Snowmen, Stories, and Stuffing Cards

Weekend News

Asha- We decorate the Christmas tree yesterday and I played with Savi all night. My mom tickles her sometimes because she wants Savi to laugh. I played in my room. I play with my animals.

Natey- I celebrated Hanukkah with my mommy and my daddy. There was fire on the candles. 

Vivian- On the first day, me and Thea had dinner together and we saw Santa on a firetruck and they gave us candy canes and matching games and stickers and tattoos. On the next day, our friends came over for lunch. We made everything, all of the food!

Jaylen- I played ball. I played soccer. We ate pancakes. 

Gracie- I did Hanukkah and Eagles. I watched the Eagles and then I did Hanukkah. We light the candles on the menorah, we sing the song, and then we go to bed. We also had dinner. Mommy and daddy made dinner. 

Zev- I watched a movie. It's name was Gone. Last night, bubby Suzanne was coming to my house. Bubby is my daddy's mommy, and Zayde is my daddy's daddy. Gigi is my mommy's mommy and Poppy is my mommy's daddy. I opened a present, it was in a box that you can make a garden grow inside your house. I lighted the candles for the last night of Hanukkah.

Thea- I went outside and made cookies in Vivi's house. I saw Santa Claus on the firetruck. 

Henry- It was grandma's birthday. Grandma was as old as Mickey the Mouse. We forgot to sing Happy Birthday. Somebody gave me two things that are for me, and one present for grandma. I wanted to open the two things for me, but I had to wait until Christmas. It was fake snowing at my house.

Millie- I played with my daddy, mommy and Ethan. I watched a movie, Mr. Grinch. My baby has a pacifier. 

Lincoln- I saw my grandparents from Arizona. We ate at the dining room and grandpa slept in my room and Lola too. Grandpa and Lola are mom's parents. I sleep in my mom and my dad's room.

Jessica- I played with daddy and we learned about something. It was Buster's birthday. We gave him a doggy cake. He is one. We just went to bed after we sing to Buster. 

Dylan- I watched a movie with my brother. It was a Christmas a movie. I decorated the Christmas tree yesterday with my family. 

This morning, Matt, Gracie's dad, came in to share their family's holiday traditions. Matt shared that in their family they celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah. On Christmas, they read the story Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner. The story is dreamlike, where the snowmen come to life.

Next, Matt and Gracie shared one of their family's Hanukkah traditions. Each night, they light the candles on the menorah. While they light the menorah, there's a song that they listen and dance to, that sings the blessings in Hebrew.

Some friends shared connections, such as that they too light the candles on the menorah, and/or have a Christmas tree.

Later this morning, Jaylen's mom, Cherie, came in to share their family's holiday tradition. During holiday time in their family they read the story The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Robert Sabuda. This is a beautiful pop-up book about what happens the night before Christmas. Cherie shared that the pictures are 3D so they pop out, unlike 2D pictures, which are flat.

After reading, friends went to the tables to make cards for special friends and family in their lives. Make sure to check your Sparrow's mailbox for their holiday cards!

Thank you, Matt and Gracie, and Cherie and Jaylen, for sharing your family's holiday traditions with us. We love learning about what other family's do and what is special and important to them!

Ask your Sparrow what is important to them.

Paper Chain

This morning in music, we rehearsed for the upcoming Winter Program!

The Winter Program (for the EC/K show) is Wednesday, December 19th at 9:00am.

Friends practiced singing two songs, one only the Sparrows will be singing, and one we will be singing with all of EC and kindergarten. The Sparrows also practiced the dance we will be performing for the show. You may have heard your Sparrow singing "I get loose." If so, this is where it came from!

Before we sang the goodbye song, Keisha taught friends A Ram Sam Sam, a song from Morocco. 

Friends sang and followed along with the movements. Friends "turned up the dial" a few times, and "turned it back," testing and practicing tempo. The Sparrows really enjoyed when we turned the dial all way back, and sang the song and did the movements in super slow motion.

Today, Vivian's mom, Joanna, came in to share their family's holiday tradition. Joanna read the story, Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo. The story is about a girl named Lily, Blue Kangaroo, and her family, and what they do on Christmas. Lily and her family made cards and a paper chain to decorate. Every time the paper chain came up in the book, friends pointed it out with a sound and movement. The Sparrows really got a kick out of this!

Ask your Sparrow what to do if they hear or see paper chain!

After reading, friends took their seats at the table to take part in an activity...making our own paper chain! The Sparrows chose from an assortment of colored pieces of paper and used markers to make their decorations. Once a friend was done decorating their paper, they brought it over to Joanna or set it on the table to be added to our classroom paper chain.

We decided to display our classroom paper chain around the SmartBoard. Make sure to come and check it out!

Thank you Vivian and Joanna for sharing your family holiday tradition with us!

There are still plenty of spots left on the sign-up sheet if you would like to come in and share!

Busy at work making savanna animals.