December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023 | Winter Break
 GET COZY WITH A CLASSIC |  SEASON'S READINGS! |  FEELIN' FROSTY? CHILL WITH A GOOD BOOK |
Week of December 19, 2022 | TK | Happy Hanukkah
Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah, by Sylvia A. Rouss When the Shapiro family celebrates the eight nights of Hanukkah, Sammy Spider keeps his feet warm over the Menorah and yearns for a dreidel of his own. Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe Video Directions for At-Home Activity Use blue painter's tape to create a sticky web. Toss paper balls, balloons, and other objects to see what sticks! Click here Week of December 19, 2022 | Kindergarten | Happy Hanukkah
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel, by Caryn Yakowitz A beloved grandmother spreads out a yummy Hanukkah supper only to develop an insatiable appetite that alarms her family, in a story augmented by parodies of art by such masters as da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Picasso. Crafty Connection Color and cut out a paper dreidel Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe Week of December 19, 2022 | First Grade | Happy Hanukkah
The Magic Dreidels, by Eric A. Kimmel When Jacob drops his new dreidel down the well a friendly goblin gives him magic dreidels that are stolen by the neighborhood busybody. Writing Prompt If you had a magic dreidel, what would it spin out? Print the sheet Week of December 19, 2022 | Second Grade | Happy Hanukkah
Runaway Dreidel! by Leslea Newman In this rhyming tale a family's preparations for Hanukkah are disrupted by a wildly spinning dreidel that no one can catch. Writing Prompt Write a descriptive new ending to explain where the dreidel went. Print the sheet Week of December 19, 2022 | Third Grade | Happy Hanukkah
Hanukkah Bear, by Eric A. Kimmel At 97 years old, Bubba Brayna does not hear or see too well, so when old Bear wanders into her house she mistakes him for the rabbi and treats him to a delicious helping of potato latkes. Activity Sheet Help Old Bear find his way to Bubbe Brayna's house. Click here Kitchen Connection Try this latke recipe from the back of the book. Click here Directions for At-Home Activity Super simple instructions to finger crochet a cozy scarf. Click here Week of December 19, 2022 | Fourth Grade | Happy Hanukkah
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, by Eric Kimmel A resourceful traveler must use his wits to outsmart a pack of ghoulish goblins if he wishes to celebrate a bright and cheery Hanukkah. Backstory Although what we know about Hershele Ostropolyer (1770?-1810 is based mostly on oral tradition and folklore, he was a real person, thought to have come from Balta, Ukraine. His name is based on the town of Ostropol in Poland where he served as a shohet (ritual slaughterer). According to legend, he lost his job because of his constant joking that offended some community leaders. He then wandered through Ukraine and eventually found his calling as a court jester, frequently mocking the rabbi and his associates but delighting the common folk. Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe Week of December 19, 2022 | Fifth Grade | Happy Hanukkah
The Ninth Night of Hanukkah, by Erica S. Perl
With the help of their new neighbors, two resourceful children are able to celebrate Hanukkah even though they can't find their usual menorah, latke pan, etc., and then are inspired to celebrate a ninth night of Hanukkah as a way to say thank you to everyone who has helped them. Writing Activity In the spirit of the season, write a compliment to a family member, friend, or neighbor. Print out the example pictured above or design your own using a 3"x5" index card. Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe Week of December 12, 2022 | TK | Merry Christmas
Crafty Connection Use a pipe cleaner and bell to make a jingly bracelet before reading the story Mouse's First Christmas, by Lauren Thompson While exploring the house on Christmas Eve, a little mouse discovers the tree, a candy cane, a stocking, a jingle bell, and Santa Claus. Video Sing Jingle Bells with the help of the jingle bell bracelet Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 12, 2022 | Kindergarten | Merry Christmas
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. Crafty Connection Wreath coloring sheet Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 12, 2022 | First Grade | Merry Christmas
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. Crafty Connection Wreath coloring sheet Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 12, 2022 | Second Grade | Merry Christmas
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 3 of 3) 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 Sing Along Santa Claus is Coming to Town Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 12, 2022 | Third Grade | Merry Christmas
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 Sing Along Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 12, 2022 | Fourth Grade | Merry Christmas
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 Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge Running time 13:38; view beginning; sample after minute 7:09 Hurricane Katrina was a large and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused 1,833 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Cajun Night Before Christmas, by Trosclair A reading of a Cajun version of the classic story in honor of the librarian from New Orleans who lost her entire collection in Hurricane Katrina, but not her optimistic outlook on life. Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier Sing Along Jingle Bells at the Beach Crafty Connection Make a telescoping palm tree Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD Week of December 13, 2021 | Fifth Grade |
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The GATOR Good Peace on Earth begins with each of us. Find your inner peace at the calm center of your being and then share that feeling through kind acts to others.
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.
The Duck in the Gun, by Joy Cowley
The War was ready to begin but then a duck was discovered nesting in the barrel of the only cannon.
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.
Video The Christmas Truce of 1914 from Oh! What a Lovely War running time 3:39
Video I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake, 1975
Initially written to protest the commercialization of the Christmas holiday the words also speak of peace and hope that lie ahead, if we collectively work toward a kinder way of living.
Crafty Connection Paper snowflake video tutorial. Folding and snipping paper snowflakes can be a way to slow down, breathe, and find the peace that can come with focus.
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.
The Duck in the Gun, by Joy Cowley
The War was ready to begin but then a duck was discovered nesting in the barrel of the only cannon.
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.
Video The Christmas Truce of 1914 from Oh! What a Lovely War running time 3:39
Video I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake, 1975
Initially written to protest the commercialization of the Christmas holiday the words also speak of peace and hope that lie ahead, if we collectively work toward a kinder way of living.
Crafty Connection Paper snowflake video tutorial. Folding and snipping paper snowflakes can be a way to slow down, breathe, and find the peace that can come with focus.
Week of December 5, 2022 | TK | Friendship Fun in Winter
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Penguin and Pinecone, by Salina Yoon
Penguin finds a lost pinecone one day and an unlikely friendship blooms. Penguin discovers that love conquers distance and friendship grows stronger over time in this story of love and acceptance.
Close Reading Questions
1. Do the penguins love the forest? How can you tell?
2. Why do you think Pinecone dropped a pinecone in Penguin's sled?
3. Who do you think dropped the pinecone that penguin found on the first page? Why was it important to the story? Find the page(s) or text that supports your answer.
Crafty Connection Decorate pre-folded pine-tree-with-scarf bookmarks demonstration video
Penguin finds a lost pinecone one day and an unlikely friendship blooms. Penguin discovers that love conquers distance and friendship grows stronger over time in this story of love and acceptance.
Close Reading Questions
1. Do the penguins love the forest? How can you tell?
2. Why do you think Pinecone dropped a pinecone in Penguin's sled?
3. Who do you think dropped the pinecone that penguin found on the first page? Why was it important to the story? Find the page(s) or text that supports your answer.
Crafty Connection Decorate pre-folded pine-tree-with-scarf bookmarks demonstration video
Week of December 5, 2022 | Kindergarten | Winter Wishes
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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.
Snow Dance Rituals They vary from person to person, but besides dancing, common snow dance rituals include sleeping with a spoon under your pillow, flushing ice cubes down the toilet, putting a white crayon in the freezer, or wearing your pajamas inside out and backwards.
Crafty Connection Experiment drawing with chalk and ice cubes on construction paper
At-Home Crafty Connection Snow Dance coloring sheet has a link to instructions to make "snow" using simple household ingredients
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.
Snow Dance Rituals They vary from person to person, but besides dancing, common snow dance rituals include sleeping with a spoon under your pillow, flushing ice cubes down the toilet, putting a white crayon in the freezer, or wearing your pajamas inside out and backwards.
Crafty Connection Experiment drawing with chalk and ice cubes on construction paper
At-Home Crafty Connection Snow Dance coloring sheet has a link to instructions to make "snow" using simple household ingredients
Week of December 5, 2022 | First Grade
Curriculum Connection: Step-by-Step How-to Writing Style
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How to Bicycle to the Moon and Plant Sunflowers, by Mordecai Gerstein
A whimsical guide for aspiring young space travelers shares step-by-step instructions for using a bicycle, a garden hose, a large slingshot and a borrowed space suit to travel to the moon.
Crafty Connection Sunflower coloring sheet
How to Give Your Cat a Bath, by Nicola Winstanley
A little girl and her kitty make an escalating mess while respectively trying to follow and resist the cat-bathing instructions of a narrator who oversimplifies the process.
Video Cats that love baths
Crafty Connection Cat bookmarks coloring sheet
A whimsical guide for aspiring young space travelers shares step-by-step instructions for using a bicycle, a garden hose, a large slingshot and a borrowed space suit to travel to the moon.
Crafty Connection Sunflower coloring sheet
How to Give Your Cat a Bath, by Nicola Winstanley
A little girl and her kitty make an escalating mess while respectively trying to follow and resist the cat-bathing instructions of a narrator who oversimplifies the process.
Video Cats that love baths
Crafty Connection Cat bookmarks coloring sheet
Week of December 5, 2022 | Second Grade | Winter Friends
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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 2 of 3)
Please Don't Eat Me, by Liz Cimo
A bunny negotiates with a bear to avoid becoming lunch.
Extension While ants burrow underground or behind tree bark to wait out cold weather, bees form a cluster to keep the queen bee safely warm. More info
Crafty Connection Bear and bunny friendship coloring sheet
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 2 of 3)
Please Don't Eat Me, by Liz Cimo
A bunny negotiates with a bear to avoid becoming lunch.
Extension While ants burrow underground or behind tree bark to wait out cold weather, bees form a cluster to keep the queen bee safely warm. More info
Crafty Connection Bear and bunny friendship coloring sheet
Week of December 5, 2022 | Third Grade
Curriculum Connection: Reading Nonfiction
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Time Zones, by David A. Adler
Mathematics and geography are combined with simple language to introduce the concept of time zones.
Video Time zones for kids
Crafty Connection Paper watch/bracelet with memo pad
Mathematics and geography are combined with simple language to introduce the concept of time zones.
Video Time zones for kids
Crafty Connection Paper watch/bracelet with memo pad
Week of December 5, 2022 | Fourth Grade
Curriculum Connection: Reading Nonfiction and Growth Mindset
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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.
Video Hear the story read by Kendra Helsel. The close up page views allow readers to notice the detailed illustrations featuring engineering tools and classic toys, such as using a twisted pipe cleaner to represent steam from a coffee cup!
Video Human Slinky
Crafty Connection Make a paper slinky following these video directions
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.
Video Hear the story read by Kendra Helsel. The close up page views allow readers to notice the detailed illustrations featuring engineering tools and classic toys, such as using a twisted pipe cleaner to represent steam from a coffee cup!
Video Human Slinky
Crafty Connection Make a paper slinky following these video directions
Week of December 5, 2022 | Fifth Grade
Curriculum Connection: Reading Nonfiction and Social Justice
 |  Lizzie Magie (1866-1948) |  Charles Darrow (1889-1967) |
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Pass Go and Collect $200, the Real Story of How Monopoly was Invented, by Tanya Lee Stone
Monopoly's success as a board game boils down to the ideas and innovations of two individuals: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie (1866-1948) and Charles Darrow (1889-1967) -- but they weren't working together. Magie, a feisty woman who cared about social justice, created the Landlord's Game in 1903, hoping to educate the public about unfair practices within the real estate market. Roughly 30 years later, Darrow played an iteration of Magie's game and saw room for improvement -- and an opportunity to make money. He skillfully marketed his polished version of the game, calling it Monopoly.
Did You Know? These days, there are more than 300 versions of Monopoly including Star Wars, Pokemon and even Manhattan Beach, featuring the Manhattan Beach Pier, Shade Hotel, Polliwog Park, and the Kettle and more local landmarks.
Monopoly's success as a board game boils down to the ideas and innovations of two individuals: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie (1866-1948) and Charles Darrow (1889-1967) -- but they weren't working together. Magie, a feisty woman who cared about social justice, created the Landlord's Game in 1903, hoping to educate the public about unfair practices within the real estate market. Roughly 30 years later, Darrow played an iteration of Magie's game and saw room for improvement -- and an opportunity to make money. He skillfully marketed his polished version of the game, calling it Monopoly.
Did You Know? These days, there are more than 300 versions of Monopoly including Star Wars, Pokemon and even Manhattan Beach, featuring the Manhattan Beach Pier, Shade Hotel, Polliwog Park, and the Kettle and more local landmarks.
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.
Colleagues are welcome to borrow program ideas.
California Model School Library Standards
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