This is our final week of celebrating Christmas at preschool with our Bible emphasis being "The Angels Tell the Good News to Shepherds and Wise Men."  To finish our "Christmas Is . . ." books this week, the children will make a hand-print wreath with finger print holly berries.  We will add a special picture to the center of each wreath, and you will then be able to take your child's book home, wet paint may be included.  We will sing "The First Noel," "Away in a Manger," and "Jingle Bells."  We have planned a new fingerplay called "Three Great Kings."

THREE GREAT KINGS
Three great kings on a cold winter's night
  (hold up three fingers) (hug self, shivering)
Found the baby Jesus, guided by the light.
  (rock arms)                 (point to sky)
The first king said, "We've come so far."
  (hold up 1 finger)    (arms out at sides)
The second king said, "We followed the star."
  (hold up 2 fingers)   (point to sky)
The third king said, "Great gifts we bring."
  (hold up 3 fingers)  (extend hands out in front)
And together they said, "Great praises we sing."
                                      (hands around mouth)
The they knelt, and they prayed, and they bowed their heads.
  (kneel)            (hands in praying position)    (bow head)
As they worshipped baby Jesus in His manger bed.
  (sit on heels, extend arms forward to floor, bow head)

   During our opening time, we will continue our music and movement with Christmas songs and playing our bell twirlers.  We will also decorate a Christmas ornament for your tree using pine needles as a paint brush.  These ornaments will also have a special picture of your child.
  Our snack this week will be graham crackers and Christmas fruit snacks.  Storytime this week includes: "Llama Llama Holiday Drama" another favorite written by Anna Dewdney.  We will also read "Baby Jesus is Born" by Juliet David. 
  I am also planning to bring back the xylophone for a carol sing-a-long for fun.
  I pray you have a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.  If any are sending out family photo Christmas cards this year, I would appreciate having one.  Thanks so much.
Mrs. Shelly

This week, our Bible story will center on Baby Jesus is born.  We will make pages to add to our "Christmas Is. . ." book by making a Shining Star using star sponges, yellow paint and some glitter.  We will also decorate a candy cane with red stripes and show how a candy cane is shaped like the letter "J" for Jesus.  Also, we will talk about how the color red remind us that Jesus grew up and died on the cross for our sins, and the white reminds us that now our sins can look as white as snow.  We will continue to sing our Christmas carols, "Joy to the World," "Away in a Manger," "We wish you a Merry Christmas," and "5 Little Candles."  We will also sing "Twinkle Star" and "ABC."

During our opening time, we will decorate a paper Christmas tree with Christmas symbol stamps and different colors of ink.  We will continue to have our music and movement with our bell twirlers and Christmas carols.  We will also take special pictures of each of the children this week with our new shiny red backdrop for our "Christmas Is. . ." book.  Our snack this week will be animal cookies and raisins.  We have a nativity set with "Little People" characters which we will place in our mystery bag.  The children will take turns selecting a character and trying to identify who it is.

Storytime this week is "Biscuit's Christmas" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli about all the sights and smells of Christmas time.  Our second book is "Silent Night" which shows all the visitors that came to visit baby Jesus.  When the button is pushed, the lights light up and Silent Night is played.

We will have regular classes this week and next week also, and then our Christmas break begins.
Have a blessed Christmas season!
Mrs. Shelly