December 23, 2019 to January 3, 2020 - Winter Break
 Get cozy with a classic! |  Season's readings! |  Feelin' frosty? Chill with a good book! |
Week of December 16, 2019 - TK |
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The First Day of Winter, by Denise Fleming
A cumulative story (and song) to warm up a cold winter day. Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend.
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
As Farmer Brown prepares the house for Christmas, Duck tries to play Santa--but he gets stuck in the chimney, along with all the other animals who try to help.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
A cumulative story (and song) to warm up a cold winter day. Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend.
Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! by Doreen Cronin
As Farmer Brown prepares the house for Christmas, Duck tries to play Santa--but he gets stuck in the chimney, along with all the other animals who try to help.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16, 2019 - Kindergarten
Welcome Winter and Merry Christmas
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The First Day of Winter, by Denise Fleming
A cumulative story (and song) to warm up a cold winter day. Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend.
Dragon's Merry Christmas, by Dav Pilkey
Dragon has a merry time decorating a tree outdoors, making a candy wreath, and sharing his Christmas gifts with needy animals. See if you can spot the homage to Vincent Van Gogh.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
A cumulative story (and song) to warm up a cold winter day. Alive with swirling snow and lots of outdoor fun, the first ten days of winter bring special gifts for a special friend.
Dragon's Merry Christmas, by Dav Pilkey
Dragon has a merry time decorating a tree outdoors, making a candy wreath, and sharing his Christmas gifts with needy animals. See if you can spot the homage to Vincent Van Gogh.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16, 2019 - First Grade
Gift Giving
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Rabbit's Gift: a Fable from China, by George Shannon
The animals in the forest scurry to store their food away for the cold months ahead, but when Rabbit comes across an extra turnip and decides to have a special meal with his woodland friends, everyone is inspired by his act of generosity and soon demonstrates their thanks in their own special ways.
Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever, by Katharine Paterson
Marvin makes a special Christmas present. He wants the wreath he made to last forever, but the pine boughs are turning dry and brown as winter turns to spring.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
The animals in the forest scurry to store their food away for the cold months ahead, but when Rabbit comes across an extra turnip and decides to have a special meal with his woodland friends, everyone is inspired by his act of generosity and soon demonstrates their thanks in their own special ways.
Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever, by Katharine Paterson
Marvin makes a special Christmas present. He wants the wreath he made to last forever, but the pine boughs are turning dry and brown as winter turns to spring.
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16, 2019 - Second Grade
Merry Christmas with Santa Claus
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McDuff's New Friend, by Rosemary Wells
On Christmas Eve, McDuff's persistent "woofing" leads to the rescue of Santa, whose sleigh has gotten stuck in the snow.
Little Santa, by Jon Agee
Little Santa loves the North Pole. So, when his family decides to move to sunny Florida, Santa is miserable. Lucky for him, a blizzard foils their plans. The only way out of the house is up the chimney. Up goes Santa to look for help, and along the way he meets a reindeer, a large group of elves... and the rest is history!
Video Song Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
On Christmas Eve, McDuff's persistent "woofing" leads to the rescue of Santa, whose sleigh has gotten stuck in the snow.
Little Santa, by Jon Agee
Little Santa loves the North Pole. So, when his family decides to move to sunny Florida, Santa is miserable. Lucky for him, a blizzard foils their plans. The only way out of the house is up the chimney. Up goes Santa to look for help, and along the way he meets a reindeer, a large group of elves... and the rest is history!
Video Song Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16, 2019 - Third Grade
The Magic of Christmas
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
The six mischievous Herdman kids lie, steal, and smoke cigars, and when they become involved in the local Christmas pageant, it becomes one of the most memorable Christmas plays the community has seen.
How Murray Saved Christmas, by Mike Reiss
Up at the North Pole, Santa is unable to deliver presents one Christmas Eve.
Video Song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
The six mischievous Herdman kids lie, steal, and smoke cigars, and when they become involved in the local Christmas pageant, it becomes one of the most memorable Christmas plays the community has seen.
How Murray Saved Christmas, by Mike Reiss
Up at the North Pole, Santa is unable to deliver presents one Christmas Eve.
Video Song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16, 2019 - Fourth Grade
Extreme Weather and the Spirit of Christmas
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The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore
An illustrated presentation of New York clergyman Clement Clark Moore's famous 1822 Christmas poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known as "The Night Before Christmas."
Video Storm Surge Hurricane Katrina Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Cajun Night Before Christmas, by Trosclair
A reading of a Cajun version in honor of the librarian from New Orleans who lost her entire collection in Hurricane Katrina, but not her optimistic outlook on life.
Song Jingle Bells at the Beach
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
An illustrated presentation of New York clergyman Clement Clark Moore's famous 1822 Christmas poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known as "The Night Before Christmas."
Video Storm Surge Hurricane Katrina Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Cajun Night Before Christmas, by Trosclair
A reading of a Cajun version in honor of the librarian from New Orleans who lost her entire collection in Hurricane Katrina, but not her optimistic outlook on life.
Song Jingle Bells at the Beach
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 16 - Fifth Grade
Peace on Earth at Christmastime
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Video Song I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake, 1975
December, by Eve Bunting
A homeless family's luck changes after they help an old woman who has even less than they do at Christmas.
Video The Christmas Truce of 1914 from Oh! What a Lovely War running time 3:39
Shooting at the Stars, by John Hendrix
On Christmas Eve during the trench warfare of World War I, in the bitter winter of 1914, a virtual miracle occurred. Enemies on both sides stopped fighting and began to sing Silent Night. On Christmas Day, enemy soldiers walked into the open ground between the trenches and shook hands. They exchanged biscuits and buttons and belts from their uniforms as souvenirs.
The Wall in the Middle of the Book, by Jon Agee
Though a knight is confident that the wall in the middle of the book protects his side from the dangers of the other side, he fails to notice the danger lies on his own side of the wall.
Video Song I Believe in Father Christmas (reprise) by Greg Lake with Ian Anderson, 2011
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
December, by Eve Bunting
A homeless family's luck changes after they help an old woman who has even less than they do at Christmas.
Video The Christmas Truce of 1914 from Oh! What a Lovely War running time 3:39
Shooting at the Stars, by John Hendrix
On Christmas Eve during the trench warfare of World War I, in the bitter winter of 1914, a virtual miracle occurred. Enemies on both sides stopped fighting and began to sing Silent Night. On Christmas Day, enemy soldiers walked into the open ground between the trenches and shook hands. They exchanged biscuits and buttons and belts from their uniforms as souvenirs.
The Wall in the Middle of the Book, by Jon Agee
Though a knight is confident that the wall in the middle of the book protects his side from the dangers of the other side, he fails to notice the danger lies on his own side of the wall.
Video Song I Believe in Father Christmas (reprise) by Greg Lake with Ian Anderson, 2011
Activity Track Santa with NORAD and wreath coloring sheet
Week of December 9, 2019 | Week of December 9, 2019 |
Week of December 9, 2019 | Week of December 9, 2019 |
Week of December 9, 2019 | Week of December 9, 2019 |
Week of December 9, 2019 - Fifth Grade - Happy Hanukkah
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Latkes and Applesauce, by Fran Manushkin
When a blizzard leaves a family housebound one Hanukkah, they share what little food they have with some starving animals who later return the favor.
The Parakeet Named Dreidel, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
When David and Mama and Papa are celebrating Hanukkah one frosty winter evening in Brooklyn, Papa sees a parakeet sitting on the window ledge and it becomes part of their family. Many years later, David is at a party one night and tells Dreidel's story--only to discover that a woman at the party owned the bird herself as a child.
When a blizzard leaves a family housebound one Hanukkah, they share what little food they have with some starving animals who later return the favor.
The Parakeet Named Dreidel, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
When David and Mama and Papa are celebrating Hanukkah one frosty winter evening in Brooklyn, Papa sees a parakeet sitting on the window ledge and it becomes part of their family. Many years later, David is at a party one night and tells Dreidel's story--only to discover that a woman at the party owned the bird herself as a child.
Week of December 2, 2019 - TK
Bundle Up in Winter
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Video Segment Animal Behavior (Owl Cam)
Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Little Owl's Orange Scarf, by Tatyana Feeney
Little Owl does not like his new orange scarf! Can he and his mom come up with a solution on how he can stay warm?
Video Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
Three baby owls worry when they awaken one night and find their mother gone.
Activity Draw Little Owl and his scarf on bookmark-sized paper.
Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Little Owl's Orange Scarf, by Tatyana Feeney
Little Owl does not like his new orange scarf! Can he and his mom come up with a solution on how he can stay warm?
Video Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
Three baby owls worry when they awaken one night and find their mother gone.
Activity Draw Little Owl and his scarf on bookmark-sized paper.
Week of December 2, 2019 - Kindergarten
Winter Playtime
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Snow Dance, by Lezlie Evans
Two sisters perform a dance to make it snow and when it snows all through the night they bundle up and head outside for a busy day of angel making, snowball fights, and sledding.
Snowmen at Night, by Caralyn Buehner
After nighttime falls and everyone is asleep in their beds, a group of fun-loving snowmen jump into action and have their own bit of fun while no one is around to see.
Recess at 20 Below, by Cindy Lou Aillaud
How cold does it have to be before Alaskan kids stay inside for recess? For many schools, if it is colder than 20 below zero, they stay indoors; otherwise, it's outside for frosty fun! Compare and contrast with Grand View Kindergarten playground (center field at far right).
Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier
Video Putting on Snow Clothes First graders show how quickly they can put on their snow clothes all by themselves.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
Two sisters perform a dance to make it snow and when it snows all through the night they bundle up and head outside for a busy day of angel making, snowball fights, and sledding.
Snowmen at Night, by Caralyn Buehner
After nighttime falls and everyone is asleep in their beds, a group of fun-loving snowmen jump into action and have their own bit of fun while no one is around to see.
Recess at 20 Below, by Cindy Lou Aillaud
How cold does it have to be before Alaskan kids stay inside for recess? For many schools, if it is colder than 20 below zero, they stay indoors; otherwise, it's outside for frosty fun! Compare and contrast with Grand View Kindergarten playground (center field at far right).
Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier
Video Putting on Snow Clothes First graders show how quickly they can put on their snow clothes all by themselves.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
Week of December 2, 2019 - First Grade
Winter Weather
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Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier
The Blizzard of 1978
New England was hit by a nor'easter with hurricane-force winds approximately 86 mph with gusts up to 111 mph. A typical nor'easter brings steady snow for six to twelve hours, the Blizzard of '78 brought heavy snow for a full 33 hours.
Blizzard, by John Rocco
After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experience.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
At-home Activity Make a simple snow globe
The Blizzard of 1978
New England was hit by a nor'easter with hurricane-force winds approximately 86 mph with gusts up to 111 mph. A typical nor'easter brings steady snow for six to twelve hours, the Blizzard of '78 brought heavy snow for a full 33 hours.
Blizzard, by John Rocco
After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experience.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
At-home Activity Make a simple snow globe
Week of December 2, 2019 - Second Grade
Winter Weather and Winter Fun
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What Do Bees Do in Winter? Find out at Wonderopolis.org
Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold, by Joyce Sidman
Bees, moose, beavers, snakes, and more... discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow.
Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 1 of 3)
Lemonade in Winter, a Book About Kids Counting Money, by Emily Jenkins
Despite snow on the ground, icicles on window sills, and discouraging words from their parents, Pauline and her little brother, John-John, decide to open a lemonade stand.
Connection What do you do differently when the weather turns colder?
Video Extremely Epic Blanket Fort
Fun Stuff Honey Bears Coloring Sheet and Busy as a Bee Activity Sheet
Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold, by Joyce Sidman
Bees, moose, beavers, snakes, and more... discover how animals stay alive in the wintertime and learn about their secret lives happening under the snow.
Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 1 of 3)
Lemonade in Winter, a Book About Kids Counting Money, by Emily Jenkins
Despite snow on the ground, icicles on window sills, and discouraging words from their parents, Pauline and her little brother, John-John, decide to open a lemonade stand.
Connection What do you do differently when the weather turns colder?
Video Extremely Epic Blanket Fort
Fun Stuff Honey Bears Coloring Sheet and Busy as a Bee Activity Sheet
Week of December 2, 2019 - Third Grade
Curriculum Connection Reading for Information - Jane Goodall
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Me...Jane, by Patrick McDonnell
Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan's Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does.
The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps, by Jeannette Winter
Goodall's passionate love of nature began in early childhood. As an adult, she moved to Tanzania, making the study and protection of the chimpanzees in the Gombe forest a focus of international fascination.
Video Segment Meet Jane Goodall Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Dr. White, by Jane Goodall
Based on fact, Dr. White is a cute little dog who makes his own kind of hospital rounds visiting very sick children. A health inspector, horrified at this breach in sanitary practices, orders the dog out. Then the man's own daughter becomes ill, and Dr. White proves his worth.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan's Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does.
The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps, by Jeannette Winter
Goodall's passionate love of nature began in early childhood. As an adult, she moved to Tanzania, making the study and protection of the chimpanzees in the Gombe forest a focus of international fascination.
Video Segment Meet Jane Goodall Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)
Dr. White, by Jane Goodall
Based on fact, Dr. White is a cute little dog who makes his own kind of hospital rounds visiting very sick children. A health inspector, horrified at this breach in sanitary practices, orders the dog out. Then the man's own daughter becomes ill, and Dr. White proves his worth.
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
Week of December 2, 2019 - Fourth Grade
Curriculum Connection Informational Writing
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YouTube Video Slinky television commercial 1962
The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring, by Gilbert Ford
The toy was conceived during WWII, when an engineer noticed a spring he'd been working on could "walk" from a shelf. It gained momentum as a pop culture icon when his wife named the toy and marketed it.
YouTube Video Human Slinky
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
At Home Activity Make a paper slinky
The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring, by Gilbert Ford
The toy was conceived during WWII, when an engineer noticed a spring he'd been working on could "walk" from a shelf. It gained momentum as a pop culture icon when his wife named the toy and marketed it.
YouTube Video Human Slinky
Activity Carolers coloring sheet
At Home Activity Make a paper slinky
Week of December 2, 2019 - Fifth Grade
Curriculum Connection Informational Writing
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Video Snowflake Bentley YouTube Slides with a quiet guitar enhance the reading.
Snow Flake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
For almost half a century, Wilson Bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at Jericho, Vermont, and made available to scientists and art instructors samples of his remarkable work
Snow Crystals, by W. A. Bentley
In 1931, the American Meteorological Society gathered together the best of these plus some slides of frost, glaze, sleet, soft hail, and dew on vegetation and on spider webs. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals reveal the wonder of nature's diversity in uniformity; no two are alike, yet all are based on a common hexagon.
The Secret of Water: for the Children of the World, by Masaru Emoto
Presents an environmentally friendly introduction to water, its uses, its importance, and invites children to learn about the connection between water and all living things.
Website snowflakebentley.com/bio
Snow Flake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
For almost half a century, Wilson Bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at Jericho, Vermont, and made available to scientists and art instructors samples of his remarkable work
Snow Crystals, by W. A. Bentley
In 1931, the American Meteorological Society gathered together the best of these plus some slides of frost, glaze, sleet, soft hail, and dew on vegetation and on spider webs. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals reveal the wonder of nature's diversity in uniformity; no two are alike, yet all are based on a common hexagon.
The Secret of Water: for the Children of the World, by Masaru Emoto
Presents an environmentally friendly introduction to water, its uses, its importance, and invites children to learn about the connection between water and all living things.
Website snowflakebentley.com/bio
Library Program
Our students enjoy weekly visits for a presentation crafted to instill a love of reading, to enhance Common Core classroom lessons, and to inspire life-long learning. Visits include checking out materials, practicing information literacy, and exercising digital citizenship.
California Model School Library Standards
Read Aloud 15 Minutes. Every Child. Every Parent. Every Day See why it matters at readaloud.org
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