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EHS Christmas Around the World

Updated: Jan 12, 2021

Changes to Environment

Pictures of Christmas from different Cultures Dreidel (Hanukkah) Stockings ​Wooden Shoes Child Appropriate Menorah (Hanukkah) Child Appropriate Kinara (Kwanza) Boxes wrapped with wrapping paper Wrapping Paper cut into squares Pictures of Candy Canes, Wreathes, Decorated Trees, Menorahs, Kinaras, Dreidels, Misteltoe, Stockings, etc) Music/Song Sheets of Christmas Songs/Music Empty Jug of Egg Nog Empty Bottles of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Spice, etc File Folder Game related to the Holiday Empty Pinata (La Posada) Santa Hat Elf Hat, Elf Ears Greeting Cards Child appropriate Nativity Scene Advent Calendar Homemade song book for carolers Silver bells Insta-snow Plastic ornaments Christmas cupcake liners Green cones (like what snow cones are served in) Multicultural puppets, people, etc Drum ("Little Drummer Boy") Cookie cutters Pie pan Empty boxes of food and drink containers that you might see at Christmas time Water table: plastic ornaments, green water, plastic candy canes, plastic stars, etc Sensory table: insta-snow, green cones for trees, silver bells, shovel, etc

Teaching Concepts for Indoor Experiences

1. Show pictures that introduce the many ways people around the world celebrate Christmas and talk about how it is celebrated on different days or for several days (the link below describes how different countries celebrate Christmas). http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/armenia.shtml 2. Explain the gift of giving and helping those in need. Practice giving and sharing. 3. Glue “decorations” on a paper tree 4. Decorated old oatmeal containers and use as drums. (Kwanzaa) 4. Paint toilet paper rolls 3 red, 3 green, 1 black to make candles for a Kinara, tape a paper flame to ends of rolls, glue rolls to small box or paper towel roll 5. Decorate a paper lantern. (Japanese) 6. Make Christmas cards 7. Wrap small boxes with wrapping paper, tissue paper, construction paper, newspaper, etc 8. Guess what is in the stocking. Fill stocking with different items (such as bows, bells, ribbon, wrapping paper pieces, small toys, etc), let children feel and guess what is in it. 9. Cut out shapes using “Christmas” cookie cutters and playdough. 10. Pretend play a Christmas party 11. Show pictures and talk about the different ways families travel during the holidays to see their friends and families 12. Color with red and green 13. Decorate a stocking 14. Glue paper cup on paper plate ahead of time. Let children paint and decorate with yarn and pom poms to make sombrero.








Teaching Concepts for Outdoor Experiences

1. Spin the dreidel 2. Hide and seek reindeer (hide printable reindeer and find them) 3. Ring Around the Christmas Tree (played like Ring Around the Rosies) 4. Toy delivery (see how fast you can deliver toys to the children) 5. Pass the present (play like hot potato) 6. Follow the reindeer (play like follow the leader)

Teaching Concepts for Music Movement Wellness IMIL

1. Reindeer Pokey You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out. You put you antlers in and you shake them all about. You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around. That’s what it’s all about! Continue with: You put your hooves in…. You put your red nose in…. You put your fluffy tail in… You put your reindeer body in… 2. Feliz Navidad 3. Advent Song (tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) Advent is a time to wait Not quite time to celebrate Light the candles one by one Till the advent time is done Christmas day will soon be here Time for joy and time for cheer 4. The 7 Days of Kwanzaa  (tune:12 Days of Christmas) On the first day of Kwanzaa, my family gave to me, a cup for our family unity on the second day of Kwanzaa, my family gave to me, 2 woven mats and a cup for our family unity repeat the song, adding the following lines 3rd- 3 special flags 4th – four kinds of fruit 5th – five ears of corn 6th – six handmade gifts 7th – seven kinara candles 5. Hanukkah is Here (tune: The Farmer in the Dell) Oh, Hanukkah is here.Oh, Hanukkah is here Light the candles, one by one.Oh, Hanukkah is here. Spin the dreidel, too.Oh, spin the dreidel, too Spin the dreidel round and round,For Hanukkah is here Eat some latkes next. Eat some latkes next. Eat some latkes — yum, yum, yum – For Hanukkah is here. 6. Ten Little Latkes Ten little latkes sizzling in a pan, (Hold up 10 fingers.) One jumped out, said “Catch me if you can!” (Jump.) I chased it and chased it and chased it some more, (Run in place.) Then that little latke ran out the kitchen door. (Wave good-bye.) Now, there’s nine little latkes sizzling in a pan … (Hold up 9 fingers.) Continue until there is none left. 7. I’m a Little Dreidel I’m a little dreidel (Point to self.) With a point and a top. (Make point with hands; pat head.) I spin, spin, spin, (Spin around.) Then I drop. (Fall to the ground.) 8. Go Christmas caroling to the different classrooms in center

Teaching Concepts for Fingerplays

1.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.” 2. 5 Little Christmas Trees 5 little Christmas Trees Standing all alone Their heart were very sad ‘Cause they hadn’t found a home. Then chop went the ax And down fell the tree And off they went with a happy family! (continue from 4 to 1 Christmas Trees) No little Christmas Trees Standing all alone Their hearts were very happy ‘Cause they all found a home!!! 3.K-W-A-N-Z-A-A (tune: One Little Two Little three little Indians) one little, two little, three little candles four little, five little, six little candles seven little candles shine for Kwanzaa shining in the kinara three little red and three little green ones black in the middle shines a little taller shine little candles, shine for Kwanzaa 4. My Menorah Here is my menorah, (Put hands together.) Eight candles standing tall. (Fan out eight fingers.) In the middle is the shamash, (Link thumbs and hold them up straight; let fingers fan on the sides.) Rising above them all. We use the shamash, (Pretend to hold a candle.) To light a flame each night. (Pretend to light a candle.) Eight nights of Hanukkah, (Hold up eight fingers; pretend to sleep.) Eight candles burning bright. (Hold up eight fingers; cup hands around face like a candle flame.) 5. Driedel Game (tune: This Old Man) My sister, She played one. She played dreidel On her thumb. With a zig-zag, wig-wag, Dizzy wizzy spin, Her dreidel rolled around to win. My brother, He played two. He played dreidel On his shoe. With a zig-zag, wig-wag, Dizzy wizzy spin, His dreidel rolled around to win. My mommy, She played three, She played dreidel On her knee. With a zig-zag, wig-wag Dizzy wizzy spin, Her dreidel rolled around to win. My daddy, He played four. He played dreidel On the floor. With a zig-zag, wig-wag, Dizzy wizzy spin His dreidel rolled around to win. 6. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star


Teaching Concepts for Distance Learning


1. Scavenger hunt

You can gather a list or some ideas include looking for particular shapes, colors, items that are a certain length, or items that start with a particular sound.


2. Make an ABC/123 Sensory Bin

Take letter shapes, scrabble tiles, letter puzzle pieces, etc. and bury them in a sensory bin. You can use any fillers such as rice or sand. Set up a letter wash with warm, soapy water and foam or plastic letters. Alternatively, you can use numbers too.


Kid's play instruments online. Instruments include guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, and bongos.




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