Books for Christmas Day 6: This is the Star

This Is the Star by Joyce Dunbar that is a story that builds upon itself to tell the Christmas story and begins and ends with the star in the sky.

Activity:  We are making the star from Truth in the Tinsel!  I love all these new ornaments that we are making.  Truth in the Tinsel also has many extension activities beyond the ornament to share the true meaning of Christmas.

Books for Christmas Day 5: The Littlest Christmas Tree

The Littlest Christmas Tree: A Tale of Growing and Becoming by Janie Jasin is a cute little story about a tree that wanted to become a Christmas tree.  She prays and grows and learns that becoming a Christmas tree is not what matters most.

Activity: We will be matching Christmas trees cut from wrapping paper!

Books for Christmas Day 4: The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook

The Baby Bible Christmas Storybook (The Baby Bible Series) is a wonderful book especially for babies, but toddlers and preschoolers love it too.  This year Shrade will actually be able to do the motions with each story (I hope!).  This little book tells the story of Christmas from Mary to how we celebrate Christmas in the present day.  This will take several days to read, but we will start reading the stories and I think Jessna will enjoy this cute little board book.

Activity: We are going to make Mary from Truth in the Tinsel!

Books for Christmas Day 3: The Sweet Smell of Christmas

The Sweet Smell of Christmas (Scented Storybook) is one of my favorite Christmas books from my childhood.  Do you remember those scratch and sniff days?  This will be my first time sharing this book with my son.  Mmm, I smell something cooking!

Activity:  We are going to make cookies- Winter Cranberry Cookies (a jar mix).

Books for Christmas Day 2: The Crippled Lamb

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado is a sweet, sweet story about a little lamb that is crippled and couldn't go with the rest of the sheep and the shepherds out into the field.  He had to stay in the stable, but he got to witness and be a part of the most awesome night!  This is one of my favorite books and makes me cry every time I read it.

Activity: We are going to make the sheep from Truth in the Tinsel!

Books for Christmas Day 1: Candy Cane Christmas

Candy Cane Christmas by Helen Haidle is a special book that tells about Christmas using a candy cane. It can be J for Jesus, the white is pure, and it looks like a shepherd's staff.  There are many more symbols on the candy cane that tell about Jesus, but you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out!

Activity: We are going to make a candy cane craft using a J shape with red and white stripes!

December Monthly Plan

*Bible Verse:  Luke 2:11 "For there is born to you this day in the City of David, A Savior who is Christ the Lord."  Christmas Verse      Songs for Saplings 

Bible verse activities from Totally Tots

BOOKS: This month we are going to be reading books about Christmas.  I'm going to blog about the books that we will be reading.  All of these books I read to my Kindergarten students year after year.  I'm excited to share them with my son this year.  I am going to wrap them up as presents to make it even more fun!

*Brightly Beaming Baby:  Jessna is now 7 months old for the Nursery Age lessons.  Each lesson is 2 weeks long and includes literature, poems, nursery rhymes, Bible, speech & vocab, classical music, lullaby, foreign language (I'm going to do some Spanish and sign language), baby game, exercise and baby massage.  I love these lessons because they give me a focus on what I can do to entertain my baby!  It's fun and she loves it.  I hope to do more things with her!

Lesson 9

Lesson 10

*Sensory Play:
-water play- loves this!
-playdough 

*Christmas Connection:

Truth in the Tinsel:We will be doing the advent activities from this ebook, probably about 6 this year.  I just reviewed this and it is excellent!  Be sure to get your copy today and start the adventure of teaching your kids about the true meaning of Christmas together!

Buy Truth in the Tinsel today!! 

We will also be doing a few of these activities to count down to Christmas: The Activity Mom

*Daily Music time: Songs from Music Notes and CD's we get at the library.  Singing lots of Christmas songs!

*Pre-Math Activities
 I'll be using this book Totline 123 Math: Pre-Math Activities for Working With Young Children (1-2-3 Series, Math: Ages 3-6) by Jean Warren.  I'll try to blog about some of the activities that we do.
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*Art:
 We will be making ornaments from Truth in the Tinsel.  Be on the lookout for my blog posts about this amazing journey that we will be taking.

*Field Trips:
Playdates
MOPS

Nursery

Mall playground


Pretend Play:
-building a fort
-cooking
-dress up with scarves and hats



*Skills/Chores:
 What Shrade can do: 3 years of age
-When asking a question to mommy and daddy, begin with "May I please...?"
-wash hands
-taking off clothes and put in laundry basket
-putting clothes on
-drinking from cup
-throw away garbage/recycling
-clean up messes on the floor

-put dishes in the sink

-help put dishes away from the dishwasher

-put clothes in the washer
-Help mama with the baby
-Cooking with mama
-spelling his name

 What we are working on:
-clean up toys- say "yes, mama" when asked without whining or crying- still working on this
-starting potty training (sitting on toilet- he can do #1!!)

-brushing teeth (we've been working on this for awhile)
-wash face and hands and brush hair