It's hard to believe that the Christmas season is upon us and my hope for you and your family is time to slow down and to enjoy this special time. With all that is happening in the world right now, my prayer for you is to have peace.
Instead of adding to your school routine for the next couple of weeks, I encourage you to make Christmas what you do ... celebrate while you learn, and learn while you prepare! Do what works for your family and leave the rest...I give you permission to do this! ;-) Do you like crafts and baking...embrace it! Or not, lol!
This is a short season...and what will be enough is to enjoy each other and enjoy the season, along with the many lessons it will bring. Don't stress over things that aren't being "covered".
Read on for some ideas on ways you can incorporate some learning at this time of year.
Instead of adding to your school routine for the next couple of weeks, I encourage you to make Christmas what you do ... celebrate while you learn, and learn while you prepare! Do what works for your family and leave the rest...I give you permission to do this! ;-) Do you like crafts and baking...embrace it! Or not, lol!
This is a short season...and what will be enough is to enjoy each other and enjoy the season, along with the many lessons it will bring. Don't stress over things that aren't being "covered".
Read on for some ideas on ways you can incorporate some learning at this time of year.
Christmas Unit studies
A Gather 'Round Christmas - Focus is on connecting with family, focusing on truth and spreading God's love and joy and peace to others, not just focusing on ourselves.
The Nutcracker - Learn the story behind the ballet, as well as about music and ballet.
Truth in the Tinsel - This has 24 days worth of Advent Activities for each of the days leading up to Christmas! The lessons are suggested to take about 30 minutes each day.
Christmas Around the World - This mini-unit study includes some fun facts for 9 different countries and their customs regarding Christmas celebrations. Included are some fun hands on recipes and activities to help make the study memorable!
Christmas Fun with 1+1+1=1 - Ideal for kiddos aged 3-6, this site has lots of fun crafts, printables and ideas to enjoy.
The Nutcracker - Learn the story behind the ballet, as well as about music and ballet.
Truth in the Tinsel - This has 24 days worth of Advent Activities for each of the days leading up to Christmas! The lessons are suggested to take about 30 minutes each day.
Christmas Around the World - This mini-unit study includes some fun facts for 9 different countries and their customs regarding Christmas celebrations. Included are some fun hands on recipes and activities to help make the study memorable!
Christmas Fun with 1+1+1=1 - Ideal for kiddos aged 3-6, this site has lots of fun crafts, printables and ideas to enjoy.
Advent Books
Jotham's Journey - We started this series a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. It is best suited for children 6+. The first book is about a ten-year-old shepherd boy who gets mad at his father and runs away from home. Getting back again can be deadly, but along the way he learns the story of the Messiah and ends up in Bethlehem.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas - Ann Voskamp's beautifully illustrated book takes kids and families through the tradition of decorating a Jesse Tree, a ritual that connects the Christmas story with stories of the Old Testament. While the text in this daily Advent book can be a bit overwhelming for preschoolers and young elementary-aged children, the Jesse Tree tradition is an interactive activity, children will love to engage.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas - Ann Voskamp's beautifully illustrated book takes kids and families through the tradition of decorating a Jesse Tree, a ritual that connects the Christmas story with stories of the Old Testament. While the text in this daily Advent book can be a bit overwhelming for preschoolers and young elementary-aged children, the Jesse Tree tradition is an interactive activity, children will love to engage.
Stories to enjoy
The Crippled Lamb - Experience the tender love God has for those who feel alone and different. Joshua was a lamb with a crippled leg who felt left out because he couldn’t run and play like the other lambs. But God had a very special plan for Joshua’s life, as He does for all who feel alone.
Christmas in the Big Woods - Long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in a little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. Winter was just around the corner, and Laura worked hard to help make the little house ready for the cold days ahead. Soon there was frost on the windows and snow on the ground, but Laura and her folks were warm and cozy in their snug little house in the Big Woods.
The Donkey's Dream - A beautifully illustrated story of the Nativity. He was just an ordinary donkey, but on his back he carried a miracle. He carried the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem on the night she gave birth.
The Tale of Three Trees - This story looks at the lives of three trees and the hopes and dreams they have for their future. While their individual dreams do come to pass, it is not in the way they had imagined. As the story unfolds, readers will find that each tree's life is tied to the life of Jesus in some way.
Christmas in the Country - This story evokes the warmth of the joyful Christmas season and celebrates one of the greatest gifts of all--the love of family.
J is for Jesus - Everyone loves a candy cane-but it's easy to overlook the meaning of this familiar Christmas tradition in all the hustle and bustle of the season. This sweet story reminds little ones that the candy cane represents Jesus' birth and the gospel message too.
Christmas in the Big Woods - Long ago, a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in a little house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters, Mary and Carrie, and their good old bulldog, Jack. Winter was just around the corner, and Laura worked hard to help make the little house ready for the cold days ahead. Soon there was frost on the windows and snow on the ground, but Laura and her folks were warm and cozy in their snug little house in the Big Woods.
The Donkey's Dream - A beautifully illustrated story of the Nativity. He was just an ordinary donkey, but on his back he carried a miracle. He carried the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem on the night she gave birth.
The Tale of Three Trees - This story looks at the lives of three trees and the hopes and dreams they have for their future. While their individual dreams do come to pass, it is not in the way they had imagined. As the story unfolds, readers will find that each tree's life is tied to the life of Jesus in some way.
Christmas in the Country - This story evokes the warmth of the joyful Christmas season and celebrates one of the greatest gifts of all--the love of family.
J is for Jesus - Everyone loves a candy cane-but it's easy to overlook the meaning of this familiar Christmas tradition in all the hustle and bustle of the season. This sweet story reminds little ones that the candy cane represents Jesus' birth and the gospel message too.