December 19: Preschool Storytime: Hanukkah

(I was out of town on this date, so a co-worker used my lesson plan to lead the storytime. For this reason, the inclusion of Spanish phrases was omitted in all but the opening and closing songs. The books listed are the ones she read.)


Opening song:                                 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

                         We tap hola like this

                         We tap hola like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap hola like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop hola like this...

                          We circle hola like this...

                          We spin hola like this...

                          We toss hola like this...

                           We roll hola like this...

Letter Hh and its sound
Found it on the Alphabet chart
Talked about things that start with Hh
Made lowercase h in the air

Explain that in December there are several holidays that some people celebrate. We learned about Christmas last week. Another one of these is Hanukkah. 
                     
Tell them that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days, and children typically receive gifts on all eight days. 

Show the children a paper menorah and candles. Talk about the shamash candle and how they use it to light a candle each night. Show the children a dreidel. Explain how the game is played.

Book: "Hannah's Hanukkah Hiccups" by Shanna Silva

Pass out copies of the words to the two songs. Tell the children to search for and show their parents an Hh on the page.

Shaker song with actions too: Have children take turns placing a candle on the menorah during the song.

"Candles Bright"
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Twinkle, twinkle,
Candle bright,
Burning on this
Special night.

Add another,
Tall and straight,
Every night ‘til
There are eight.

Twinkle, twinkle,
Candles eight,
Hanukkah we
Celebrate.

Book: "Hanukkah Hamster" by Michelle Markel

Shaker song: Before starting the first verse, display the menorah again. During the second verse, take turns spinning my three dreidels. Before starting the third verse, display the pan with clip art of five latkes in it.

“Light the Candles Bright”
(Tune: “Farmer in the Dell”)

Oh, light the candles bright
and dance around the light.
Heigh-ho the derry-oh
It's Hanukkah tonight!

Spin the dreidel round
And watch it fall down.
Heigh-ho the derry-oh,
It's Hanukkah tonight!

Latke treats to eat
And family to greet.
Heigh-ho the derry-oh,
It's Hanukkah tonight!

Action Song: Spin and pass my three dreidels during the song.

“I Have a Little Dreidel”

I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!

It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when my dreidel's tired
It drops and then I win!

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it's dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!

Goodbye song:                               (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell") 

                         We tap adios like this

                         We tap adios like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap adios like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop adios like this...

                          We circle adios like this...

                          We spin adios like this...

                          We toss adios like this...

                           We roll adios like this...

Craft Time:  

I modeled the Hh dot page, the rainbow writing page for letter Hh and the craft before the children starting working on them. Before starting the craft, the children write the given letter using 3 different colors of crayons. I have attached a link to the free rainbow writing letters I used. Completing the dot page is now optional.

You can find the free rainbow writing letters here. Since they are free, they lack a dot for where to start. I print one off, add the dots with a black marker, and then make copies of that one. You can find the dot pages here. 

Click here for a link for letter formation prompts for capital and lowercase letters. Spend more time working on the lowercase letters than on the capital letters.

Craft:  Dreidel Paper Dolls
         Source of craft: https://bringingchesedhome.typepad.com

         Materials: 

1. Dreidel paper dolls template  
2. Glue
3. Scissors
4. Yarn
5. Felt
6. Googly eyes
7. Glitter glue
8. Beads
9. Buttons
10. Feathers

My example

Instructions: Print off one copy of the template, and use a ruler to draw a small bar or arm between each doll to connect them to each other. Then make additional copies of your original. When you cut out the dolls, be careful to avoid cutting off the arms hooking the dreidels together. Decorate each with a face and hair using whatever craft supplies you desire.

*All photos are with parent permission.

(I don't have any pictures of the finished crafts. If any parents, that attended this storytime, are willing to send me a picture of your child with the finished craft, I will add it to this page. I would appreciate it. Thank you.)

I always let the children pick which three books I read from the ones I bring with me. These are the other books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Little Red Ruthie" by Gloria Koster
2. "Is It Hanukkah Yet?" by Chris Barash
3. "Hanukkah Bear" by Eric A. Kimmel
4."Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah" by Linda Glaser
5."Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift" by Dara Goldman
6. "The Dreidel that Wouldn't Spin" by Martha Seif Simpson
7. "Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles" by David A. Adler
8. "Sadie's Almost Marvelous Menorah" by Jamie Korngold

December 18: Toddler Storytime: Hanukkah

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The ones listed below are the ones they picked.)

Opening song:                                (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell")

             We tap hola like this

             We tap ho la like this

                 Hi-ho cherry

             We tap hola like this

               Continue with other verses:

                  We drop hola like this...

                   We circle hola like this...

                 We spin hola like this...

                We toss hola like this..

                 We roll hola like this....

                     We stomp hola like this...

I explained that in December there are several holidays that some people celebrate. Last week we learned about Christmas. Today we will learn about Hanukkah.     

I told them that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days, and children typically receive gifts on all eight days. 

Book: "The Runaway Latkes" by Leslie Kimmelman   
Before reading, I explained that a latke is a potato pancake eaten as part Hanukkah.

I showed the children a paper menorah and candles. I talked about the shamash candle and how they use it to light a candle each night. I also showed the children some dreidels that I had from when I taught kindergarten. 

Shaker song: After finishing the song, each child added a candle to the menorah. I used the paper menorah and candles found here.

“Hanukkah! Hanukkah!”
(Tune: “Three Blind Mice”)

Hanukkah! Hanukkah! 
Hanukkah is here! 
Hanukkah is here! 
Light eight candles in a row. 
Light eight candles and see them glow. 
Light eight candles so we all know 
That Hanukkah is here.



Shaker song:

“Sing a Song of Hanukkah”
(Tune: “Did You Ever See a Lassie?”)

Oh, sing a song of Hanukkah,
Of Hanukkah, of Hanukkah.
Sing a song of Hanukkah.
A Happy Holiday!

With presents and presents,
On all eight nights.
Oh sing a song of Hanukkah,
A Happy Holiday!




     

Story: "Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf" by Greg Wolfe 

Shaker song:  I put a pan in the middle of the rug with clip art of five individual latkes in it. I let children take turns grabbing one and making it run away. 

“Five Little Latkes”
(Tune: “5 Little Monkeys”)

Five little latkes were sizzling in the pan (Wiggle 5 fingers).
One jumped out and said, "Catch me if you can!".And it jumped and it ran all around the kitchen floor, (Make fingers run on the floor in front of you)
When I turned around it ran right out the door! (Make surprised face!)Now, there's 4 little latkes sizzling in the pan (wiggle 4 fingers)

Four little latkes were sizzling in the pan..
Continue...3, 2, 1...

Movement song: As we sang the song, we danced around the paper menorah shaking our shakers.

“Hanukkah is Here”
(Tune: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")

Hanukkah is here, 
Hanukkah is here. 
Eight tall candles in a row, 
Hanukkah is here.

Hanukkah is here, 
Hanukkah is here. 
Light the candles one by one, 
Hanukkah is here.

Goodbye Song:

 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

We tap adios like this

 We tap adios like this

Hi-ho cherry

  We tap adios like this

Continue with other verses:

We drop adios like this...

   We circle adios like this...

  We spin adios like this...

   We toss adios like this...

  We roll adios like this...

           We stomp adios like this...

Craft Time: Dreidel Garlands  
          I modified an idea from https://www.creativejewishmom.com.

         Materials:

1. Dreidel template
2. Watercolor paints
3. Tape to tape the yarn to the dreidels
4. Yarn
5. Scissors   

          

My example

*All photos are with parental permission.

Other suggestions we didn't pick:

1. "How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?" by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
2. "Happy Hanukkah, Biscuit!" by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
3. "Latke, the Lucky Dog!" by Ellen Fischer
4."The Hanukkah Mice" by Ronne Randall
5. "The Hanukkah Mice" by Steven Kroll
6."The Hanukkah Hop!" by Erica Silverman

December 12: Preschool Storytime: Christmas

(Reminder note: When it is time to read a story, I read the titles of three books and then display them. The children pick which one we read. The three fictional ones listed below are the ones they picked. Additional picture book ideas are listed at the bottom.)

Opening song:                                 (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell")

                         We tap hola like this

                         We tap hola like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap hola like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop hola like this...

                          We circle hola like this...

                          We spin hola like this...

                          We toss hola like this...

                           We roll hola like this...

Letter Cc and its sound
Found it on the Alphabet chart
Talked about things that start with Cc
Made lowercase c in the air

I explained that in December there are several holidays that some people celebrate. These include Christmas and Hanukkah. Today we will read stories about Christmas, and next week we will read stories about Hanukkah.
                     

Book: "The Christmas Extravaganza Hotel" by Tracey Corderoy

I passed out copies of the words to the two songs listed in between the books. I told the children to search for and show their parents a Cc on the page. First, we sing the songs entirely in English, and then we substitute a few Spanish words.

Action Song: 

“We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry ChristmasAnd a Happy New Year.
Now let's all do a little clapping/aplausos (clap),
Now let’s all do a little clapping/aplausos (clap),Now let’s all do a little clapping/aplausos (clap),And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms above head).

Now let's all do a little jumping/saltando (jump),
Now let’s all do a little jumping/saltando (jump),Now let’s all do a little jumping/saltando (jump) 
And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms above head).

Now let's all do a little waving/saludo (wave), 
Now let’s all do a little waving/saludo (wave), 
Now let’s all do a little waving/saludo (wave),
And spread Christmas cheer (raise arms above head).

We wish you a Merry Christmas 
We wish you a Merry Christmas 
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year.

Book: "One Special Christmas" by M. Christina Butler

Action song with shakers:

I printed S, a, n, t, and a on separate sheets of red cardstock and displayed them in the middle of the rug. I told them that these letters spelled Santa. I gave each child a bag containing a small set of the same letters. I had them look at mine and put their letters in the same order before we started the song. We pointed to each letter each time we said it throughout the song.

“S-A-N-T-A”
(Tune: “B-I-N-G-O”)

I know a man with a long white beard/barba. 
And Santa is his name-o 
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-AAnd Santa is his name-o!

He wears a red hat/sombrero and big boots/botas. 
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-AAnd Santa is his name-o!

Eight little reindeer/Ocho pequeños renos pull his sleigh
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-AAnd Santa is his name-o!

He slides down the chimney/chimenea with a pack on his back 
And Santa is his name-o
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-AAnd Santa is his name-o!

He leaves toys, under the Christmas tree/árbol
And Santa is his name-o 
S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-A, S-A-N-T-AAnd Santa is his name-o!

Book: "Santa Claus: The World's Number One Toy Expert" by Marla Frazee

Goodbye song:                               (Tune: "The Farmer in the Dell") 

                         We tap adios like this

                         We tap adios like this

                          Hi-ho cherry

                          We tap adios like this

                          Continue with other verses:

                          We drop adios like this...

                          We circle adios like this...

                          We spin adios like this...

                          We toss adios like this...

                           We roll adios like this...

Craft Time:  

I modeled the Cc dot page, the rainbow writing page for letter Cc and the craft before the children starting working on them. Before starting the craft, the children write the given letter using 3 different colors of crayons. I have attached a link to the free rainbow writing letters I used. Completing the dot page is optional.

You can find the free rainbow writing letters here. Since they are free, they lack a dot for where to start. I print one off, add the dots with a black marker, and then make copies of that one. You can find the dot pages here. 

Click here for a link for letter formation prompts for capital and lowercase letters. Childen need to spend more time working on the lowercase letters than on the capital letters.




Craft: Paper Plate Christmas Tree Whirligig
   Source of original idea: https://www.redtedart.com/paper-plate-christmas-tree-whirligig/

         Materials:

• Large paper plates
• Green paint
• Glue
• Pom poms
• Christmas stickers
• Glitter glue
• Paper stars downloaded from https://patternuniverse.com/download/3-inch-star-pattern/  (Run on yellow cardstock; each child needs two stars.)
• String
• Glue gun

My example

Instruction for tree: First, paint the paper plate. After it is dry, cut it into a spiral shape. Then add pom poms, stickers, glitter glue, etc. to decorate. Download a star template. Run on yellow paper. Cut out two stars. Glue a length of string to the underside of the top of the spiral. Glue the two paper stars together with the string in the middle.

*All photos are with parent permission.

I always let the children pick which three books I read from the ones I bring with me. These are some additional suggested books that the children didn't pick:

1. "Careful, Santa" by Julie Sykes"

2. "Froggy's Best Christmas" by Jonathan London

3. "Bear Stays Up for Christmas" by Karma Wilson

4. "When Santa Was a Baby" by Linda Bailey

5. "Snowmen at Christmas" by Caralyn Buehner & Mark Buehner

6. "Santa's Stuck" by Rhonda Growler Greene