Thursday, December 4, 2014

Christmas Around the World and And Firemen

We started our unit on Holidays around the world.  Using a globe we located the United States, then Wisconsin, then found where our school is located in Grafton.  We talked about how a lot of people like to decorate Christmas tree's to help celebrate Christmas.  The kids were very excited about Christmas trees and they all wanted to share whether or not they had their tree set up yet and what they put on their tree.  Then we heard a story titled, A Wish to be a Christmas Tree.  



At our art center,  we began making and decorating Christmas trees.  We used foam stickers, pom poms and glitter glue, then attached them to a toilet paper tube so the trees had a trunk and could stand up.  We learned the word "conifer" means trees with cones.  While we were outside, Mika found part of a pine branch on the ground and it had a little cone growing inside of it, so we all passed it around and made the connection with the word conifer.  Mika also happened to find something else under a giant conifer at the bottom of the hill.  When she brought it up it looked like a frozen birds nest, or a frisbee...it turned out to be her missing hat...frozen solid with needles, leaves, pine cones, and twigs all mixed in!!  

Caden was our "Maple Leaf" this week.  He brought in a great display of pictures and yummy rice krispie treats for snack on Tuesday.  On Thursday his mom and dad came to visit the class.  Caden's mom read us a really good story about fires and firemen and then Caden's dad told us he is in training to be a volunteer fireman for Cedarburg.  He showed us all his gear and put it on for us.  He put on fire boots, fire jacket, fire gloves, a breathing mask, and a fire hat.  (I hope I didn't miss anything!!)  Then he gave each of us our own fire hat, badge and coloring books.  Caden's mom made badges we could wear around our necks.  Boy did we have fun!! Thanks Caden!!


We visited the country of Sweeden and learned a little about Santa Lucia day and how children 
wear crowns of lights and eat special rolls to help celebrate the holiday.  We made our own Santa Lucia crown at the art center!


On Friday, we visited The Netherlands and talked about Sinterklass.  We heard a really good story about Saint Nicholas and how he visited a dutch baker in the town of Albany, New York.  The story is called The Baker's Dozen.  During activity time, we each made a Sinterklass puppet. Here is a link to the book we read.  








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