SANTA PRINTS
If your children are looking for evidence that Santa actually came try out this little trick:
Dip a manīs boot in baking soda and make a few imprints across the carpet in your room. This works best with dark carpet. When the children arrive they will see the "snow" prints leading to the tree!
This can be done for the Easter bunny, too. Just cut out a sponge to the shape of a rabbitīs footprint. After making tracks have the children follow the tracks to their hidden treats!
DECK THE HALLS
DECK THE HALLS
from Wales
(This old song was first sung in Wales when Christmas merry-making lasted nmonly as long as the great yule log burned.)
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
īTis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la , la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Troll the ancient Christmas carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new! ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
IN SANTAīS WORKSHOP - FINGER PLAY
In Santaīs Workshop far away
Ten little elves work night and day. (hold up ten fingers)
This little elf makes candy canes; (point to the little finger on one hand0
This little elf builds stream lined trains. (continue pointing to each finger in succession.0
This little elf paints dolls for girls,
This little elf puts in their curls;
This little elf clips chocolate drops;
This little elf makes lollipops.
This little elf packs each jack in the box
This little elf sews dolly socks.
This little elf wraps books for girls and boys,
This little elf checks off the toys.
As Santa packs them in his sleigh,
Ready for you on Christmas day.
OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
Over the river and through the wood
To Grandfatherīs house we go.
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow.
Over the river and through the wood --
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.
Over the river and through the wood
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring,
Ting-a-ling-ling!
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river and through the wood,
Trot fast, my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barnyard gate.
We seem to go
Extremely slow --
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river and through the wood --
Now Grandmotherīs cap I spy!
Hurrah for fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurray for the pumpkin pie!
REINDEER POKY -GAME
(sung to the tune of "The Hokey Poky")
You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out.
You put you antlers in and you shake them all about.
You do the Reindeer Poky and you turn yourself around.
(Continue with the following verses)
Thatīs what itīs 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...
WHERE IS SANTA?
WHERE IS SANTA?
(Sung to the tune: Are you sleeping?)
Where is Santa? Where is Santa? (hands behind back)
Here I am! Here I am! (arms out in front making a belly shape!)
Merry, Merry Christmas! Merry, Merry, Christmas!
Ho! Ho! Ho!, Ho! Ho! Ho! (keep arms up through the rest of the song!)
LETīS ALL DO A LITTLE CLAPPING
(sung to "We Wish You A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!")
Letīs all do a little clapping,
Letīs all do a little clapping,
Letīs all do a little clapping,
And spread Christmas cheer.
You can change the clapping to other activities.
2.Jumping
3.Twirling
4.Stretching
5.Bending
SANTA IS BACK
Two merry blue eyes, (point to eyes)
A cute little nose, (point to nose)
A long, snowy beard (stroke pretend beard0
Two cheeks like a rose.
A round, chubby form, (rub tummy)
A big, bulging sack, (bend shoulders, hold "sack")
Hurrah for old Santa, (clap hands)
Weīre glad that heīs back.
GINGERBREAD MAN -SONG
See the "Meals and Snacks" section for a gingerbread recipe.
Stir a bowl of gingerbread (stir as in a bowl)
Smooth and spicy brown.
Roll it with a rolling pin, (roll dough with pin) up and up and down.
With a cookie cutter. (cut cookies with a cutter)
Make some little men.
Put them in the oven (put pan in oven)
Until half past ten.
EIGHT LITTLE REINDEER ACTION PLAY
EIGHT LITTLE REINDEER
Eight little reindeer pulling Santaīs sled One fell down and bumped him head
The elves called Santa, and Santa said, "Can seven little reindeer pull my sled?"
Continue counting down - seven little reindeer, six little reindeer, five,
four, three, and two ... THEN
One little reindeer pulling Santaīs sled He fell down and bumped his head
The elves called Santa, and Santa said, "Call Rudolph!"
I CAN BE
fingerplay
I can be:
As tall as a Christmas tree (stretch tall)
As round as Santa. (circle arms in front)
As tiny as an elf. (bend body to become smaller)
I can:
Bend like a candy cane. (bend head and neck)
Look like a star. (stretch arms and legs in all directions)
Prance like a reindeer. (prance around the room)
CHRISTMAS MATCHING PARTY GAME
On a name tag sticker write 2 words that go together such as
Santa Clause & Mrs. Claus,
Hot Chocolate & Marshmallows
Reindeer & Sleigh
Snow & Shovels
Stockings & Presents
Christmas Trees & Ornaments
As each person arrived they had a sticker placed on their backs so they could not see what their sticker said. The person had to go around and ask questions to figure out who they were. The next obstacle was to find their mate. This is a good game and is enjoyed by kids of all ages.
THIS IS CHRISTMAS
(sung to īTwinkle Twinkle Little Starī)
What is Christmas? Weīll tell you.
Itīs putting love in all we do;
In our work, and in our play.
In our living every day.
It is showing love for others,
Father, Mother, Sisters, Brothers.
HANG A REAL STOCKING
Help your child make a homemade stocking for the fireplace. Take a clean, hole free sock (Dadīs sock is great!) and let your child decorate it with ribbons, bows, lace and whatever else you can think of.
JINGLE BELLS
Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!
Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh,
Oh Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!
Oh want fun it is to ride In a one horse open sleigh! Hey!
O CHRISTMAS TREE
From Germany
(The tune of this carol is said to be one of the oldest in the world. During the Civil War, it was used for the Confederate song, "Maryland, My Maryland.")
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
Theyīre green when summer days are bright;
Theyīre green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
WASSAIL SONG
From England
(Wassial! So sang the merry carolers in old England as they went from house to house carrying their wassail bowl filled with hot, spiced ale.)
Here we come a-wassailing,
Among the leaves so green,
Here we come a-wandering
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you from your wassail too,
And God bless you , and send you a happy New Year,
And God grant you a happy New Year.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve lords-a-leaping
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans-a-swimming,
Six geese-a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four colly birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
From Austria
(This carol was first sung in a little church in Austria almost 150 years ago. It was composed by the organist one Christmas Eve. And it was sung the next day to the strumming of a guitar because the organ had broken down!)
Silent night! Holy night
All is calm, all is bright!
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
From the United States
(Edmund Sears, an American minister, wrote this carol as a poem in 1850. The poem was so lovely that a friend suggested the words be set to music. Dr. Sears sent his poem to Richard Willis in Boston who composed the beautiful melody.)
It came upon a midnight clear,
That glorius song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heavīns all gracious King";
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
CHRISTMAS CANDY LESSON
I wrapped red and green M&Mīs in colored cellophane and tied with curling ribbon and attached this poem for the kids in my daycare.
As you hold these candies In your hand,
And turn them, You will see.
The M becomes a W,
An E, and then a 3.
They tell the Christmas story,
Itīs one Iīm sure you know.
It took place in a stable.
A long, long, time ago.
The E is for the East,
Where the star shone so bright.
The M is for the Manger,
Where Baby Jesus slept that night.
The 3 is for the Wise men,
Bearing gifts, they say they came.
W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name.
So as you eat these candies,
Or share them with a friend.
Remember the meaning of Christmas,
Itīs a Love story that never ends.
OLD ST. NICHOLAS - song
(tune Old McDonald had a farm)
Old St. Nicholas had a tree (form tree with arms)
Ho, ho ho ho ho!
And on that tree he had some horns (blow horns)
Ho ho ho ho ho!
With a toot toot here and a toot toot there
Here a toot. There a toot. Every where a toot, toot
Continue....
Lights------------flash, flash
Candy canes-------yum-yum
Drums-------------boom-boom
Bells-------------ring, ring
Birds-------------peep, peep
Stars-------------twinkle, twinkle
Snowflakes--------flutter, flutter
A SHY SANTA
Isnīt it the strangest thing,
That Santa is so shy? (hide face with hands)
We can never, never catch him, (make fingers run)
No matter how we try.
It isnīt any use to w (hold hand to eyes and look)
Because my parents said,
"Santa Claus will only come
When children are in bed!" (shake finger)
SANTA CLAUS - fingerplay
Here is the chimney (make fist, enclose thumb)
Here is the top (place palm on top of fist)
Open the lid (remove top hand)
and out Santa will pop. (pop up thumb)
