Week of December 18, 2023 | TK | Merry Christmas
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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
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 18, 2023 | Kindergarten | Merry Christmas
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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
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 18, 2023 | First Grade | Merry Christmas
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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.
Crafty Connection Wreath coloring sheet
Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti
Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD
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 18, 2023 | Second Grade | Merry Christmas
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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 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
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 18, 2023 | Third Grade | Merry 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 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
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 18, 2023 | Fourth Grade | Merry 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 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
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 18, 2023 | Fifth Grade
Peace on Earth at Christmas --and Always-- Begins with Us
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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.
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