Merry Christmas to You

Merry Christmas! Christmas is a time to think about the hope and peace that came with the birth of a baby in a manger. I hope you get to spend these holidays with people you love.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

Shapes and Nativity Patterns

This group of kids keeps me guessing. They don't really do art. They love to do blocks. They do like games. Some of them like to do anything with others. A couple like to do things alone. But we are learning that they need time - time to do some familiar things and then explore the rest of the activities.

Cindy found some nativity patterns at This Reading Mama. We printed them and put them out with our magnet shapes.

After a little while, kids decided to explore the shapes. Some worked hard to match the patterns.

Some explored the shapes and patterns in their own unique style.

I even worked on one a little.

The boys wondered about the "profile" king and his one arm. So they decided to create more arms for him. (I think at one point he had almost 20 arms in various places on his body.)

By the time my boys were really engaged in this, our time was running out. I'll put it out again this week and maybe they will get into it more quickly.

Or - as this group has shown me - we may do something else completely different.


P.S. Here's the link again to the free nativity patterns we used. They are from This Reading Mama. I have no affiliation with that blog - we just liked and used the patterns.

Christmas

Merry Christmas! I hope you get to spend these holidays with people you love.

Christmas is the time we celebrate the hope that came with the birth of Jesus.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

5 Ways to Use Salt

This post begins a periodic series on Brick by Brick - 5 Ways to Use. These posts will examine 5 different ways to use an item. Sometimes I will have links from Brick by Brick; other times I'll point you to other great early childhood resources.


This time we will examine 5 ways to use salt in the classroom (and get inspiration from around the blogosphere!).

• In the Playroom creates Colored Salt Christmas Trees. I like this way to create trees. It isn't permanent and the colored salt can be reused over and over (or used for something else).
• Artsy Mama uses salt to create salt paintings. Create designs with glue, sprinkle salt over the design, and drip watercolors or colored water on the salt to color it. We are going to do this soon!
• Preschool Spot offers a "sweet" spin on the salt tray with their Candy Cane Salt Writing activity. Red scented salt combined with white salt or snow confetti makes a great medium for writing numbers, letters, or designs.
• Tinkerlab has a recipe for salt dough and how to create ornaments with the dough. You can find lots of variations on salt dough ornaments out there in the blogosphere. But I like the simple shapes of these. And part 2 includes decorating the ornaments.
• Happy Hooligans froze hand shapes and then used salt to melt the ice. This is a fun and simple science experiment for preschoolers.

What fun ways have you used salt in your classroom activities? Include ideas or links below.

That Just Right Look

I love Pinterest. More than I should admit. So many ideas for all kinds of things. A great resource. But deceptive, too.

Many of the things I see on Pinterest look great. Perfect even. I see the same on activities I see on some blogs. Nice, neat, put together. And really not the work of preschoolers.

My favorite things are those things that look like a 5-year-old did them. (Substitute whatever age you teach here.) Maybe not perfectly aligned or balanced or exactly right. But definitely the work of the child.

I love the wonky frames we make each year. The unevenness and the abundance of stickers make them real and lovely. And they do not all look the same. These things look like my kids, all different and just right as they are.

I love when snowflakes are oddly shaped or split into two pieces. I enjoy seeing so many stamped shapes or paint strokes that the page is practically bursting. Those things show me that kids are exploring their own ideas, trying out things, wondering and experimenting and learning.

This time of year often seems to require that perfect look, that things look just right. But individual, off-kilter, wonky preschool creations are just right. Just right for each child.

Relax and bask in the imperfect just-rightness of teaching young kids.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you get to spend this day with people whom you love.

This time of year is a time of joy and hope for me as we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

Traditions...and Ideas for New Ones

It's Christmastime. We've been doing some of our favorite Christmas activities.

We decorated our tree. Paper strips, staplers, and sparkly chenille stems.

Here are some links for our past tree experiences--

• O Christmas Tree
• Our Packed Tree

If you are looking for some other easy ornaments for kids to make, check out Easy Snowflake Christmas Ornaments (No Time for Flash Cards). 

We made Christmas cards. Stamps, stamp pads, markers, paper. We had all the markers out, but the kids decided to put the red ones on the tray so they could find them easier.

I really like this Christmas Card Making Station (Childhood 101). I think we'll incorporate that next year in our Christmas traditions.

We usually play instruments during Christmas; we've even drawn how instruments sound. I'm in the adult handbell choir at my church; after we played bells in worship service, a kindergartner wanted to play bells, too. We borrowed these bells and had a great time doing it.

Here's a game using jingle bells (Fun a Day). I think we may need to do this soon, too.

This week we will make our craft stick frames using a glue gun, a "dangerous" tradition we do every December. I cannot wait to see how the kids this year will do it. This is our standard gift that kids make to give to parents or others.

I also like this fingerprint frame (Fun-a-Day). If we ever decide to change, I would do this.

(The same idea is used for fingerprint cards at Crafty Morning.)

This week we will also decorate cookies, a fun and messy tradition in our class. Kids can eat them (later at home) or give them to a friend (probably not).

Instead of decorating cookies, we could use gingerbread play dough (Teach Preschool). I think this would be a great tradition to add to our classroom.

We will give gifts to our kids - just fun trinkets like slinkys or yo-yos and stickers. Fun stuff that show our care for them. One year I made a discovery bottle to include; those may be ornaments this year.

(Here's a Christmas tag for gifts from Freebielicious.) 

I wondered why we do so many of the same things each year. Then I realized - those are our Christmas traditions that we pass along to "our kids." It really seems like Christmas because we are gluing wonky frames or spreading miles of green icing on a paper plate.

Traditions matter. (Check this post about traditions from Not Just Cute.) Not just traditions in your family. But in your classroom community, too.

What traditions do you have in your classroom? What new ones do you want to start?

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas! On Friday, the last day before our break, I discovered this gift.

Mrs. Wiley came to help with our party.

Sometime during our party on Thursday, a student slipped behind the screen and wrote this on the board. I raised the screen on Friday and "unwrapped" this gift. I think I know who the giver is...and couldn't be more pleased with any other gift.

This time of year is a time of joy and hope for me as we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

I pray peace and hope to you and your families. And rest...lots of rest.

I Wish You a Merry Christmas

I'm on break...my first "teacher" break. I hope this time of year is a time of family, joy, and hope. It is for me, as we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus. 

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

I wish you a merry Christmas. I hope to continue to connect with you in 2013.

Merry Christmas!

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough--because there was no room for them at the inn.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!"

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

(from Luke 2:4-16)

I pray that your family would experience the peace and joy of the Christ Child this season.

And I look forward to connecting with you in 2012.

It's a J. Or Is It?

This week I put out the J stencils and the dot painters. I made the J stencils last year by cutting a die-cut J in cardboard rectangles. We're using J since we were talking about the birth of Jesus.

A couple of kids colored some J shapes. Others created their own pictures without the stencils. Then H said, "I'm going to make a candy cane."

I love that H colored the stripes. Then she drew the cane around the stripes. And made the stripes longer to fill in the cane.

"This way is J...and this way is a candy cane."

When kids get hands on experience and freedom to create, they make all kinds of fun discoveries.

A Homemade Gift

Every year we give out kids a bag of small gifts - small toys and trinkets that don't cost a lot but encourage kids to play. (There's usually a candy cane or other candy, too!)

This year I saw these "I Spy" ornaments on the Craft Snob blog. When I saw them, I knew these would be fun additions to our gifts. I went to Hobby Lobby to find the ornaments mentioned on the Craft Snob blog. But I couldn't find them. So I went in search of something else to use. I found some small plastic bottles that seemed perfect. I bought shredded/scrunched paper as filler.

I then wandered through Hobby Lobby, finding small items to hide in the bottles - jingle bells, small ornaments and lights, pinecones, and various sequins. I also used red chenille stem pieces bent into "J" shapes (to remind kids of Baby Jesus).

I worked for a couple of hours assembling these bottles. I was really pleased with the results. The bottles are the perfect size to turn and look through - and the perfect size to fit into our gift bags.

I put a couple in the room this week for kids to use - so they would know what to do with them at home. I really liked these even more than I thought. And I'll definitely make them again for gifts.

(I also liked these ornaments by Play at Home Mom.)

Paper Strips Redux

We had lots of paper strips left over from our Christmas tree decorating last week. The kids weren't very interested in them then. So this week I put the strips and staplers out with the writing box. No expectations or instructions. Just added the materials to the crayons, markers, and paper that are normally available. This week the strips drew interest.

I didn't suggest anything. Some just drew on the strips. Some stapled the strips together in cross shapes. One boy made a circle with a strip and slid it onto his wrist. But when the first child began to make a chain, everyone at the table became interested.

I still have some strips. I think this week they will appear in the writing center with scissors and glue sticks. Maybe we'll make cards like these cards on Camp Slop. Or not. That's the exciting part. I don't know what they'll do - or if they'll ignore them again. I love to see what kids come up with!

(Check out this post about paper chains at Weeds in the Garden. Now that's a paper chain!)

"I'm Not Allowed to Use That"

One of my favorite bloggers is Teacher Tom. He continually challenges my thinking and inspires me. Some of my favorite posts on his blog are about allowing kids to take risks and to do things that seem "unsafe" (at least as many adults would define that). I think the post that initially jarred me to do something different in this area was his post about white glue vs hot glue gun. I went out and purchased glue guns for my class immediately after that post.

We used our glue guns again this week to make frames as gifts. We made frames last year and it was a big hit. I anxiously prepared the materials, afraid that if I got too excited I would have another experience like my rope light fail. I laid out the colored craft sticks and plugged in the glue guns. I arranged foam stickers and put out a cup of water. Then I waited.

The first kids in the room jumped right into the activity. I told them that the end of the glue gun was hot and so was the glue. Then I had to clarify that the glue coming out of the glue gun was hot, not the glue stick in the back. (They are literal and take what we say at face value.) They put dots of glue on the corners and stuck the sticks into a square shape.

Then the foam stickers went on, as few or as many as the child chose.

They took their frames over to Mrs. Cindy who helped them mount a picture, glue the picture to the frame, and add magnets. (No pictures of this step.)

One girl told me, "My mother says I'm not allowed to use that."

"It's okay to use it here," I told her. "I'll stand right here if you need help." She didn't. I want to respect her mother's rules but we often do things in the classroom that she probably wouldn't do at home. And, if she had insisted she wasn't allowed, I would have let it go.

"I touched the glue," one boy said to me.

"It's hot, isn't it?" I said. He nodded. "The water will help it feel cooler." He dipped the finger a couple of times and turned back to his work.

One or two others brushed against the glue and had to take a quick water dip, but no one was upset or even concerned. The boy who had mentioned it to me seemed frustrated with himself that it had happened. But he shook it off and finished what he was doing.

I love the wonky frames that the kids create. This is probably the most "product" oriented I ever get regarding art activities. But each one is different, expressing the personality of the child. Some are covered with stickers; some have a few stickers; one even had no stickers.

These are ones from last year.
I didn't get a pic of the completed ones this year.

And we get to use the "dangerous" tool!