Holiday Celebrations, Crafts + Diversity

DECEMBER FIRST!!

December's Here!

December ideas! 

Hands Together Wreath of Painted Hand Prints

December celebrations.
December projects.

As soon as the turkey left-overs are finished,

 the December dash is declared. 

Looking for reindeer? Look no further! 

So much to do. So many decisions.

To-elf or not-to-elf: 

that is the question!

Go here to see what oh-so-clever Crystal of "Kreative in Kinder" did in her room last year. She had so many ideas to share.

Are you putting on a holiday program? 

Family performance? 

Did you see Miss Carole's bell ringing article? 

Choosing a simple and child-friendly song that's DAP makes for delight over stress.

The children enjoy their time in the spotlight and parents appreciate happy children.

Are you searching Pinterest for a simple card keepsake memento? 

Now's the time to click back to Carie's article from last year. 

It's FILLED with ideas including this classic. 

How about a gift idea? 

Last year, Joanna's peppermint play-doh recipe 

was our first pinterest explosion when our blog was just getting launched. 

Just as classic this year as last. 

Yesterday Joanna offered the directions for creating a Christmas tree countdown calendar craft. What a delightful way to mark the passing of days, leading up to the shining star. 

While Christmas may be on the minds of many of the students in your room, December holds a myriad of celebrations.

Click here to see how Ayn has tied in the study of many cultures for her students. 

December is a time of lights.

Twinkling candles are at the center of many homes. 

Watching the wonder in your child, grand-child or student's eyes reminds us of the spirit of the central message of the season 

-- unique to each of us. 

We adults need to remember to focus and breathe. 

Simplifying our expectations is key to delight in December.

Creative Learning Fun 

has oodles of Hanukkah ideas and inspiration. 

Here's the link to a cluster of resources on that site. 

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You also need to pop over to fellow blogger, 

"The Pleasantest Thing" 

to receive the directions and tutorial on this next child-friendly craft. 

Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa the list goes on. 

Look at how those same fingers with paint can celebrate across the spectrum.

Kwanzaa. 

Special thanks to Lindsay all the way around the world at "Activity Village" for her permission and support to encourage the inclusion of this Kwanzaa Kinara in my little roundup today. She spells out the exact method used to create this keepsake on her blog in this article.

December holds the possibility of recognizing all in our midst who could use some seasonal cheer. Our own Marsha of "A Differentiated Kindergarten" fame, had a stunningly brilliant article here at PreK+K, just last week on how she orchestrates kindness in her kinders. What a marvelous system for guiding your children to a month of service to others. 

Random Acts of Kindergarten Kindness from "A Differentiated Kindergarten" 

***These are just a few of the highlights that can be found digging around our cyber directory here at PreK+K Sharing. We have all sorts of articles by our collaborating authors on snow books, snowflakes, snowmen (counting) and all things more generically 'winter.'

Montessori Snowmen 

I just added a little FREEBIE poem suitable for children's Christmas art projects or for including inside of a card of art. Click over to my new little store at Teachers Pay Teachers to download it for your use this month. 

May you have a wonderful December and appreciate all that your heritage and culture have to offer the wider world. May you bask in the child-like awe of this month. May December bring you a sense of calm in the midst of all of your celebrating. May there be JOY. May you be part of the creating of JOY. May there be JOY for all. 

-- Debbie --
***This article is a bloghop. 
We look forward to your ideas. 
Please link up your crafts, recipes, classroom + family traditions.
*Please be a gracious contributor and add a back link here.

P.S. Here's a 'flash' from the future.
I got to give my first.ever.NATIONAL.KEYNOTE!

Debbie Clement writes regularly at her blog RainbowsWithinReach. She travels the country sharing her original songs for children and their traditional picture book adaptations. She's thrilled to be a nationally award winning author and illustrator, but watching the season unfold through the eyes of her seven Wonder Peeps is the greatest joy of all. Join with her 86,000 followers on Pinterest and follow her store at Teachers Pay Teachers for the latest digital zipped files of her songs and their support materials.