Pretty Posies Cut bottomm off a plastic soda bottle about 1 inch from the bottom. Paint thinned glue on the inside of the flower: then press tissue paper pieces atop the glue. When glue is dry mount a fake jewel in the center of the flower. Attach magnetic strip &/or paper leaf to pipecleaner stem. ************************************************************************ CHRISTMAS IS ... C is for Christmas, I wait for all year. H is for holly that brings so much cheer R is for reindeer that pull Santa's sleigh I is for icicles dripping all day S is for Santa who seldom is seen T is for tree that is lovely and green M is for mistletoe, hugs and a kiss A is for angel who looks just like this S is for stockings all loaded with toys from all of the elves to the good girls and boys We make this into a Christmas book for parents. Each letter has a page. We do one a day until completed. Use your imagination for illustration ideas (mini 1998 calendar for waiting all year (copy from your check book cover?), punched out red bears for holly "berries",cotton for Santa's beard, glitter on reindeer's nose, silver tube paint for icicles, sequins on tree, ribbon bow on mistletoe, child's picture for angle's face, fabric scrapes for stocking with catalog picture of a couple of toys, etc.). they are very proud of these books when finished and love reading it to their family Christmas morning. ************************************************************************ MOFABS *Save your fabric, ribbon, and thread scraps. *Cut into pieces between 1/2 to 1 inch in size. *Put scraps into a medium sixe bowl. For about 2 cups of scraps, add two ounces of tacky glue. *Spray your hands with vegetable spray. *Mix glue and scraps throughly. Pack mixture into mould of your choice. *Put a microwave safe plate on top of mould and microwave for 60 to 90 seconds. Remove from microwave. (will be hot) *Knock out of mould. Let stand to cool. *Decorate with glitter, buttons, lace, fabric paints or other notions. CAUTION: Do not use metallic material! **You may also use 1 1/2oz. of faultless instant microwave stiffener in place of tacky glue. *********************************************************************** SPICE ORNAMENTS 3/4-1 cup applesauce 3/4 cup cinnamon 2 TBS cloves 1 TBS nutmeg 1 TBS allspice Combine ingredients, mix together. Add additional applesauce if mixture is too dry. Press into mould, knock out. Allow to air dry (over 48 hours). Decorate with ribbons, lace, dried flowers, etc. A ribbon loop may be glued on back to hang. Makes 2-3 shapes. ************************************************************************ Kaleidoscope Let kids grate crayons with a potato peeler onto waxed paper that is folded in half OR use tiny pieces of colored tissue paper. Press with warm iron until paper sticks together. Use rubber band & fasten to end of toilet paper roll. Hold up to the light. ************************************************************************ Bottle top Bell Threading Age: 2 plus Collect silver, red and gold milk or juice bottle tops. Press the tops over an orange squeezer to make a bell shape. Give the children lengths of wool for them to thread these onto. These chains can then be hung on the Christmas tree. ************************************************************************ Playdough Age: 1 plus Give the children red and green playdough to use as well as Christmas shaped cutters and other toys. ************************************************************************ Christmas Stockings Age: 2 plus Cut Christmas stocking shapes out of cardboard (about 1/2 metre long). Give the children toy catalogues to cut out toys to put in their Christmas stocking by gluing as a collage. For the younger children have pre-cut pictures. Then have already cut to size the net that fruit such as oranges come in to staple over the top. ************************************************************************* Sewing Cards Age: 2 plus Punch holes around old Christmas cards and let the children sew round them with tinsel. ************************************************************************** Cooking Age: Any Make "White Christmas" with the children. White Christmas Need: 1 cup of powdered milk 1 cup desiccated coconut 1 cup mixed dried fruit 1 cup Rice Bubbles 1 cup icing sugar 250g Copha What to do: Lightly grease the inside of a baking tray. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Melt the Copha on a low heat and then pour it over the dry ingredients. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Press the mixture into the baking tray and allow to coll. When the mixture has set, cut it into small squares with a knife. ************************************************************************* Printing Age: 1 plus wrapping paper Give the children red and green paint, a large sheet of paper and some Christmas shaped objects to print with. This can then be used as Christmas wrapping paper. ************************************************************************* Christmas Fingerplays This Little Present This little present goes to Mary (thumb) This little present goes to Ned (pointer) This little present goes to Harry (middle finger) And this little present goes to Ted. (ring finger) This little present cried "Boo Hoo Hoo." (little finger) Please put me in a Christmas stocking too! ************************************************************************* The Chimney HERE IS THE CHIMNEY Here is the chimney (Make fist, enclose thumb) Here is the top. (Palm of hand on top of fist) Open the lid. (Remove hand quickly) And out Santa will pop. (Pop up thumb) ************************************************************************* Santa When Santa comes down the chimney (downward motion with hands) I should like to peek (Peek through fingers) But he'll never come, no never (Shake head) Until I'm fast asleep. (Palms together beside head.) ************************************************************************* Five Little Christmas Trees 5 Little Christmas Trees (a fingerplay) 5 little Christmas Trees Standing all alone Their heart were very sad 'Cause they hadn't found a home. Then chop went the axe And down fell the tree And off they went with a happy family! (continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees) No little Christmas Trees Standing all alone ************************************************************************* 5 little reindeer, standing by the gate, 5 little reindeer, standing by the gate, 1st one said, "Hurry, don't be late." 2nd one said,"Did I hear Santa call?" 3rd one said, "Careful, now, don't fall." 4th one said, "It's time to load the toys!" 5th one said, " Merry Christmas, girls and boys!!" ************************************************************************* SANTA IS BACK Two merry brown eyes, A cute little nose, A long snowy beard, Two cheeks like a rose, A round chubby form, A big bulging sack; Hoo-ray for old Santa.' We're glad that he's back. ************************************************************************* SANTA CLAUS Santa Claus is big and fat. He wears black boots and a big red hat. His nose is red, just like a rose; And he "HO, HO, HO's" from his head to his toes. ************************************************************************* SANTA'S REINDEER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, little reindeer Stand beside the gate; "Hurry Santa," said the five, "So we will not be late."' 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, little reindeer; Santa said, "Please wait.' Wait for three more little reindeer, And then that will make eight." ************************************************************************* LITTLE BELL Five little bells hanging in a row; (Fingers hanging down) The first one said, "Ring me slow." (Wiggle thumb) The second one said, "Ring me fast." (Wiggle index finger) The third one said, "Ring me last." (Wiggle second finger) The fourth one said, "I"m like a chime." (Wiggle third finger) The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time." (Wiggle fourth finger) ************************************************************************* CHRISTMAS BELL I'm a little Christmas bell. I like to sing a Christmas song. When I sing You hear me ring, Ding dong, ding dong. ************************************************************************* EIGHT REINDEER Eight little reindeer playing in the snow. Eight little reindeer at the North Pole. All of them anxious for Christmas Day, Waiting for Santa to say, "Up, up and away." ************************************************************************* FIVE LITTLE REINDEER The first little reindeer went to the market To buy some Christmas trees. The second little reindeer went to the elf shop To supervise the toys. The third little reindeer hurried to he cookie factory To prepare for girls and boys. The fourth little reindeer went to the TV stations To ready the Christmas shows. And the fifth little reindeer went to see Heat Miser and Cold Miser To order the season's snows. ************************************************************************* A SHY SANTA Isn't it the strangest thing That Santa is so shy? We can never, never catch him, No matter how we try. It isn't any use to watch Because my mother said, "Santa Claus will only come When children are in bed." ************************************************************************* FIVE LITTLE CANDLES Five little candles twinkling on the tree. The first one said, "What do you see?" The second one said, "I see Santa big and jolly." The third one said, "I see Christmas wreathes or holly." The fourth one said, "What do you hear?" The fifth one said, "Children singing loud and clear," A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." ************************************************************************* SEE THE SNOWFLAKES FALLING See the snowflakes falling. (Fingers dance like falling snowflakes) See the candles glow. (Put up one finger of each hand for candles) See the wreaths upon the door, It's Christmas time, I know! (Form wreath) ************************************************************************* FIVE LITTLE BELLS Five little bells 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 a chime." The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time." The sixth one said, "Ring me with the others." The seventh one said, "Ring me for the mothers." The eighth one said, "Ring me with a song." The ninth one said, "Ring me all day long." ************************************************************************* WHO AM I I wear a big funny hat And glasses on my nose. My beard is l-o-n-g and snowy white And reaches to my toes! ************************************************************************* LITTLE REINDEER 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 little reindeer, Stand beside the gate. "Hurry, Santa," said the five, "So we will not be late." 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, little reindeer, Santa said, "Please wait! Wait for three more reindeer, Then there will be eight. ************************************************************************* SANTA'S WORKSHOP Here is a great big Christmas tree Trim'med with lights and balls. (Put tips of fingers of both hands together, palms apart) Here are Santa's little elves. They run when Santa calls. (Hold up ten fingers and wiggle them) This is Santa's workshop, Filled with gifts and toys (Use both hands to form a house) The elves and helpers fill the sleigh, For all good girls and boys. ************************************************************************* JACK THAT POPS This is the wreath that hangs on the door. This is the tree that stands on the floor. This is the snow that covers the town. This is the chimney that Santa comes down. This is the mantel where stockings are hung. This is the book from which carols are sung. This is the box and inside it is hid A jack that pops out when you open the lid. ************************************************************************* I'm A Little Christmas Tree... I'm a little Christmas Tree Glittering, glittering merrily! A star at my head Gifts at my feet And on all my branches Candy canes so sweet! ************************************************************************* This Little Present... This little present is for Mary This little present is for Ted This little present is for Harry This little present is for Ned This little present cried, "Boo hoo hoo! Please put me in a Christmas stocking too!" ************************************************************************* Christmas Presents... See all the presents by the Christmas tree. (Hands in sweeping motion.) Some for you (Point to children.) And some for me. (Point to self.) Long ones, (Hands spread wide apart.) Tall ones, (Measure from the floor.) Short ones, too. (Hands close together.) And here is a round one (Make circle with arms.) Wrapped in blue. Isn't it fun to look and see All the presents by the Christmas tree? (Nod.) ************************************************************************* Gingerbread Man... Stir a bowl of gingerbread (stir as in bowl) Smooth and spicy brown Roll it with a rolling pin up and up and down (Pretend to roll) With a cookie cutter, ( pretend to cut out) make some little men. Put them in the oven ( place in oven) till half past ten! ************************************************************************* Christmas Elves... This little elf likes to hammer. This little elf likes to saw. This little elf likes to splash on paint. This little elf likes to draw. And this little elf likes best of all To put the cry in the baby doll. Mama! Mama! Mama! ************************************************************************* Flannel Board Here is a verse that I often use for my 3-4's. In fact, we have done it a few times at our Christmas Program and the kids always enjoy it. Tree Decorating "Let's decorate the Christmas tree We'll make it bright and gay! But I will surely need your help To make it look that way. Place RED balls everywhere Then some of pretty BLUE YELLOW adds bright color ORANGE and PURPLE do too Add some PINK And then some GREEN Now, isn't that the prettiest tree you've ever seen?" I have a little "stick" tree (wooden, painted green) that I use for this, but a regular small Christmas tree of any kind would do. So would a flannel board or magnet board. ************************************************************************* Poems - generic poem for the holidays The Gift The greatest gift as I am told is all the love that the heart can hold. I give it to you, you give it to me, there is enough for the world and the gift is free. Will you take my gift that is more precious than gold? It is all the love that the heart can hold.