CHRISTMAS

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CHRISTMAS

Celebrated by Christians throughout the world, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The word "Christmas" is derived from the English term Christes masse, meaning Christ's Mass. There are many different Christmas traditions and customs throughout the world. Many of these customs have pagans origins, but for people everywhere Christmas is a season of joy and a time for giving to others. Santa Claus has a Dutch origin and was developed from a real person , St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas, the patron saint of school boys, would bring gifts to the children. The idea that Santa Claus comes down the chimney originated in Norway, where children hung their stockings on the mantel. When pagans of Northern Europe became Christians, they incorporated their sacred evergreens in the celebration by decorating the trees with nuts and candles. They sang Christmas carols while dancing around the Christmas tree.

CONCEPTS TO BE TAUGHT

* Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25.
* Christmas is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
* Symbols include Christmas trees, wreaths, holly, candles, bells, stars, sleigh, stockings, reindeer, elves and Santa Claus.
* Colour used at Christmas are red and green.
* Traditional Christmas activities include carolling, making and giving gifts, sending cards to family and friends, and enjoing festive dinners and parties.

FINGERPLAYS

1) The Christmas story we are living
Make this a special time for giving (pretend to give)
We give and do things for others: (point to others)
For our father, mother, sisters and brothers. (raise four fingers)
What can I give? Let's see . . . (place finger on side of head)
I can give a lot of ME !

2) Two small hands touch in prayer (fold hands in prayer)
A golden halo in her hair (make circle above head with hands)
On her back, two silver wings: (two fingers)
Once each year my angel brings
The Christmas story back to me
While she rests upon my Christmas tree. (form triangle)

3) What can I give Jesus, small as I am? (place finger on side of head)
The shepherd gave him a baby lamb
The wise men gave him precious gold (form circle)
The angels sang of His glory untold (form circle above head)
Mary and Joseph gave their loving care (cradle arms)
But what can I give?
My heart to share ! (place hand over heart)

4) Santa Claus is jolly and plump. (form large circle)
He spreads joy - - he's no grump. (shake head sideways)
When he laughs, he "ho, ho, hos, "
And says, "MERRY CHRISTMAS", wherever he goes.

5) When Santa comes to my house , (point to self)
I'm always sound asleep. (lay head on hands with yes closed)
Oh, to be a little mouse !
So at him I could peek. (open one eye)

6) Here is the chimney. (make fist enclosing thumb)
Here is the top. (place palm of other hand on fist)
Open the lid, (quickly remove top hand)
And out Santa will pop! (pop up thumb)

7) This little elf likes to hammer. (pretend to hammer)
This little elf likes to saw. (pretend to saw)
This little elf likes to splash on paint. (pretend to paint)
This little elf likes to draw. (pretend to draw)
This little elf likes best of all,
To put the cry in the baby doll.
Mama, mama ! !

8) Five little bells hanging in the hall. (raise fingers)
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, "Ring me like a chime".
The fifth one said, "Ring me at Christmas time.

9) Five Christmas stockings hanging in a row. (five fingers)
When Santa comes - - guess what? (place finger on side of head)
They'll be filled from tip to toe ! (point to had and toes)

10) There's a special present on the shelf.
I made it with care and wrapped it myself. (pretend to make and wrap package)
I'll take it home and put it under the tree. (form triangle with fingers)
On Christmas Mum will open it and see (look surprised)
That it contains a lot of love from ME ! (point to self)

11) A little Christmas tree, (make a small triangle)
A bigger Christmas tree, (form a larger triangle)
A great big Christmas tree, (make large triangle with arms pointed)
Now let's count the trees: One, two, three. (hold three fingers)
Three trees I see.

12) I have a friend named Candy Cane. (point to self and then form a candy cane with fingers)
We go dancing down Sugarplum Lane. (dance with fingers)
While we're doing the peppermint twist, (twist hips)
We blow each other a candy kiss. (blow a friend a kiss)

13) Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, Eating his Christmas pie. (pretend to eat)
He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum (point thumb downward and then upward)
And said, "What a good boy am I" (point to self)

14) Twinkle, twinkle, little stars, (open and close fingers)
Santa comes tonight.
Twinkle, twinkle, little stars,
Make his journey bright !

XMAS GAMES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Christmas Secrets :
Christmas secrets are such fun
In this present is a special one
I'll give some clues to what's inside
Then you guess what does the box hide.
Place several items in box. Teacher says verse, then she describes one item in box. Children guess what is described. Display item. Repeat.

Musical Bell Game:
Children sit in circle. They pass a bell around circle while teacher plays Christmas music. When the music stops, the child holding the bell rings it as directed by the teacher.
Examples of directions: ring the bell two times; ring the bell with your left hand; ring the bell behind your head; ring the bell under your chair; etc.

Guess who :
Teacher describes a Christmas character and children guess who it is. For example: "He is jolly and wears red and white clothes; he brings toys to girls and boys. Who is he?"

Dance around the Christmas tree :
(Tune: "Ring around the Rosie")
Dance around the Christmas tree,
Bright with twinkling lights.
Whirl around. Twirl around.
All fall softly down.
Stand in circle. Hold hands and circle clockwise. Twirl and fall while saying appropriate lines.

Santa, Santa down the chimney:
(Tune: "Bluebird, Bluebird through my window" )
Santa, Santa, down the chimney,
Santa, Santa, down the chimney,
Santa, Santa, down the chimney,
To bring a special toy.
Stand in circle. Join hands and raise them in the air. One player is Santa. While the group sings verse, Santa weaves around the players in the circle. When singing stops, Santa stands in front of child nearest him and sings: "What kind of toy do you want?" The child answers: "I want a (kind of toy)." All players then sing: "(child's name) wants a (kind of toy)." Child then becomes Santa and the game is repeated.

Santa and Elves :
All do as I do.
All do as I do.
All do as I do. Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
One child is chosen to be Santa and does an action.
For example: pretend to make toys or feed reindeer. Other children who are elves do the same action. Repeat, choosing a new Santa.

CREATIVE DRAMAS AND MOVEMENTS

"The Smallest Christmas Tree":
Once upon a time there was a small evergreen who wanted to be a Christmas tree ( Teacher lays six pieces of green construction paper on blackboard to form tree by placing three for base, two in middle and one for top of tree ). People came into the forest and cut all the big trees around the little tree. They took them home for Christmas tree. Now the little tree was very sad and lonely because no one wanted him for a Christmas tree. He cried big tears which formed into icicles because it was cold ( place icicles on tree ). It was very close to Christmas, and it started to snow. Snowflakes fell on the small tree ( place snowflakes on tree ). On Christmas Eve there came a squirrel who was hungry and looking for food. He saw two pine cones that lay under the small tree ( place pine cones at bottom of tree ). As he was eating the seeds in the pine cones, a star rose just above the little tree ( place star at the top of tree ). The squirrel looked at the small tree and discovered it was the most beautiful Christmas tree ever seen. The squirrel and the small tree had a very merry Christmas together.
Give every child one of the following items cut from construction paper. Give one child a star and two children each a pine cone. Give each remaining child either a snowflake or an icicle.
Teacher tells the story again and children add items to tree as they are mentioned in the story.

Twinkle, twinkle little star :
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Lie on floor and stretch arms and legs out to represent the points of the star. Encourage movement through blinking of the eyes, swaying back and forth, or wiggling fingers as this familiar verse is sung.

My Christmas gift :
One player dramatizes a gift that he received for Christmas. Other players try to guess the gift is.
Variation : Describe gift instead of dramatizing gift.

How many days till Christmas ?
How many days till Christmas?
It seems a long, long spell.
But with this jolly Santa,
There's an easy way to tell.
Each evening from his middle
A peanut take away,
And when there are no more,
Tomorrow will be Christmas Day !
Cut three 1/2 " * 18" strip from red felt or construction paper. Cut corners from one end to form pointed hat. From white felt or construction paper, cut the following: two 1/2" circles for top of hat and nose (white pompons can also be used); two 1" circles with small triangle removed from each for eyes; a mustache and a beard with a small hole removed at top for mouth. From black felt or construction paper, cut two boots and one 1" circle to be cut in half and used for pupils of eyes. Glue together to make Santa. Glue seven peanuts below beard for buttons. If desired, type poem on heavy white paper and attach to Santa's hat. Punch hole in top, thread red ribbon through hole, and tie o make a loop so Santa can be hung on doorknob or wall. Do this project one week before Christmas. Remove one peanut each day. Christmas calendar: mount envelopes that are numbered from 1 to 25 on bulletin board. In each envelope, place a picture of the symbols. A statement about the meaning of that symbol can be included. Make a tree that will be decorated with the symbols. On December 1, one child removes picture from envelope numbered 1 and places it on the tree. Teacher then, reads statement or has a discussion about the symbol. Continue until December 25, when a picture of Baby Jesus is placed on the tree.

CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS

Holly is a shrub with clusters of red berries and sharpened leaves which remain green through the year. Ancient people thought its greenness was a promise the sun would return to earth another year. Mistletoe is a sprig of an evergreen plant hung at Christmas time. By custom, men can kiss women standing under it. A legend states that a girl who receives no kisses under the mistletoe by the end of the year will not marry in the new year.
Evergreen Tree was decorated by pagan people at the feast of the winter solstice. The evergreen was a sign that winter would end and warmth would return. Christmas Three Lights represent Christ as the "Light of the World". Lights also represent stars.
Candles were first used for lights. Candlelight symbolizes the light that Jesus brought to the earth.
Tinsels are thin strips of metal foil. A legend says that parents trimmed a tree while children were sleeping. Spiders who wanted to see the tree crept all over it, leaving cobwebs. Jesus came to bless the tree . He loved the spiders but knew the parents wouldn't feel the same. He touched the webs and they turned silver.
Icicles: an old story gives a reason for trimming trees with icicles. The Christ Child took shelter for the night under a pine tree. When the tree realized it was caring for the Christ Child, tears of happiness fell from its branches. They froze into icicles.
Gifts: the source of this custom is Wise Men giving gifts to Baby Jesus
Cards: for many years private notes of good wishes were sent at Christmas time
Letters to Santa Claus: children dictate or write letters to Santa telling him what they want for Christmas.
Caroling: comes from Italian "carolare", a medieval custom of singing and dancing around a Christmas tree. Early carols weren't sacred enough for singing inside a church so caroling was done outside.
Stocking: Saint Nicholas was a generous and kind bishop who would bring presents to children and needy people. St. Nick heard of a poor family that he wanted to help. In order to remain anonymous, he tossed gold down the chimney. It fell into a stocking that was hung there to dry.
Yule Log: Before the Christian era the English thought the sun stood still for 12 days at the end of the year. A log was cut that was large enough to burn through this period and burn away the last year's evil.
Bells: church bells rang to announce the coming of Jesus.
Ships: some countries, separated by water from the Holy Land, adopted this symbol at Christmas to bring the story of Jesus' birth closer.
Advent wreath: four candles are placed on a wreath. One candle is lit each Sunday before Christmas in anticipation of the arrival of Christ.
Jesus: Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday.

The following symbols can be used to explain the Crib:
Star: The star of Bethlehem guided the Wise Men to Baby Jesus.
Angel: told the shepherds of the birth of Jesus.
Donkey, Lambs, and Cow: were humble beasts close to Jesus at his birth.
Camels: were animals the Wise Men rode when they visited Baby Jesus.
The Three Wise Men: came to see Jesus bearing their best treasures : gold, a precious metal associated with the power of the Kings ; frankincense, a resin from a rare and sacred tree used as incense ; myrrh, a resin from a shrub used in making perfume.
Shepherds: were the men who tended sheep and came to honor the Baby Jesus.
Cow's Manger: is the place where Baby Jesus slept.
Joseph is the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus

XMAS MUSIC

MARY HAD A BABY MY LORD
( Tune : "Kumbaya" ) (Traditional)
Mary had a baby, My Lord.
Mary had a baby,
Mary had a baby, My Lord.
Mary had a baby,
Mary had a baby, My Lord.
Mary had a baby, Oh Lord, Mary had a Baby.
Second verse :
Where was He born, My Lord?
Where was He born'
Third verse : Born in a manger, My Lord.
Born in a manger.
Fourth verse: What did Mary name Him, My Lord?
What did Mary name Him ?
Fifth verse : She named him Jesus, My Lord.
She named Him Jesus.

HERE STANDS A LOVELY CHRISTMAS TREE
(Tune :"Mary had a little lamb")
Here stands a lovely Christmas tree, Christmas tree, Christmas tree.
Here stands a lovely Christmas tree so early in the morning.
Second verse:
Here is a horn for Christmas tree . . . .
Third verse:
here is an angel for Christmas tree . . . . (Continue with other symbols)

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.
Second verse :
Let's do a little clapping . . .
to spread Christmas cheer.
Third verse : Let's do a little jumping . . . .
to spread Christmas cheer. (Children do the actions while they sing)