Merry Christmas!!

Happy Hanukkah!

Today, we visited Israel and learned all about Hanukkah !
The children made dreidels, Menorahs, and the Star of David.

Happy Kwanzaa!

Today we travled to Africa and learned about Kwanzaa! The kids made a Kinara and worked on a math sheet with shapes and the colors of Kwanzaa.

Here is some information about the Kwanzaa Kinara :)

The Kwanzaa Kinara

During Kwanzaa candles are placed in a special candleholder called the Kinara. There are seven candles (Mishumaa Saba) used, each representing one of the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa.

The colors of the candles are red, green, and black which are the colors of the Bendera (or African Flag). The Mishumaa Saba consists of a single black candle, 3 red and 3 green candles.

When putting the candles in the Kinara, the 3 red candles are placed on the left side. The 3 green candles are placed on the right. The single black candle is placed in the center and is the candle which will be lit first.

On each day of Kwanzaa a new candle will be lit as a symbol of the Kwanzaa Nguzo or principle of that day. The candles will be lit in alternating colors. First the black candle is lit, then the farthest left red candle, then the farthest right green candle, then the next red, then next green, then the last red, and then the final green.

The honor of lighting the candles depends on the family itself. As there are no rules as to who lights the candles, many families give the honor to the youngest child. Some give it to the eldest family member. And others share the duties, with a different family member lighting the candles each night.

(http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/kinara.htm)

Feliz Navidad!

This week we will be learning about the letter 'Mm'(practice recognizing the letter, writing the letter, and the sound of the letter) and we will be learning about Christmas Around the World! We will be 'traveling' around to different parts of the world and seeing what all they do for the Christmas Holiday. This should be lots of fun! Also, as you should be doing everyday, please continue to practice with your child the letter sounds, alphabet, numbers, colors, & writing their name.


Last week the children had their very own passports made for our special trips around the world! We went to our post office here at school to get them! Thanks for ALL your help in making this a great experience for the kids, Mrs. Trevino & Mrs. Garcia!


Today we will be visiting MEXICO! We will be learning about Los Pasados and having a little bit of taste of some food they eat. We will also be making a poinsettia :)

Here are the kids flying to Mexico :)

Here they are trying some food of Mexico!

Here they made some poinsettia's :)

SNOW!

Snow in Texas! Yup, that's right! This morning we all awoke to a beautiful sight... SNOW! It was so nice to see and the children loved it!