Wee Read - Chanukah and Christmas (2012)

Early Literacy Tip: Share books with your children at least ten minutes a day, beginning at infancy. Don't worry if babies chew on or play with the books - it's all part of the process leading up to reading.

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

Spin Little Dreidels

Spin little dreidels, go, go, GO!                                         

Spin little dreidels, now go SLOW!                                 

Jump, little dreidels, jump so high                                    

Now, STOP! And reach for the sky!                              

Now little dreidels, find your nose                                 

Now little dreidels, find your toes!                                

Spin little dreidel, round and round                               

Round and round till you fall to the ground!

--Storytime with the Library Lady

Open Shut Them

Book One

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Susan L. Roth

I Am a Little Dreidel
I am a little dreidel
(Point to yourself)
I am a little top
(Pat your head)
When you twist my handle,
(Spin around)
I spin until I drop!
(Fall to the floor)

--PreschoolEducation

Holiday Candles

I changed the title from Christmas to Holiday

--from 1001 Rhymes and Fingerplays by the Totline Staff. Torrance, CA: Warren Publishing House, 1994.

Book Two

Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

Three Little Christmas Trees 

Three little Christmas trees,
Standing all alone.
Their hearts were very sad,
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax
And down fell a tree
And off one went with a happy family!
(continue until no trees)No little Christmas Trees
Were standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

--PreschoolEducation

Reindeer Pokey

Sung to: "The Hokey Pokey"You put your antlers in,

You put your antlers out.
You put your 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!
You put your hooves in....
You put your red nose in....
You put your fluffy tail in...
You put your reindeer body in...

--PreschoolEducation

Let's All

Sung to: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"Let's all do a little clapping, x3
and spread holiday cheer.

2. Stomping
3. Jumping

--PreschoolEducation

Read Together

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Peek-a-boo! by Judith Moffat 

The More We Get Together

Wee Read - Thanksgiving/Hanukkah/Christmas

Early Literacy Tip of the Week:

Don’t resist using “Motherese” (the tone of voice and language you use when speaking to babies and children). This style of speaking is easier for babies to listen to and learn from. --Kt Paxton “Enhancing Language Development in Childhood”

Good Morning

Hello, How are You?

If You’re a Turkey and You Know It

If you’re a turkey and you know it,

Flap your wings.

If you’re a turkey and you know it,

Flap your wings.

If you’re a turkey and you know it,

And you really want to show it.

If you’re a turkey and you know it,

Flap your wings.

Continue with wibble, wobble; gobble gobble; do all three.

--PreschoolEducation.com

Open Shut Them

Book One

My First Thanksgiving by Tomie DePaola

Hello Mr. Turkey 

Sung to: "If You're Happy and You Know It" 
Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you?
Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you?
With a gobble, gobble, gobble,
And a wobble, wobble, wobble.
Hello, Mr. Turkey, how are you?

--PreschoolEducation.com

Turkey Feathers

--from Felt Board Fingerplays by Liz and Dick Wilmes. Elgin, IL: Building Blocks, 1997.

I Am a Little Dreidel
I am a little dreidel
(Point to yourself)
I am a little top
(Pat your head)
When you twist my handle,
(Spin around)
I spin until I drop!
(Fall to the floor)

--PreschoolEducation

I Wiggle My Fingers

Book Two
Where Is Baby's Dreidel by Karen Katz

Let's All

Sung to: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
and spread holiday cheer.

2. Stomping
3. Jumping

--PreschoolEducation

Ring the Bells

Sung to: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

Ring, ring, ring the bells,

Ring them loud and clear

Tell the people everywhere

That Christmas time is here.

--PreschoolEducation

Book Three

Christmas Parade by Sandra Boynton

The More We Get Together

Storytime - Holiday Happiness

I'm always a little nervous when it comes to talking about the Winter holidays, but I think it's important to discuss them. I only cover Hanukkah and Christmas, only talking about the bare bones of their traditions (dreidels, lighting the menorah, gelt, latkes, Santa, decorating a tree, reindeer, etc).

Books

Hanukkah Lights by David Martin

Toddler

It's Christmas by Tina Burke

Toddler

Hanukkah: A Counting Book in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish by Emily Sper

Preschool

I'm Not Santa by Jonathan Allen

Preschool

Songs/Rhymes

I Am a Little Dreidel
I am a little dreidel
(Point to yourself)
I am a little top
(Pat your head)
When you twist my handle,
(Spin around)
I spin until I drop!
(Fall to the floor)

--PreschoolEducation

Note: This is the cutest song. Children and parents love singing it over and over again!

Let's All

Sung to: "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
and spread Christmas cheer.

2.Jumping
3.Twirling

--PreschoolEducation

Reindeer Pokey

Sung to: "The Hokey Pokey"
You put your antlers in,

You put your antlers out.
You put your 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!
You put your hooves in....
You put your red nose in....
You put your fluffy tail in...
You put your reindeer body in...

--PreschoolEducation

This is especially cute if you make reindeer masks or antler headbands.

Felt Board

Hanukkah Candles

Sung to: "I've Been Working on the Railroad"

I've been lighting all the candles
On this Hanukah night.
I've been lighting all the candles
Just to see them shining bright.
Flicker, flicker little candle
Fill me with your glow
Now the time has come to count them
Ready set let's go!

Count candles.

--PerpetualPreschool

Five Little Christmas Trees 

Five little Christmas trees,
Standing all alone.
Their hearts were very sad,
'Cause they hadn't found a home.
Then chop went the ax

Make a chopping action with arm

And down fell the tree
And off one went with a happy family!
(continue from 4-1 Christmas Trees)
No little Christmas Trees
Standing all alone
Their hearts were very happy
'Cause they all found a home!!!

--PreschoolEducation

Games

Spin the Dreidel

I explained to the preschoolers what a dreidel was, then modeled how to spin it. Every child who wanted to give it a try was invited to come to the front and give it a whirl. Not everyone came up to do it, but the brave ones who did had lots of fun. 

Craft

Holiday Candles

This is a super easy craft to prepare AND make, leaving more time for holiday songs and games. I used this craft with both groups.

Materials: Colored tissue paper squares, toilet paper rolls, and a yellow construction paper flame. That's it! No glue or tape required.

Directions: Wrap the tissue paper around the roll, tuck in the ends, and tuck in the flame on top.