We talk a lot about the winter holidays. I am reading Horrible Harry and the Holidaze to my second graders. It focuses on five winter holidays, and then I talk about others, such as Diwali, Eid el Adha and Fitr, Solstice, Hmong New Year, and Hogmanay. Yep, you can pretty much be partying every day! I talk to all of the classes about the many holidays this time of year. I do like to use Olive the other Reindeer from Tumblebooks. We have great ebook selections too.
I set up a display of books about the winter holidays, mentioning that all have elements of "light" involved. Any books about or with snow in the titles are part of other displays.
I have books about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Zwanzaa in my display case. For the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter break, I will share stories for each of the three. This first week has been Hanukkah. With the 3rd grades, I look at stories as legends, or fairytales, 2nd grades we look at common elements - for each holiday people light lights, give gift, gather with family, eat special foods, sing and play games. 1st grade is a preparation for second grade. And for Kindergarten kids, I get out my old teddy bear from my childhood, and we read about the "Bare Polar bear" and "Terrible Teddy". With the 6th grades, I will share "A wish for wings that work."
I love A Wish for Wings That Work. I used to use it when I was in elementary libraries. Have you read The Red Ranger Came Calling? My absolute favorite. Same author. One of the lines goes, "I waited for the present that would guarantee my happiness into old age." It is set in the 1930's ish. A boy wants a Red Ranger bicycle. I used to use it with 6th graders.
I do a "Genre of the Month" and feature fantasy books for each grade level in December. We share the elements of fantasy and I tie in fantasy books with the holidays; Snow Party, Elves & the Shoemaker, Baker's Dozen, Nine Days to Christmas, etc. and a fun Cajun Night Before Christmas. Displays feature all the winter holidays as well as fantasy favorites & new titles. I usually have origami centers (step-by-step instructions done by a Japanese teacher) for 5th & 6th graders to make decorations.
I just decorate the "heck" out of my library. Yes, high school students love the decorations. I have traditional, Hanukkah, Kawazaa and place Christmas books round and about. It's always sad when the season is over and all the "pretties" have to go away for yet another year.
I have a set of 12 books for each grade level. They include Hanukkah and Kwanza books. We call it the 12 books of Christmas. The teachers share the stories in their classrooms. My favorite book to read is the "Miracle Tree" to my 6th graders.
There would be some mighty disappointed kids if there wasn't a dramatic reading of Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins every year in our library. You should see their eyes light up when they see me take out the "Goblin" book.
We talk a lot about the winter holidays. I am reading Horrible Harry and the Holidaze to my second graders. It focuses on five winter holidays, and then I talk about others, such as Diwali, Eid el Adha and Fitr, Solstice, Hmong New Year, and Hogmanay. Yep, you can pretty much be partying every day! I talk to all of the classes about the many holidays this time of year. I do like to use Olive the other Reindeer from Tumblebooks. We have great ebook selections too.
ReplyDeleteI set up a display of books about the winter holidays, mentioning that all have elements of "light" involved. Any books about or with snow in the titles are part of other displays.
ReplyDeleteI have books about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Zwanzaa in my display case. For the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter break, I will share stories for each of the three. This first week has been Hanukkah. With the 3rd grades, I look at stories as legends, or fairytales, 2nd grades we look at common elements - for each holiday people light lights, give gift, gather with family, eat special foods, sing and play games. 1st grade is a preparation for second grade. And for Kindergarten kids, I get out my old teddy bear from my childhood, and we read about the "Bare Polar bear" and "Terrible Teddy". With the 6th grades, I will share "A wish for wings that work."
ReplyDeleteI love A Wish for Wings That Work. I used to use it when I was in elementary libraries. Have you read The Red Ranger Came Calling? My absolute favorite. Same author. One of the lines goes, "I waited for the present that would guarantee my happiness into old age." It is set in the 1930's ish. A boy wants a Red Ranger bicycle. I used to use it with 6th graders.
DeleteI do a "Genre of the Month" and feature fantasy books for each grade level in December. We share the elements of fantasy and I tie in fantasy books with the holidays; Snow Party, Elves & the Shoemaker, Baker's Dozen, Nine Days to Christmas, etc. and a fun Cajun Night Before Christmas. Displays feature all the winter holidays as well as fantasy favorites & new titles. I usually have origami centers (step-by-step instructions done by a Japanese teacher) for 5th & 6th graders to make decorations.
ReplyDeleteI just decorate the "heck" out of my library. Yes, high school students love the decorations. I have traditional, Hanukkah, Kawazaa and place Christmas books round and about. It's always sad when the season is over and all the "pretties" have to go away for yet another year.
ReplyDeleteI do a media lesson where we look at the different "gift givers" from different cultures and the common message that their images give.
ReplyDeleteI love all of your ideas. What awesome things you are all doing!
ReplyDeleteI have a set of 12 books for each grade level. They include Hanukkah and Kwanza books. We call it the 12 books of Christmas. The teachers share the stories in their classrooms. My favorite book to read is the "Miracle Tree" to my 6th graders.
ReplyDeleteTumblebook has a nice Hanukkah book - A Light in the Darkness by Aaron Zevy
ReplyDeleteThere would be some mighty disappointed kids if there wasn't a dramatic reading of Hershel and the Hanukkah goblins every year in our library. You should see their eyes light up when they see me take out the "Goblin" book.
ReplyDelete