UCCPA 1-2s

We are excited as we enter the Christmas season and look forward to celebrating the season with your children.  This week, we will begin with the Bible story of the angel appearing to Mary and Joseph with the promise of a Saviour.  Our craft activity will include painting glitter wings on an angel.  Also, we will make a nativity scene with popcycle sticks, straw, and paper figures of all who were in the stable.  We are planning to gather each child's Christmas crafts into a book called "Christmas Is . . ." to remind all of the true meaning of Christmas.  We will be enjoying Christmas carols during our opening music and movement time and singing "Joy to the World," "Jesus Loves Me," "Away in a Manger," and "Jingle Bells" during our circle time.  I am also bringing in a xylophone that we can have a sing-a-long as I try to tap out Christmas tunes.  We also have a new fingerplay called "Five Little Candles" (words below) which I have prepared five candles with red felt flames with one through five glittered on each.  For our snack, we will have Teddy Grahams and raisins.  During our opening time, we will continue painting our animals from "Brown Bear."  This week, we will use cotton balls attached to clothes pins to paint "black sheep."  Storytime this week includes "Christmas in a Barn," a Margaret Wise Brown story.  Also, a favorite from last year, is "Llama Llama Red Pajama" about a little llama overcoming his bedtime fears with a little help from Mama.

Please remember to bundle your children up as we will continue to play outside, weather permitting, as long as the temperatures are above freezing.

Have a peaceful Christmas season,
Mrs. Shelly

FIVE LITTLE CANDLES
Five little candles burning so bright. (wiggle fingers)
The first one said, "We make great light!" (arms up)
The second one said, "The child is born." (rock baby)
The third one said, "Our light will adorn." (arms out in front, palms up)
The fourth one said, "We shine for Him." (palms forward at sides of face, fingers spread)
The fifth one said, "Let's not be dim." (cover pointer finger with other hand)
So they stood very tall and glowed very bright.
And the Christ child smiled that very night.