A Holiday Treat

Each year the children at our little yellow school make a holiday present for their parents.  This year we wanted to make something that utilized some of the skills the children had acquired through their Montessori work.  We came up with a wonderful idea.

What's in the bag?

Some of the first activities a child is introduced to in a Montessori environment are those of the Practical Life area. Many of these activities allow the child to do what the adults around him/her are seen doing everyday.  These activities are divided into Manipulative Skills, Care of the Environment and Self-Development.  The children in the following photographs are refining their manipulative skills.  The making of our holiday present would focus on these skills.

Spooning

Pouring

Tonging

Pouring

We only needed a few key items - cocoa, sugar and salt - to make our holiday present.

The Ingredients

Each child participated in the making of the present.  The five year olds were in charge of measuring the cocoa.

The four year olds were in charge of measuring the sugar.

 

The teachers added the salt.  This is what it looked like.

Now it was time to stir.  The three year olds were in charge of stirring.

Each child scooped the mixture into a container.

Some marshmallows were spooned on top.

Can you guess what we made?

The Finished Presents

We made Hot Cocoa Mix.

Hot Cocoa Mix

We hope all of our families enjoy their holiday treat!

The Doorbell Rang

Last Tuesday was a typical day at our little yellow school. We were all getting into the holiday spirit. 

Our holiday celebrations began the previous week with a beautiful Hanukkah presentation by Mrs. M. and L.

4 1/2 year old L. and Mrs. M.

 

Spinning Like Dreidels

 

Frying in a pan like a latke.

L.'s Personal Menorah

  
We had decorated our classroom Christmas trees on Monday.

Choosing Ornaments

So many choices!

Finding the perfect spot.

This spot looks good.

Stretching up high.

How high can we reach?

Where shall I hang this?

Our classrooms were looking very festive!

We had just sat down to have snack when the doorbell rang and rang and rang!  Who could it be?  We weren't expecting anyone. One of our teachers went to answer the door.  You will never believe who it was!

It was Santa!  We weren't expecting him until Thursday!  He asked us if he was in Finland.  The children said no, we live in Canada.  Oh goodness, Santa was a long way from Finland. Santa told us that Rudolph and the reindeer flew so fast that they completely flew over Finland and landed in Canada! The upstairs children heard a commotion and came down to see what was happening.  We were all so excited to see Santa!

Santa had so much to share with us.

We also had things to tell him.  We were so happy to have him here with us!

Santa wanted to hear some songs.  Luckily our music teacher, Mrs. L., was at school with her trusty guitar.  Did you know that Santa's favourite song is Santa Claus Is Coming To Town?  Santa wasn't content to sing.  He wanted to get up and dance!  It was a lot of fun!  Santa is an amazing dancer.

Unfortunately, our time with Santa was coming to an end. He and the reindeer had to get back to the North Pole to start loading up the sleigh.  We had a present for Santa.

Santa had a small present for us too.

Thank you for visiting us Santa.  We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!