Holiday Greetings

There are many holidays in December ranging from National Maple Syrup Day (12/17) to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and others.  Not to mention New Year's Eve.  Here are some ideas to keep your readers busy! 

National Maple Syrup Day provides us with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious American treat. This sweet and unique flavor originated in America. Native American Indians were the first to harvest and boil the sap of the maple tree into a thick syrup.  http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/December/maplesyrupday.htm




 Christmas  is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people  around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

 

Kwanzaa = Monday, December 26, 2011

- Sunday, January 01, 2012

Kwanzaa is a non-religious, week-long holiday established in 1966 to celebrate African heritage. Observances include candle-lighting, social gatherings, and reflection on seven community-oriented principles.

Happy New Year!   Here are some ideas for setting healthy eating resolutions as well.http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/parenting/tips-for-setting-new-years-resolutions-for-kids-and-family/Here are some ideas for New Year's Resolutions for kids. 

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/new-years-day/printables/ 

National Cookie Day is December 4

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Everyone knows cookies taste good, but these cookies also have something good to say. Open this delectable book to any page and you will find out something about life. Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons is a new kind of dictionary, one that defines mysteries such as "fair" and "unfair" and what it really means to "cooperate." The book is by turns clever, honest, inspirational, and whimsical. Go ahead, take a bite!

Another title by the same author -Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
For many families Christmas is not just a time for parties, Christmas trees, and gifts. It is also a time when children and adults come together to make Christmas cookies. Not only are these treats delicious to eat, but they also offer families the opportunity to step out of their busy lives for a moment to connect in a meaningful way.  Here is a video as well. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-IirbSCfqc

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - by Laura Numeroff, visit http://teachingreaderstothink.blogspot.com/2010/08/if-you-take-mouse-to-school-laura.html for more "if you give a mouse . . . books and activities

Happy baking . . . happy times! 

Book Cooks: 26 Step-By-Step Recipes Inspired by Favorite Children's Books by Cheryl Apgar

I love cooking with kids.  I have even attempted it in classrooms of 25 students.  Here is an easy-to-follow recipes (one for each letter of the alphabet) and numerous activities that include songs, poems and chants, that enhance literacy and math skills while students learn and enjoy hands-on-cooking experiences.

Math, Reading, Writing and other activities are numerous in this activity based resource - 
http://books.google.com/books?id=BnrcAlpvOoEC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=Book+Cooks:+26+Step-By-Step+Recipes+Inspired+by+Favorite+Children%27s+Books++by+Cheryl+Apgar&source=bl&ots=7xo-LmND_C&sig=E7D8QDWDH5La0S5kVNHaQrU6BQs&hl=en&ei=p57SToqLM8bg0QGQn4gi&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Eating The Plates : A Pilgrim Book Of Food And Manners by Lucille Recht Penner

Great book to share history with children. Eating the Plates, invites you to learn what it was like to come across the Atlantic on the Mayflower and settling in the New World. The book shares the experiences that the Pilgrims had to endure from ship travel on an open vessel to struggle of survival - choice of food, housing, disease, and bugs. Pilgrims had a hard time finding food that they liked to eat. With the help of the Indians, they were introduced to corn, deer and turkey. Trade brought them spices, molasses and sugar.
The ten recipes at the end of the book are tasty and fun!

Chalk by Bill Thomson

In this wordless picture book, three young children arrive at the park to find a bag of colored chalk that turns their imaginary drawings into something very real. Enchanting!  Check out hte author's website as well - http://www.billthomson.com/

A video as well - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRw1YcwSUw

Enjoy!

Apples, Apples, Everywhere . . .

Yesterday was the last day of our local Farmers' Market, well at least until the Spring, I just couldn't resist the 1/2 bushel of apples.  So the house now smells like cinimmon, nutmeg and wonderful boiling apples.  This will be out fruit for the cold winter!  So . . . I just had to post some books for kids with an "apple" theme.  Enjoy!

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by   Here is a fun book compelte with map, recipes, video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT2ls2Cxym4 http://delightfullearning.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-make-apple-pie-and-see-world.html    Yum!

 Here is a fun lesson linked to Science and Math - http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/apples-apples-apples-lesson-plan

The Apple Pie Tree Book by Zoe Hal is the story of two sisters who have an apple tree. The story describes what happens each season with their tree such as robins building a nest in the spring amidst the apple blossoms and the apples growing larger during the summer while they run in the sprinkler underneath. When fall comes, they harvest the apples and make an apple pie.
The illustrations in this book are called a painted and found-paper collage technique. It results in a colorful and graphic illustration style that will appeal to preschool and kindergarten aged children. It is an excellent book for showing how an apple tree changes over the seasons as well as the key stages of the apple tree's life cycle.

Read more at Suite101: Children's Picture Books for Lesson Plans on Apple Trees, Seasons | Suite101.com http://sallie-schaaf-borrink.suite101.com/childrens-picture-books-for-lesson-plans-on-apple-trees-seasons-a231989#ixzz1cvdCUOEQ

Happy Halloween!

There are so many books to share related to this time of the year - here are just a few, along with some fun links for "things to do". . .

The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun by Wendie Old 

Here you'll find a history of the holiday, fun facts, some halloween stories, and plans for a children's Halloween party. I LOVE the cat on the cover, don't you? Especially the way his tail curves around the moon.  (later I might tell you the story behind this wonderful cover.) And the illustrations inside are not scary at all -- not even the one where Frankenstein and Dracula are sitting side by side near a cozy fire, reading each other's book.  (Fun Fact -- did you know that there actually is a Count Dracula?  And that he runs the Red Cross blood bank in his country?) 

Here is the author's blog - 

http://blog.wendieold.com/2011/10/nonfiction-monday-halloween-book-of.html

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler 
The skeleton character is portrayed in a friendly light - non-threatening and non-scary. Suffering from hiccups, the skeleton hopes for a cure. His friend, a ghost, comes up with an ingenious cure. Kids find the story silly and funny. A joy to read aloud!


Here is the author's website - http://www.margerycuyler.com/home.html


Cards, games and activities can be found at http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/halloween/kids-books/