HOLIDAY ALPHABET

HolidayAlphabet

(Tune:  “Deck the Halls”)

Deck the room withletters and sounds,

Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la.                           (Armsout like an opera singer.)

Read and use themall year round,

Fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la.                           (Armsout.)

Listen up and thenyou’ll know,              (Holdup index finger and shake.)

How the lettersand sounds do go.

Start with A andend with Z.

Happy holidays foryou and me!

A for angels, /a//a/ /a/,                        (Invitechildren to make up        

B for bells, /b//b/ /b/ /b/ /b/ /b/         motionsfor each word.)

C for candles /c//c/ /c/                          

D for dreidel                                            

E for elves                                            

F for fun                                            

G for goodies                                            

H for Hanukah                                            

I for icicles

J for jingle

K for Kwanzaa

L for lights

M for menorah

N is for Noel

O for ornaments

P for presents

Q for quiet

R for Rudolph

S for Santa

T for toys

U for unity

V for vests

W for winter

X for X-mas

Y for yuletide

Z for z end

Want to download aPowerPoint or book to go with the song?

drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2007/12_Dec/pg00.html

Note!  I realize some of the sounds in thesong are not the ones you usually teach. Use this as a “teachable moment” to explain different vowel sounds,blends, etc.  If you don’t likesome of the words, then you can change them to meet your needs.  Disk Two of my “Happy Everything” CDhas the instrumental versions of many songs to enable you to do this.

School Program– This would be a great song if you put on a holiday program at yourschool.  Each child could take aletter and step forward as it is sung. 

Holiday ABCBook – Write letters on paper ahead of time.  Let each child choose a letter and illustrate it.  They could use the words in the song ormake up their own verse.  Make acover, bind, and you’ll have a book children will want to read the rest of theschool year.

Sign Language– Make the manual signs for the letters as you sing this song.

LET'S DO A LITTLE SINGING!

I was talking tosomeone recently and they commented, “My children don’t even know some of theold Christmas songs like ‘Jingle Bells,’ or ‘Up on the Housetop.’”  It’s time to get out the old songbook,open your mouth, and make a joyful noise!

Jingle Bells

Chorus:

Jingle bells,jingle bells,                      (Pretendto hold bells and shake.)

Jingle all theway.

Oh, what fun it isto ride

In a one horseopen sleigh.  Hey!         (Fistin the air.)

Jingle bells,jingle bells,                           (Pretendto jingle bells.)

Jingle all theway.

What fun it is toride and sing

In a one horseopen sleigh.

Dashing throughthe snow,                  (Pretendto hold reins and drive

In a one horseopen sleigh                  sleigh.)

Over the fields wego,

Laughing all theway.                           (Handon stomach and laugh.)

Bells on bobtailring,                           (Pretendto drive sleigh.)

Making spiritsbright.

What fun it is toride and sing

A sleighing songtonight.  (Chorus)

Here’s a book togo with the song:

www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2007/12_Dec/pg00.html

One teacher saidthat she made four copies of songs and then put them at the listening centerwith the book.  Fluency researchwould say that’s the perfect way to provide children with repetition andencourage them to track as they sing.  Add a pointer with a jinglebell, Santa, or other symbol to make it even more fun.

Sleigh Riding– Have children sit on the floor facing the same directions.  Demonstrate how to hold the person’swaist in front of you.  As you singthe song sway forwards and backwards to the beat as if riding a sleigh.

Jingle Bells– Let children thread several jingle bells on a pipe cleaner.  Twist the ends together to make abracelet children can shake as you sing.

Jingle BellPainting - You will need an empty cheese ball container or similar cylindershape with a lid.  Cut a piece ofpaper so you can roll it and put it in the cylinder.  Take two jingle bells. Drop one in red paint and the other in green paint.  Use a spoon to transfer the bells tothe can.  Put on the lid, thenshake up the can as you sing “Jingle Bells.”  Take out the paper and you’ll have a jingle bell painting!

S A N T A

(Tune:  “BINGO”)

There is a jollybearded man          (Putarms out in front of you

And Santa is hisname-o.                  likeSanta’s tummy.)

S – A – N – T – A,

S – A – N – T – A,

S – A – N – T – A,

And Santa is hisname-o.

He lives at theNorth Pole…                  (Clapinstead of saying “S.”)

His wears a suitall red and white…        (Clapfor “S” and “A.”)

He makes toys forgirls and boys…         (Clapfor “S,” “A,” “N.”)

He drives a sleighwith 8 reindeer…       (Clapfor “S,” “A,” “N,” “T.”)

He’ll visit you onChristmas Eve…           (Clapfor all letters.)

Here’s the link soyou can download this book:

www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2007/12_Dec/pg00.html

S–A-N-T-A  - Write a different letter on fivesheets of paper.  Draw a hand onthe back of each sheet. Choose five children to hold these as you sing thesong.  Explain that as you sing thesong, when you turn over the letter and see the hand they should clap.

Santa Star– Give children red stars and a few cotton balls.  Can they make a Santa out of the star?  Add their name, date, and a piece ofyarn for a hanger.  This makes agreat ornament for them to take home and hang on their tree.

THE GIVING BOOK

Mercy me!  What to do with all thoseadvertisements and catalogs! Here’s an idea you will love! And, it might encourage children to think about others rather thanthemselves.

Encourage yourstudents discuss why they like to give gifts to others.  How does it make them feel when they dosomething special for someone they love? Explain that they will each get to make a book of things they would liketo GIVE to others.  You can useconstruction paper or cut wrapping paper into 8 ½” x 11” pieces.  Lay two sheets of white paper on top ofa piece of wrapping paper.  Fold inhalf and staple.  Provide childrenwith catalogs and store advertisements. Let them cut out objects they would like to give others and glue them intheir “Giving Books.”  Encouragethem to label the presents with the recipient’s name.

 Adaptation:  Use a gift bag to make a givingbook.  Cut the front and back offthe bag.  Cut paper the size of thebag and give a sheet to each child. After children draw or cut out pictures of presents they would like togive, staple their pictures in between the front and back of the bag to make aclass book.

CHOIR OF ANGELS

This is an easyidea if you need a quick costume for a school program.  Cut the rim off a paper plate.  Attach a red construction paperbow.  Cut a slit so it can open andbe placed around the neck.  Now, your students can shine their halos!

FREE GIFT WRAPPING

Wrapping Paper –With tissue paper, paper plates, paint, and cookie cutters you’ll be all set tocreate your own wrapping paper. First, fold a paper towel and place it on a paper plate.  Pour paint on the paper towel.  Let children dip the cookie cutters inthe paint and print on the tissue paper.

*Let childrenpaint with pine boughs grocery sacks or newspaper to create wrapping paper.

*Use fruits orvegetable prints to create one of a kind wrapping paper.

 Gift Tags –You’ll need card stock, an ink pad, fine tip markers, and ribbon to make thesegift cards.  Cut card stock into 2”x 5” rectangles.  Fold inhalf.  Children press their thumbon the ink pad and then print on the front of the card.   Let them add details withmarkers.  Punch a hole and tie on aribbon.

 Greeting Cards  - Let children use fingerprints orhandprints to make “one of a kind” holiday cards.  They can also make a colorful collage by gluing bits of

wrapping paper toa blank card. 

A TASTE OF THE SEASON

Snowman Soup –You’ll need instant hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows, zip sandwichbags, wrapped candy canes, and red ribbon to make this treat. 

Put the package ofthe instant hot chocolate in the zip bag. Tie on a candy cane with these directions:

         Here’sa little snowman soup –

         Completewith stirring stick. 

         Addhot water, sip it slow.

         It’llwarm you up real quick!”

Hint!  This would be a great gift for schoolhelpers and volunteers.

Wreath Sandwich- You will need bagels, cream cheese, green food coloring, and fruit loops tomake this snack. First, dye the cream cheese green. Spread it on the bagel andadd red fruit loops for berries.

 Menorah Snack- Children will need asmall banana, pretzel sticks, and a piece of red licorice to make this menorah.Peel the banana and insert a piece of red licorice in the middle. Insert 4pretzel sticks (candles) on either side.

 ReindeerSandwich – You will need bread, peanut butter, pretzel twists, raisins, anda red M & M to make this yummy sandwich.  Cut the bread into two triangles.  Spread peanut butter on the bread and then decorate withraisin eyes and a red candy nose. Break pretzels in half and add for antlers.

Note!  If children have peanut allergiesspread with cream cheese or another topping.

WOE is me! 

A week ago Iwas invited to do a workshop at the Lehigh Carbon Community College in PA.  Several teachers gave me great ideas,but when I looked for my notes today they weren't in my suitcase!!   Idid find a few suggestions from my friend Mary Ann DiSapio who had attended aSMART Program in Minneapolis.  Sheshowed us some simple jumps, helicopter spins (arms out and spin around),pencil rolls (roll in the floor), balance beam, and crawling activities.  I definitely want to learn more aboutthis!  

Where are my notes?

DECK THE ROOM

How about usinghandprints to make a wreath or tree for your classroom door?  

Hint!  Children could also dip their hands in green paint to make these decorations.