Christmas Story and Dance Activity

Cheers! 🎄

I have a special blog post today.  I wrote a short (247-word) Christmas story for Susanna Leonard Hill's Holiday Writing Contest for children's writers.  Since this blog is about dance and movement, I have also created a movement activity for children three to six years old, to go along with the story.

I hope you enjoy reading the story Sparkle the Snowflake, and then dancing the story with your little ones!

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Sparkle the Snowflake

by Connie Bergstein Dow

Everyone knows that no two snowflakes are alike, but Sparkle was extra special.  She shone and shimmered a little brighter than all of the other snowflakes that lived in her cluster of clouds.

Sparkle and her snowflake friends had an important job to do.  They were to fall to earth on Christmas Eve. They would cover the hills and trees, and especially the rooftops of the houses, so that Santa and his reindeer would leave their footprints on the rooftops for children to see on Christmas morning.

The snowflakes were busy the day before Christmas.  They carefully planned their journey from the clouds. They practiced floating and staying together so they could create a beautiful snowfall that evening. 

Sparkle and all of the other snowflakes snuggled deep into the billowy clouds to get some rest before the busy night.  Soon, Sparkle woke up and looked around in alarm.  It was almost midnight!  “Wake up!” Sparkle called. Then she soared from cloud to cloud, making sure that every snowflake was ready.

Just in the nick of time, they slipped from the puffy clouds and began to twirl and dance in the chilly night air.  The snowflakes landed gently, and waited silently.  When the sun peeked over the hill, the snowflakes heard children laughing as they ran from their houses and saw the glistening snow.  Little did the children know that the snow that had greeted them this Christmas morning was all thanks to Sparkle, the shiny little snowflake.     

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Here is a lively and playful creative movement activity for 3-6-year-olds 

*If available, play some holiday or other music for background as the children dance. 

*Optional props: "snowflakes" --  shower scrubbies or netting strips tied together

Dance the Story of Sparkle the Snowflake

Imagine you are a little snowflake.  What shape are you?  Now try a different one. And now one more.  Which do you like best?

Now think of what it would be like to practice your snowfall,  floating softly through the sky.

Snuggle deep into your cloud.  Pretend to drift off to sleep, thinking of something you like about the holidays, and imagine your are dreaming.  Wake up quickly, sit up, and show what your face looks like when you think you have overslept. Hop out of your billowy cloud as fast as you can!

Soar from cloud to cloud, waking up all of your snowflake friends. Now, imagine you are ready to fall to the ground.  Slip out of your cloud.  Dance in the cold night air!  Twirl, swirl, tumble slowly and quickly, get blown by the wind from side to side, up and down, around and around. Finally, you float gently to the ground.

Now imagine you are one of the children in the story.  Run out of your house, see the snow, and jump up and down.  Play in the snow! 

Have an imaginary snowball fight!  (Use optional snowflake props here). Make footprints in the snow.  Now, imagine you are sledding down a steep hill.  Fall out of your sled at the bottom of the hill and land in the soft snow.

 Roll snowballs and make a giant snow person.  What does it look like?  Now, imagine you are the snow person.  Make yourself into a snow person shape.  Uh-oh -- the sun comes out!  What happens?  Slowly melt to the ground.

The activity ends with a free dance to music.  Prompt the children to dance about ideas from the Sparkle the Snowflake story, the imaginary playtime in the snow, and anything else they like about winter. Use the props again if you have them.  Ask the children to throw them up in the air all together at the end of the dance to make a "blizzard."

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Keep on dancin', and enjoy the holidays,

Connie

www.movingislearning.com

MOVING IS LEARNING!

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Exploring Weather with Science Experiments in Preschool

Hello again and Happy Spring from Ayn at little illuminations! 

We have been learning about weather in our class lately. Even though the calendar says Spring is here, it has still been unseasonably chilly in our area. We've talked a lot about the weather and how certain weather conditions happen. Our discussions have led to several science experiments in class.

We used shaving cream to simulate clouds and food coloring for water. When the clouds get full, the rain falls from the clouds.

We also used some recycled packing peanuts to explore this concept. The children cupped their hands while others filled their hands with the peanuts. When too many peanuts were put in, they fell down like rain.

Another way we explored rain was by putting a dish of ice over a vase filled with hot water. As the ice melted, condensation ran down the insides of the vase demonstrating a rain effect.

We explored wind by placing several items in front a fan to see which items would get blown by the wind (fan). It was interesting to hear the students' predictions and reasons why they thought certain items would blow away. 

We charted the weather over a week long period. We've talked about how scientists have to collect data and record it over a period of time, so this was a good way to put that into practice. Here's a FREE printable of our weather chart!

In our art center, weather has been a popular interest. The children have been making a lot of pictures with rainbows and clouds.

We talked about the properties of wind and how that relates to flying a kite. Later, one of the kids made a little kite using items from our scrap box. Later, he took it outside and tried to fly it. For several days after that, the kids were making kites like crazy! (In fact, they are still making one or two daily!) 

Pretty soon, kite flying was the highlight of our outdoor time!

Some of the great books we've been reading as we've explored weather can be found in bookstores or online. Here are a few of our favorites:

Hope Spring is happening in your area! We hear that it will soon feel like Spring here in Augusta, Georgia. Be sure to check out the Master's Golf tournament this week to see some of our lovely local Spring foliage. The weather may be confused about when Spring began, but our azaleas won't be fooled! 


Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!

 

Weather Watchers in Prek!

Shared by Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. of Teach Preschool

Here in the midwest, we have been experiencing extreme changes in weather. During the month of February we have had sunny days in the upper 60's to snowy and cold days in the mid 20's to windy and rainy days.  This past week, many communities were hit by some pretty ugly tornadoes as well...

I tell you this because it isn't only adults that notice extreme weather patterns, young children do to and it is a good idea to talk with children about weather patterns and weather safety in a way that is nonthreatening yet meaningful and realistic...

Talking about weather

We talk about the weather in our classroom every single morning. One child goes to the window and tells us what the weather looks like today. They are to choose two words - one word that tells us the temperature (cold, hot, warm) and one that tells us the weather pattern (sunny, cloudy, rainy)...

We use the two words (well sometimes we end up with a few extra words but we manage to squeeze them all in) in a simple little tune...

Weather, weather, weather, weather,

What will the weather be today?

(Sunny) and (cold), (Sunny) and (cold),

That's what the weather will be today!

Integrating information about weather into your day

We also read books that talk about different kinds of weather. Reading age appropriate weather related books and having casual conversations about the weather opens doors for communication about different types of weather and why the weather changes and even some of our fears when it comes to stormy weather...

There are so many wonderful ways to explore the weather through math, science, art, and music...

This week, we explored the weather by creating some weather word wall art...

Weather Drills

This week, many preschools found themselves having to head to a place of shelter due to tornado warnings.  Taking the time to have a plan for bad weather and to practice weather related drills is something every preschool program should be doing.  By practicing with the children, the children (and teachers too) will know what to expect and it can take away some of the anxiety or confusion.

Keep weather drills nonthreatening for young children. Perhaps have a stormy weather kit ready to go filled with crayons, paper, water bottles, cups, snacks, books, songs, and other items that you will need to keep little hands occupied while waiting out a storm...

March is a wonderful time to talk about the weather. We will be doing much more with weather throughout the month in my classroom.  I invite you to come on over to Teach Preschool throughout this month and see what else we are doing with the weather!

Weather Links from Teach Preschool

Exploring Weather in Preschool

Black and White make Gray Clouds

Graphing the Weather

PS. I would love to hear any tips you can offer up in planning for and dealing with inclement weather in your program. Leave a comment below!