From Home School in the Woods!
What time of year brings more joy to a family than Christmas?
And while we are preparing our homes for the holiday, what an awesome opportunity is provided to turn it into a learning experience! Christmas is full of "teachable moments," bringing the history of the holiday and the possibilities it holds to life!
(CAVEAT: I have not thoroughly searched all the pages of the following websites, so please, always use discernment when viewing websites.)
THE HISTORY:
Being a Christian homeschooling family, our number one choice for the history of Christmas is found in the Gospels of the Bible. However, there are other aspects of this holiday that are interesting to learn about. And, as Christians, it is imperative to know and understand just how events and traditions come about, whether we agree with them or not, that we may rightly know the thinking of the world and be able to share with others when it steers away from the truth of the Bible.
Gospels:
Matthew 1 & 2,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201,%202;&version=9;
Luke 1 & 2
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201,%202;&version=9;
Why December 25?
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2000/dec08.html
Who was St. Nicholas?
http://www.stnicholaseparchy.org/content/history.html
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
What is "Advent":
http://www.explorefaith.org/faq/calendar/advent.html
How to Make and Use an Advent Wreath:
http://www.kencollins.com/question-10.htm
Prayers and Customs of Advent & Christmas:
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adwreath.html
Incorporating Geography and Creative Writing into the History:
Use this opportunity to learn about Christmas around the world! Research from the links provided or other books you may have of traditions, customs, and celebrations native to countries around the world.
Using the notebook page provided, print one for each country you would like to write about! Include a drawing at the top of either the country itself or something representing a tradition classic to the country.
Christmas Around the World:
http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/traditions.htm
http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/
Outline Maps of Countries (to view for drawing the country):
http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm
OR, use the following notebook page to research and report on origins of Christmas traditions, such as the Christmas tree, mistletoe, the Yule Log, stockings by the fire, and more! When you have several completed, store in a 3-ring binder.
READING:
There are many well-loved Christmas stories and poems that lend themselves well to family snuggle-time on the couch with a warm blanket and a steaming cup of cocoa. Here are some classic choices you may wish to add to your library list this season!
(Always review them first, as although classic, some
imagery may be too strong for young ones!)
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A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Christmas Day in the Morning, by Pearl S. Buck
The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry
The Elves and the Shoemaker, by Jacob Grimm
A Visit From St. Nicholas, by Clement C. Moore
The Nutcracker, by E. T. A. Hoffmann
The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson
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PENMANSHIP:
There are several ways to incorporate penmanship when it comes to Christmas! If you send Christmas cards, this would be an ideal time to reiterate note writing to friends and family. Copywork can include the scriptures of Christ's birth, or perhaps the ten verses of Isaiah 11:1-10 used when celebrating the "Jesse Tree" during Advent:
(More on the Jesse Tree further down!)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2011:1-10;&version=9;
SCIENCE:
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." Although Christmas is celebrated in all kinds of climates, we usually associate Christmas with snow! Even if you are in a tropical location, this is a great time to study snow flakes and ice crystals!
Snowflake Chemistry:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/moleculescompounds/a/snowflake.htm
How to Grow a Borax Snowflake:
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/boraxsnowflake.htm
MATH:
What better way is there to study math than with all the fun recipes the season holds! Get the children involved in all the flour-filled fractions and memory-making measurements! And when you have made the dozens of batches of cookies, try a little division practice when organizing cookie trays for friends and family!
Recipes do not only include sweets, but also Christmas drinks! Have you heard the song, "Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green!" Winter celebrations of northern Europe, particularly Germanic countries, celebrated the holiday with a warm, spiced punch, similar to a cider. As carolers would go door to door singing, they would be given gifts of food and drink. Warm wassail was a common drink served to the carolers on a cold night!
Older children may wish to study the economics of the season and how businesses depend on its commercial success. Have your students research "Black Friday."
MUSIC:
Christmas is a grand time to study the music that celebrates the season! Many composers from centuries past were moved to create wonderful works and hymns in honor of the Lord's birth. Below are just a few. Research the songs, their creators, and their histories!
...And don't forget "The Twelve Days of Christmas"! It has a history of its own!
http://christmas.drawingart.net/the_twelve_days_of_christmas.html
ART & DRAMA:
1. Make a "Jesse Tree"!
Similar to an Advent celebration, a Jesse Tree is a wonderful way to take bite-size pieces of Scripture and show how the prophecy of the coming Messiah was fulfilled.
Isaiah 11:1-10 says:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD –
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:1-10 |
I've found many versions of the Jesse Tree online. Some offer printable clip art, while others suggest your children make their own ornaments. I will provide links to a few that I have found. Choose what works best for your family!
http://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html
http://www.stmichaelonline.org/LiturgicalYear/Jessetree.htm
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/FRIDGE/FRIDGE1.HTM
http://www.eriercd.org/jessetree.htm
http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent9.html
Plus a clay recipe for making the ornaments:
http://www.fisheaters.com/bakersclay.html
2. Make Spice Ornaments!
The cinnamon used in spice ornaments makes them so aromatic, you can't help but think of the Christmas time! With this recipe you can make several at a time to give as gifts to neighbors, friends, or at a senior home!
3. "The Nativity Story": A Shadow Puppet Play
Shadow puppetry was a form of entertainment popular during the 18th century in both Europe and America. With this fun project, your children will create a simple puppet stage and the shadow puppets needed for a performance of the Nativity story!
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
What better way to teach a child of selflessness than to encourage the spirit of giving! Proverbs 18:1 says, "An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment." In Psalm 119:36, David writes, "Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain." Jesus summed up the commandments to this one rule, "Love your neighbor as yourself." We usually don't have trouble loving ourselves, as is evident usually by all the wants we acquire, whether purchased or attained. "I want the biggest piece of cake!" "I want to be first in line!" Even as adults, how often do we scoot along in the store, diving into the checkout line so as to beat the person coming with the cart-load of groceries? It's a "me" society, and slogans such as "Just Do It," "Why Wait?," "No Boundaries," and "You Deserve a Break Today" only feed that. Jesus was a walking example of thinking of others first. Many of His words, actions, and parables were focused on blessing others and addressing the "Pharisee/publican" attitude of "Aren't I better than them?" (see Luke 18:9-14)
But in "giving," doesn't that mean someone is receiving? Yes, it does! However, we needn't overburden others with "things" all the time; there are other gifts that can be much appreciated, needed, and used. We can also teach our children to accept with grace—to show true appreciation and reciprocate with gratitude. Gratitude is also a character trait that is wilting away. A note of thanks, a call, or a visit can do wonders in return. This holiday season offers us many opportunities to practice the wonderful action of generosity, charity, and altruism.
First and foremost, share the story of the birth of Jesus with the children all month long! This can be done through Advent celebrations, using an Advent or Jesse Tree, and even a birthday party for Jesus! Read through the book of Matthew, chapters 1 & 2, each week all during December. Try different ways of sharing the Word throughout the month. For example, one night you might trade off reading the scriptures. Another night the children might draw scenes from the story. Yet another night, they might act out the parts. Be sure to dress the parts and film it! Take pictures and use them for a Christmas card. The idea here is to get so familiar with the story that they will impress the words upon their hearts.
Give the Gift of Time
There are many ways you can give to those around you where the main cost is your time. One thing we have done with our children is have a gift to Jesus on the tree. At the beginning of December, I would place several ideas written on slips of paper in a hat and each child would reach in and pull one out. They would take that idea, fulfill it, and place it in an envelope marked "For Jesus, Love (name of child goes here)" and stick it on the tree. That was one of the most thoughtful, exciting times of the season the children looked forward to most. Here are some suggestions of what you could offer:
- Organize a caroling party at a nursing/senior home
- Make a blanket for a new baby (through a pregnancy center)
- Make holiday ornaments and sell them to gather money for
grocery cards for a poor family
OR organize a bottle/can drive
OR gather canned goods for a food pantry
- Have a knitting party and knit mittens for the homeless
- Collect blankets for the homeless
- Record Christmas stories for the blind
- Bring cookies and Wassail to a neighbor
(Use our printable recipe for Wassail above!)
- Offer to shovel/rake/mow for an elderly neighbor
- Send a note of encouragement to a missionary. Add in a drawing,
prayer, or photo if you wish!
- Make a grocery store run for an elderly person
OR plan a housecleaning day for an elderly person or invalid
- Invite a lonely person you know to spend the holidays with you
- Volunteer to serve a meal at a homeless shelter
- Send a box to "Operation Christmas Child" Through Samaritan's Purse: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
- Offer to baby-sit for a couple with young children, perhaps before Christmas,
so they can get their preparations done without little eyes watching!
- Entertain neighbors, friends, or family by organizing a small show.
(This can be a play, music, puppetry,
poetry reading, or whatever talents you can think of!)
(A perfect time for the "Shadow Puppetry" above!)
- Offer to teach a skill you have to a youngster
(Can you crochet? Build things? Who do you think would benefit
most from learning this skill from you?)
- Organize a group to make simple ornaments or small gifts to take
to a senior home or special needs/assistance home. Try to make
a new friend there you can visit other times of the year as well!
(Use our printable recipe for making spice ornaments above!)
*NOTE: It's always a good idea to check with the home before bringing food or items in, to make sure you are not using items that are dangerous or could get someone sick! If you call ahead, you may find out that there are needs they have that you hadn't even thought of that would be better to provide for!
** It's nice to employ others with you in some of these tasks! The gift of giving is wonderful when it can be shared among friends! And be careful! It can be contagious and become habit-forming!
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