We seem to be flying through December! Perhaps it's not only because December has just a few weeks of school, but perhaps also because the classroom has become well-established. Routines are almost effortless, and children are meeting the high expectations we have of each child at his or her level. Besides that, they love the new activities.
We’re introducing some seasonal activities for cultural awareness. We have Christmas objects to name, sort, match and explore, and Hanukkah is represented by a menorah and a dreidel. If you have anything related to another seasonal holiday that you think would be great for the class to learn about, please let me know! We want to represent many cultures so the children can learn about them all.
On the display shelf is a red plush cardinal to hold, and a picture of cardinals in the snow helps set a festive atmosphere. We paint and stamp pine trees and reindeer. An old advent calendar (cut into cards) creates a seasonal surprise as children open the little doors to see a picture underneath.
This month, number four is in the drop box.
New activities
We have a mystery bag with small objects related to the season: a wreath, a sleigh, reindeer, a tiny pine tree, a small nutcracker, etc. The mystery bag allows the child to feel an object before actually seeing it.
Feeling an object before seeing it helps us to develop the stereognostic sense. The presentation creates eager anticipation: “What’s coming out of the bag next?”
We model how we feel about what we are holding. When the children have a turn, we encourage them to feel each item before taking it out, and to make a guess about what it might be. But guessing before looking requires more impulse control than most 2-year-olds can muster.
We also started baby washing, and, even though it’s not so easy to dress and undress this baby doll, the baby has been getting multiple baths a day.
Songs
Some of the songs we sing this month:
Skip one window tideo.
Skip two windows tideo.
Skip three windows tideo.
Jingle at the window tideo.
Jingling, jingling, jingling Joe.
Jingle at the window tideo.
Jingling, jingling, jingling Joe.
Jingle at the window tideo.
Uno, dos, tres, CHO.
Uno, dos, tres, CO.
Uno, dos, tres, LA.
Uno, dos, tres, TE.
Cho-Co-La-Te, Cho-Co-La-Te, Cho-Co-La-Te,
Bate, Bate, EL CHOCOLATE.
Five little bells were hanging in a row,
The first one said, “Ring me slow.”
The second one said, “Ring me fast.”
The third one said, “Ring me last.”
The fourth one said, “I’m like a chime.”
The fifth one said, “Ring me at holiday time.”
Ring, ring, ring the bells.
Ring them loud and clear.
To tell the children everywhere,
The holidays are here!
Bells are ringing, listen to them ring, ring, (3x)
All through the day!
Bells are dinging, listen to them ding, ding, (3x)
All through the day!
Bells are jingling, listen to them jingle, (3x)
All through the day!
Bells are quiet, listen to the silence, (3x)
All through the night!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Three little Santas I once knew, fat ones, skinny ones, tall ones too, but the one little Santa with
the little red nose,
He leads the others with a HO, HO, HO!
HO, HO, HO! HO, HO, HO!
He leads the others with a HO, HO, HO!
Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
I made it out of clay, and when it’s dry and ready, a dreidel I will play!
The oil, it lasted eight days long.
Let us celebrate in song.
The oil it lasted eight days long.
Let us celebrate in song.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (3x)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Five little gingerbread laying on a tray,
One jumped up and ran away.
“Catch me, catch me, if you can. I run so fast, I’m the gingerbread man!”
Four little gingerbread laying on a tray…
Holiday Party
On Thursday, Dec. 19, we’ll have our holiday party from 8:45-9:30 a.m. Every class will have a party, and, since parking is limited, the party times are staggered. Each child needs to have an adult present.
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