those days with the boxes around them were the days we were waiting for:  our christmas circle time days!

those are the days that we have regular preschool until 10:45/1:45, that’s when families are invited back early!

christmas circle times are our version of a christmas program/christmas party all in one.

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first we hide in the back room but leave christmas music and the fake fireplace going, then we come out and sing songs, say poems, read stories, play games, eat cookies…all while wearing our pajamas!

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we played jingle bells with TWO instruments each:  jingle bell stick and kazoo.  that was impressive.

(jingle bell sticks are jingle bells on a bit of wire taped to an old marker, then covered with colored masking tape)

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we also sang a baby jesus song and the baby that won the vote got to be jesus.

it was hard sometimes when more than one person wanted to hold baby jesus, then we have to figure it out…

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we did our silly j candy cane poem (we act very serious at first so that it’s even trickier):

you might think it’s just a letter from our alphabet song…

but really it’s a candy cane; it’s about to be gone!

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we read a favorite christmas book:

i just love using both of these books as a way to experience the passing of seasons and time.

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we also sent home a little treat…that was tricky too!

mr matt was “keeper of the treat bags” until the end.

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our church families provided dozens and dozens of cookies for our preschool families to enjoy.  i’m so grateful!

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there are more pictures and videos to share, but trust me, these kids know how to do a party program.

igloo project:

one pre-painted-with-glittery-silver-paint paper plate with a line drawn down the center, two people per plate, scissors for both, cooperative work!

then letter-shape, word-shape writing:

don’t forget to cut a door shape if you want a way in!

it was i week and that meant days of ice play.

getting a 10 pound chunk of ice out of the bag “was hard because one time the plastic stuck to the ice and it is frozen together.”

adding primary colors of food coloring “made green because it works in ice and not just with paint.”

scissors were a great tool for jabbing in then twisting to make tunnels “because it hurts to do that with your fingers.”

adding salt “did something about how it turned to water.”

and yes, those are scissors being used as pokers.  the phrase “situational awareness” is offered a lot at our school, but especially this week!  i was a bit uncomfortable with the scissor stabbing ice, but it proved constructive and just dangerous enough to bring calm.

watch where your friends’ bodies are, watch where your friends’ scissors are, think about where you are poking, think about where you are putting your hand, etc.

no injuries!  amazing!

looking for an inside way to get a lot of energy out, to firm up your legs muscles (i was sore all week), work on number recognition?

make a tape measuring strip and get jumping!

while this was not a contest with each other but a chance to beat one’s personal best, there was one person who jumped WAY farther than anyone else.

and this is the proof that mr matt really did jump 88 inches (imagine a cluster of children on their bellies with me to get a photo).

i should have one of these all the time….and maybe at home too!