S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Use the S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart during whole group or small group for students to practice concepts of print to include where to start reading, spacing between words, and return sweep. Students can also segment sentences and find letter and letter sounds.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 24”x 20” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 24”x 20”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> S-A-N-T-A Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Use the I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart during whole group or small group for students to practice concepts of print to include where to start reading, spacing between words, and return sweep. Students can also segment sentences and find letter and letter sounds.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 20”x 24” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 20”x 24”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> I’m a Little Pine Tree Anchor Chart (Christmas Printable}

Little Jack Horner Anchor Chart {FREEBIE!}

The anchor chart is part of our morning message. The students are beginning to understand some concepts of print. Each morning I omit random letters. I use letter sounds and the students have to tell me the letter name. This week I started talking about upper and lowercase letters and when to use them. The students also had to use picture clues to determine what the question was.

Directions: Two ways to print have been included. The anchor chart’s original size of 20”x 24” if you have access to a large format printer. Second, is tiled on 8.5”x 11”. Simply print, trim along cut lines, and assemble to 20”x 24”. Recommended to laminate finished anchor chart to use dry erase markers.

DOWNLOAD>> Little Jack Horner Anchor Chart {FREEBIE!}

All About Christmas

With only 3 weeks until Christmas break, things are going to be super busy for my kiddos. The first week back after Thanksgiving break our kids are going to Hambrick's Tree Farm to pick out their class Christmas tree. Then on December 8th we are going to the Agrirama in Tifton, Georgia, December 9th is Donuts for dad, and December 10th and 11th are parent teacher conferences.

Here is a list of  my December lesson plan themes:

November 30 - December 4: Holiday Trees
December 7 - 11: Gingerbread Man
December 13-19: Holiday Traditions


The lesson plans include the following types of activities: Morning Message with activity, Large Group Literacy, Phonemic Awareness, Small Group, two planned story times, and a closing activity.The standards are based on Bright From the Start GELDS.

Small Group Activities:

Week 1

Serration Holiday Tree - Students will put green rectangles in order from smallest to largest making a holiday tree. Then students will glue "ornaments" to each level of their tree starting with (1) object for the smallest up to (5) objects for the last level. This is a teacher led group. Since Bright from the Start requires a book and a book related activity to be done in small group, Group 2 will listen and discuss, The Littlest Evergreen before completing their activity.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Provide 1:1 assistance, a visual model, and add dots for each level of the holiday tree for the students to match. Help the students practice counting with the last number representing cardinality.
• Group 2: Provide a visual model only. Assist students as needed. 
• Group 3: Verbally give instructions for the students. Move around and assist when needed.

Candy Cane Pattern - Students will use red and white craft beads and string on a pipe cleaner in an AB pattern. This is a teacher led group.

Holiday Stocking - Students will use sales ads and a die-cut stocking labeled with, I Want ________ in my stocking. They will cut out pictures of what they would like in their stocking. This is an independent group.

Santa's Rhyme -Students will match rhyming pairs. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

ABC Holiday Matching - Students will match uppercase to lowercase letters. Students will work in cooperative pairs using a file folder game. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

Sensory Experience - Students will use playdoh and holiday themed cookie cutters. The students will practice fine motor and cooperation skills as they share and take turns with the materials. This is an independent group on Friday.

DOWNLOAD>> Holiday Trees 5 Day Lesson Plan

Week 2

Gingerbread Man - Students will draw a picture of themselves chasing a gingerbread man. Students will complete the sentence: Run, run as fast as you can _______ (fill in with students’ name) can’t catch me, I'm the Gingerbread man. When all three groups have completed their drawings bind them and make a class book to put in the library. This is a teacher led group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Students trace their name and/or write their name with teacher assistance providing hand-over-hand.
• Group 2: Provide name cards for the students to copy their name.
• Group 3: Students write their name independently.

Candy Cane Counting - Students will roll a die and count out the corresponding number of candy canes to put in the stocking. Then they will roll the die second time and place the corresponding number of candy canes in the stocking. Then they will count how many in all.This is a teacher led group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Model and assist the students 1:1. Pair the students into heterogeneous groups.
• Group 2: Model and pair students into heterogeneous groups.
• Group 3: Pair students into heterogeneous groups.

ABC Holiday Matching - Students will match uppercase to lowercase letters. Students will work in cooperative pairs using a file folder game. This is the same game from last week used in an independent group.

Differentiation: 

• Group 1: Match upper/uppercase letters.
• Group 2: Match upper/lowercase letters.
• Group 3: Match letters to pictures beginning with the same letter.

Merry Christmas Splat - Splat felt worried that he had not been good enough to get a big present. Chart the students' responses on ways you can be helpful around your home. This is a teacher led group on Friday.

Holiday Word Puzzles - Students will put together holiday word puzzles. This is an independent group on Friday.

Gingerbread Decoration - Students will use Little Debbie's Gingerbread cookies, white icing, and mini M&Ms to make their own gingerbread boy/girl. This is the only day the students will rotate through small groups in the same day. Save the cookies for the gingerbread hunt during large group literacy time. Once all of the gingerbread men have been made, make an excuse for all of the students to leave the room. Have another teacher hide the gingerbread men. Leave some evidence on the table showing the gingerbread men ran away. NOTE: Before school starts hide the gingerbread hunt cards around the school. I used Katie Mense's Gingerbread School Hunt cards found in her TPT store. 

I did this last year after studying about the gingerbread man all week on that Friday. Our school staff at Lanier County Primary School was awesome. We even went into the kitchen to see if the gingerbread men were there. The kitchen staff let us look in the ovens and everything. I still have students from last year asking if they are going to go on a gingerbread hunt in kindergarten.

DOWNLOAD>> Gingerbread School Hunt 

DOWNLOAD>> Gingerbread Man 5 Day Lesson Plan

Week 3

Syllable Counting -  Read and discuss, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Use story vocabulary and have students string a bead on a pipe cleaner for each syllable they hear. Story vocabulary words to use: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, sleigh, Santa, presents, elf,

Clap the syllables of each word and have the students count the number of claps and then string the beads on the pipe cleaner for each syllable. This is a teacher led group.

Hot Chocolate Math - Students will draw a number card and count out the corresponding number of marshmallows and place on their counting mat. Pair students into heterogeneously grouped pairs. This is a teacher led group.

Jingle Bell Pattern - Students will use (1) large jingle bell, (2) small jingle bells, and red/green beads to string creating a pattern. This is an independent group.

Rudolph Craft - Students will practice fine motor skills, listening, following directions and creativity making a footprint Rudolph. Students will trace their shoe on brown construction paper and cut out. Students then will add (2) eyes, (2) antlers, and (1) small red pompom. Both teacher led groups will do this on Thursday. Group 3 will do this activity as an independent group.

Classroom Activities:

Students will be involved in a variety of activities to promote language and literacy skills, mathematical reasoning, exploration, and fine motor control. The activities in the centers will be available to the students all month. Some of our center activities will include the following:

Art - Wreath art, candy cane scented paint, and, snowman salt dough keepsake ornament.

Writing Center - Students will practice copying Christmas vocabulary words.

Library - Students will read and listen to books about Christmas. They can also practice their writing skills by using Magna Doodle Boards. Also, students will practice matching uppercase letter to lowercase letters on a large Christmas tree poster.

Math - Students will practice counting out mini candy canes and putting them into mini stockings. Students will sort and match pompoms onto Christmas tree color sorting mats. Students will practice candy cane positional patterns.

Science - Students will explore pine boughs, pine cones, and tree trunk cuttings using magnifying glasses. In the sensory box students will scope and make seasonal scenes using cotton balls, green spray painted pine cones, white craft beads, and figurines.

Dramatic Play - Students will practice socio-dramatic play by pretending to be Santa's elves. Students can practice fine motor skills by wrapping packages, stuffing stockings, and decorating a small Christmas tree. Students will also practice writing skills by addressing holiday cards that have been laminated.

Printable Links:

 Christmas Alphabet & Number Board Game

 Christmas Vocabulary Word Work - PreK to 2nd Grade Printables!

 Christmas Literacy Unit - PreK to 2nd Grade Printables!

 Christmas Math Center Activities - Over 87 Pages for PreK to 2nd Grade!

 Christmas Wreath Shape Match -- PreK File Folder Game!

 Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats - Math Center for PreK to 2nd Grade

 Christmas Object Sort - Printable for PreK to 2nd Grade

 Christmas Stocking Color Word Matching Game - FREEBIE!

YouTube.com Educational Links:

I have put together a collection of songs and read a-loud books about Christmas.

CLICK HERE>> Christmas Theme Pre-K

Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats

Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats are perfect for Pre-K to 2nd grade. Students practice counting, numeral identification, and fine motor skills.

The packet contains the following:

• Level 1: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed numerals 1 to 20. Each mat as the corresponding number of Christmas balls colored.
• Level 2: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed numerals 1 to 20.
• Level 3: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed number words only.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. I store all of the Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats grouped by level in a plastic file folder for easy access.
• To print multiple Christmas trees on one page choose the MULTIPLE PAGE PER SHEET sheeting under PAGE SCALING in Adobe Acrobat.

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats

Christmas Wreath Shape Match

Christmas Wreath Shape Match cards are perfect for one:one correspondence, listening and following directions.

The packet contains the following:

• (1) 8.5” X 11” Color Christmas Wreath shape mat.
• (1) 8.5” X 11” B & W Christmas Wreath shape mat.
• (10) Color Matching Shape Cards.
• (10) B & W Matching Shape Cards.
• (1) Christmas Wreath Shape Homework Activity.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability except for the homework sheet. Once laminated, cut along the dotted line. 

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Wreath Shape Match

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas Time is Almost Here

Well, it's that time of year again, Christmas. I can hardly believe how fast this year is progressing. My students certainly have come a long way since the beginning of the school year. They are so excited about the holiday season. This school year, I have various levels of learning, more so than in previous years. So, I have created activities that have several skill levels.

I have planned a lot of fun, creative, and engaging learning activities for them this year. Listed below are a few of the poems, songs, and activities that I am using this year in my PreK class.

Keep checking back often as I am continually updating the list of activities.

Poems

Christmas Tree

If I were a pine

With needles lean,

If I were a fir

With branches green,

Do you know what

I'd want to be?

A shimmering, shining

Christmas tree!

~ Author Unknown ~

Christmas Wreaths

Our Christmas wreaths

Are fat and round

Made of woodsy things

We found.

We tied brown cones

Upon the green

And stuck red berries

In between.

Upon the wreath

For our front door

We tied a ribbon from a store.

~ Author Unknown ~

Santa

Santa Claus is big and fat

He wears black boots

And a bright red hat.

His nose is red

Just like a rose

And he "ho ho ho's"

From his head to his toes!

~ Author Unknown ~

Five Christmas Candles

Five Christmas candles

With flames so gay,

Dance and flicker

On Christmas day

Five Christmas candles

With flames so gay

Melt away

On Christmas Day.

~ Author Unknown ~

Christmas Candles 

Christmas candles burning bright,

Shining in the winter night.

Shining there for all to see,

Christmas candles for all to see,

Christmas candles one, two, three.

Christmas candles burning bright,

Shine until the morning light.

~ Author Unknown ~

Oh

Oh, I took a lick of my peppermint stick

And I thought it tasted yummy!

It used to be on my Christmas tree,

But I like it better in my tummy!  Yummy!

~ Author Unknown ~

Santa Claus's  Ride

Santa Claus went for a ride

across

around

over

past

through

under

and got back in time for a snack of gingerbread cookies and hot  chocolate

and a long cozy nap.

~ Author Unknown ~

This Little Present

The little present is for Mary.

This little present is for Ted.

This little present is for Harry.

This little present is for Ned.

This little present cried,

"Boo, hoo, hoo!  Please put me in a Christmas stocking, too!"

~ Author Unknown ~

Songs

Where is Santa?

(tune: Are you sleeping?)

Where is Santa? (hands behind back)

Where is Santa?

Here I am! (arms out in front, making a belly shape!)

Here I am!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Merry, Merry, Christmas! (keep arms up through the rest of the song!)

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

~ Author Unknown~

We'll Decorate the Tree

(tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

We'll decorate the tree.

We'll decorate the tree.

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

We'll decorate the tree.

The presents we will wrap,

The presents we will wrap,

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

The presents we will wrap.

Carols we will sing,

Carols we will sing,

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

Carols we will sing.

~ Author Unknown~

There Was a Man

(tune: BINGO)

There was a man in a big red suit

And Santa was his name-o.

S - a - n - t -a    

S - a -n - t - a  

S - a - n - t - a

And Santa was his name-o!

Additional verses:

2. He has a big white fluffy beard.

3. He rides a sleigh of 8 reindeer.

4. He has a sack all filled with toys.

5. He brings the toys for girls and boys.

6. He'll come again another year.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

~ Author Unknown~

Santa's Coming

(tune: Frere Jacques)

Santa's coming,

Santa's coming

Sleigh bells ring,

Sleigh bells ring,

It is Christmas Eve.

It is Christmas Eve.

Ding, ding, dong.

Ding, ding, dong.

~ Author Unknown~

Activities

Stocking Color Words

Setting: Small Group, Literacy Centers

Objective: Color sight word identification, matching

Materials: Stocking Color Word cards available for free. Click on the link below.

Directions: Seat your students around a table and place the Stocking Color Word cards in a basket. Have the students work in pairs matching the color sight word to the matching color stocking. There are two levels of play. Level 1: Color sight words are written the color represented. Level 2: All color sight words are written in black.

DOWNLOAD>> Stocking Color Word Cards

Stacking Gifts
[Block Center]

Wrap cardboard boxes (large and small) in Christmas gift wrap. Add them to the block center for children to stack.

Gift Box Guessing Game 
[Large Group] 
Decorate a large cardboard box to look like a gift box, and play this guessing game. While everyone’s eyes are closed, tap one child on the shoulder. That child will crawl in the big gift box. Tell the children to open their eyes and guess who is missing from the circle.

Christmas Wreath

[Take Home Project] 

Use a sturdy green paper plate and cut out the middle and send one home with each student.  Encourage their family to creatively help them decorate their wreath.

Christmas Sort File Folder Game

Setting: Small Group, Math Centers

Objective: Sorting

Materials: Use the Christmas Sort cards. Have students sort the cards into Christmas and Not Christmas. Two levels of play. Level 1: Students can place pictures about Christmas into a stocking. Level 2: Have the students place pictures about Christmas on the Christmas tree and pictures not about Christmas on the Christmas tree with a red X.

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Sort File Folder Game