Lots of ideas

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Home : 2006 : November : 23

Lots of ideas
By Steph

Hi! Here's some of what I have done in the past. Unfortunately I don't have the directions for some of the crafts here at home. You should be able to find them on line or let me know the ones you're interested in and I
can follow up when I go back to school. You can find information about each country on line. I got most of my ideas from Mailbox magazine. If you have access to any of their yearly books, one of them has a christmas unit. There are two pages of ideas for each country along with other recommended books. This is one of my favorite units to do with my 2nd Graders!

Mexico- Read

“The Legend of the Poinsetta” by Tomie de Paola. Discuss Mexican Christmas Traditions. Do poinsetta art project. Write and
Illustrate in Christmas Around the World Book. (I usually do a manilla folder or large construction paper with paper inside. The kids journal each day about what they learned in that country and how it relates to them.)
Supplies: Poinsetta: paper bag for pot; dark blue, green, red, constuction paper, yellow beads, green ribbon

Germany-Read “The Cobweb Christmas” by Shirley Climo. Discuss German Christmas Traditions. Decorate class christmas tree or do mini tree project. Write and illustrate in Christmas Around the World book.
Supplies: Mini-tree project- pinecones, glue, green glitter, beads, candies, yellow yarn or
Metallic cording, foil star for top, red strips of construction paper

Italy- Read “Merry Christmas, Strenga Nona” or “The Legend of the Old Befana” Both by Tomie de Paola. Discuss Italian traditions. Write and illustrate in book. Do Hidden Letter project or ceppo project.

England- Read “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Jan Brett. Discuss English traditions. Make a Christmas card for a serviceman in Afganistan/Iraq. Write and illustrate in book.
Supplies: Christmas cards- constructions paper, art supplies

France- Read “ The Acrobat and the Angel” by Mark Shannon. Discuss French traditions. Make Community Santon’s paper doll from earlier in the year. Write and Illustrate in book.
Supplies: Santon doll- cut outs of friendship doll, eyes, hair

Sweden- Discuss Swedish traditions. Make Santa Lucia Headwreaths and starboy crowns. Write and illustrate in book.
Supplies: Crowns- constructions paper, stapler

Hannakah-Read "Hershel and the Hanukkah Gobblins" by Eric Kimmel. There's another story about a magic dreidel, but I can't remember what it is. Anyway, make a dreidel, sing the song, and play the game. All of this can be found online.

Kwanzaa-Read "Seven Candles for Kwanzaa". Make a Kwanzaa candle display using colored toothpicks as the candles.

USA- Read or Listen to “Twas the Night Before Christmas” Discuss American Traditions and what cultures we may have borrowed from. Write and illustrate in book. Write about their own traditions.

End of unit Festival set up as stations around the room.
Supplies for festival:
Mexico- God’s eyes- popsicle sticks, many colors of yarn
Germany- Christkindl Bells- white fabric, pine needles, gold, red, andyellow ribbon, gold pipe
cleaners, plastic wrap, small bells
France- Pere Noel game- small treat bags- candies, ribbon, wrapping paper
England- Crackers- toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper, ribbon, candies, small trinkets, paper hats
Italy- Quilling- strips of white paper, glue, ribbon
USA- cookie decorating station- cookie cut-outs, icing, spinkles

Food for festival:
Mexican Nut Cookies
German Gingerbread
English Wassail