
chosen and cut by children.
Picture ornament presents / lacing ornaments.
Working with wax (to learn about candles).
Drawing with lights (either in The dark or following the moves the
flashlights make with paint
or crayons).
Menorahs / Lucia Crowns.

Science:
Melting candles or wax - can be shaped, formed, remelted, and
reformed.
Different kinds of light - intensity.
Different kinds of trees used for Christmas trees.
Learning about the pupil of their eye - which contracts when exposed
to light.
Star shape can be made from triangles.
The shortness of daylight now (the shortest day is December 21).
Can any stars be seen near opening or closing times at the Center.

Where the leaves have gone - where the animal have gone.
Gift wrapped guessing (guessing well known items that are wrapped).
Diwali floating lamps - float UNLIT candles in egg carton cups.
REMEMBER: One cooking activity of some sort once per week.
Cooking or preparing children's traditional holiday
foods.

Literary:
Making your own family tradition books.
Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Kwanzaa stories.
Sticker stories - put the same sticker character on a few different
scenes (old cards, calendars,
etc). Ask the child what is
happening to that character in each picture.
Bring in the comic or pictorial sections of the newspaper to "read".

Dramatic Play:
Setting up the house for the holidays.
Role playing the giving and getting of presents (being the secret
Santa).
Living in a house without light.
Going holiday shopping.
Going to Grandma's or relatives for the holidays.
Santa's workshop - Making and repairing toys.
Role play the "Sit in Santa's Lap for Pictures" experience.

Music:
Non religious Christmas songs / Kwanzaa Time / Hanukkah Traditional
Music.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star / 1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Candles.
Nutcracker Suite / Babes in Toyland.
Dancing Stars.
Dancing with flashlights.

Outdoor Activities: Indoor
Alternatives:
Running Reindeer.
Musical Chairs with hand held Jingle Bells.
Freeze Tag.
"Rocking around the Christmas Tree" dancing.
Early or late outdoors with flashlights . "Flashlight
Follow the Leader.
Collecting wreath materials. Rag Doll
Exercises.
Walks to see the holiday lights in the area. Babes in
Toyland Marching.
Trip to III Corps Santa's Shop.

Holidays:
Festival of Lights (India) - late October or early November
Christmas Day - 25 December
St. Lucia Day - 13 December New Year's Eve -
31 December
Hanukkah - mid December Kwanzaa