Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Gifts

December 3, 2013

Gifts!

Our first of two storytimes devoted to the Christmas-time spirit!

Books:


Clifford's First Christmas by Norman Bridwell

Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O'Connor

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

We only did three books today because we has two felt boards ready to go! Llama Llama books are always a success - the lyrical flow makes for easy reading and listening.

Songs:

Opening Song: Where is Thumbkin? - Kimbo

Song 2: Skinny-Marinky-Dinky-Dink - 100 Singalong Songs for Kids

Song 3 (Theme Song Pick): Jack-In-The-Box - WeeSing and Pretend

Song 4: (Theme Song Pick): Tapping - Wee Sing for Christmas

Song 5: (Theme Song Pick): Reindeer Tapping - Wee Sing for Christmas

Song 6: (Theme Song Pick): Jingle Bells - Kimbo

Song 7: Dance Your Fingers / Clap Along With Me - Wee Sing for Baby

Song 8: Wheels on the Bus - 100 Singalong Songs for Kids

Tapping is actually a very cute song that we found on our Wee Sing for Christmas CD - you'd never know it from the very nondescript title!

Tapping
(To the Tune of Twinkle Twinkle)

Tapping, tapping, little elf,
As you work upon your shelf,
Working hard to make the toys,
All for little girls and boys.
Tapping, tapping, little elf,
As you work upon your shelf.

Felt/Magnet Board:

 
Little Jack Horner
sat in a corner
eating his Christmas pie.
He stuck in his thumb
and pulled out a plumb
and said
"Oh! What a good boy am I!"

 
 
 
We told the story of the Elves and the Shoemaker: a poor shoemaker and his wife have little money to make more shoes because business is so poor. Two elves see their situation and decide to help by making shoes while the couple sleeps. Eventually, the family stays up long enough to see the elves at work. To say thank you, the wife makes the two elves brand new clothes.
 
We stressed the generosity of giving gifts: the elves gave their time and energy to the shoemaker and his wife, and the shoemaker and his wife gave the elves new clothes in exchange. 


Craft:

 
 
We made a Pickle Ornament today! For those of you who haven't heard of the pickle ornament, like me, it's meant to be the last ornament placed on the tree. On Christmas morning, all the children run to the tree and search for the pickle ornament. This first one to find it wins a special gift left by Santa. The idea is to have the children look at the tree and the special family ornaments you have at home before tearing into the presents under the tree.
 
We got the kits from Oriental Trading.
 
We had a few glue issues around the room, but overall it was a success. Not many of the parents had heard of the Christmas pickle so it was fairly new all around.

How Many Did You Have?

We had a comfortable 38 today. Sometimes it's nice to know you'll have enough crafts to go around the room.

How Did It Go?

Overall, the kids were a little rambunctious and restless, but we made it through everything we had planned with no edits. I'd call it mostly successful.

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