This is my favorite time of the school year. The children are excited and eager to participate in all of our special projects. And they think all their dreams are going to come true as soon as Santa visits their house!
We decorated “gingerbread houses” today. A bunch of us stayed after school yesterday with some wonderful parent volunteers and assembled over 100 houses with graham crackers, milk cartons and lots of sticky frosting. Today the children used more frosting and colorful candies to decorate them. Turned out so cute! And of course the children had to eat some of the candy and lick some of the frosting. One of my favorite projects.
We also worked on ornaments for our parents. I discovered my oldest daughter’s kindergarten ornament recently. I thought I’d sent it to her years ago, but it was still in with all the other wonderful Christmas keepsakes. I guess it was overlooked because it was actually inside a little decorative box ornament. I wrapped it up and sent it to her. It’s a wonder of modern science that a little salt dough bell has lasted for more than thirty years! This year we made ornaments from craft foam. They’re probably good for fifty years or more.
Last week we wrote our letters to Santa and they’ll be published in the paper soon. It’s always an eye-opener to hear what children want when they think anything is possible. However, I can’t really see ANY of my parents buying a live monkey. LOL
Tomorrow is a wonderful activity called “What makes Rudolph’s nose glow?” Each child makes a picture of Rudolph’s head with a big round glittery nose. Beneath Rudolph is a dictated explanation about that famous nose. When I ask the question I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing, or crying, over the answers. Of course kids know about batteries and light switches and all that logical stuff. Their answers are more about magic and mystery and faith. Rudolph’s nose glows because Santa needs him. It glows because he eats fairy dust. It glows because he’s been good.
We’re also learning lots of holiday songs and poems. We’re learning about traditions and celebrations in other countries and cultures. But mostly we’re just having a jolly time. Hope you are too!