GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR DECEMBER PROGRAM By Dr.Jenny B. Arrill New York City GENERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR DECEMBER What a happy fact it is that even war cannot blot out Christmas from the calendar! No, indeed, we hear and have heard months in advance that Santa means even to remember "our boys" at the front. His presents may be of the useful kind, but the promises to slip in a few sugar plums, just a hint or two of home luxuries and reminders of the joys of peace. Perhaps even a few trifles of kindergarten manufacture may find their way to father or big brother. A tiny stamp case with a few stamps, a soldier father or loving big brother. Gift cannot take much room. Perhaps one will fit in mother's or sister's letter if no larger package can be sent. Perhaps our card may be a picture of the "Christmas Babe" whose story will yet bring "peace and good will all the world around." How fortunate we kindergartners are to be so near the child at all seasons, particularly now at this season and in these days of many sorrows. For who so quickly rises out of any trial as a child? Surely the master knew when he sat a child in the midst and bade us to become as little children. Do we not go to our children to rest our weary, saddened hearts? We will not spoil their Christmas joy, we will sing as of old. We will tell the sweet story of the manger which was so soon followed by fear and flight, for then as now, joy and sorrow, were not far apart. Froebel has taught us to apply nature's law of contrast or opposites. We must not be afraid to face sunshine or shade, joy and pain and is not even love more lovely when we get a glimpse of its opposite-hate? In the kindergarten, Christmas is not all "getting." It is also "giving" the opposite. The tree of the kindergarten is to hold the gifts made by the children for father, mother, sister, baby or friend as well as a possible "surprise" for children who have none at home. Enlist some kind old auntie or bachelor uncle to furnish this surprise. It will make a real Christmas for them as well as for the children. Bring age and youth together. Opposites again, as it were. If ever we could be excused from making "a merry Christmas" it would seem that we had reached the year, but we cannot be excused. Merry, merry Christmas everywhere. Christmas bells, Christmas trees, Merry, merry Christmas, everywhere, Recall Zone Gale's Christmas story. How the village people tried to ignore this greatest of holidays, how the children sadly proposed to play "have a funeral" for Santa Claus, and yet Christmas came and Santa ruled in his right, as rule he must this year in spite of all our griefs. PRACTICAL HINTS FOR DECEMBER PROGRAM BY WEEKS AND DAYS BY JENNY B. MERRILL, PD. D. First Week-Dec. 3-7 Topic: What Shall We Do For Chrstmas? ( Problem I). Monday, Dec. 3. Show a picture of Santa Claus. Let children laugh and enjoy the good old saint. Who remembers last Christmas? What did you do? Shall I tell you what the little children in our kindergarten did last year? Relate in detail. Tell about working to decorate the room, about making little gifts for friends at home and in school. Tell about learning Christmas songs. "Christmas comes but once a year, I have some more Christmas pictures to show you Will tomorrow. Perhaps you have some at home. you bring them? Did you save any pretty Christmas cards? Ask mother if you can bring a few. We can all work to make a scrap book for some child who has no picture book. Would you like to do that. Now we must rest a few minutes and then we must go to work, for we have much to do and not many days left. Here is our new calendar leaf. It is December. Shall we count how many days we have to do our work before Christmas? (Children love to count.) Now we must march and exercise. I will play one of our new Christmas songs. Perhaps we can hum it soon. Perhaps we can march with this new tune. Try. Work at Table. Making some simple decorations for room, as chains of red and green, or possibly white chains if there has been snow. We will need many chains for our room and for our tree. Possibly later make a few of gold or silver for the tree. Children measure each other's chains. Who has the longest? Tuesday, Dec. 4. Call for pictures the children have brought. Pass. Let children choose one for a story. If none seems appropriate, show one of your own. It may be "A Christmas Tree." (Problem II.) Would you like to have one for our Christmas party? This party will be for our friends. invite? Whom will you We will trim the tree with our pretty chains, and we will hang our little presents on it. Won't mother be surprised? But we must get to work or the presents won't be finished. Now let us count how many days are left to get ready. We must march and exercise and then for a busy, busy day. Continue song begun. (Each kindergartner will surely wish to choose her own songs, pictures and stories.) Work. Making paper lanterns or other simple ornaments. Each child who succeeds deposits the lantern in a large box, which should be a pretty one. This box should be introduced with some interesting remarks. We may call it, "Santa Claus Treasure Box." Santa wants us to help him fill it for there are so many trees to trim. (The Santa Cluas myth is wholesome if not overdone. Be careful not to excite the little ones too much. Whisper often, talk less than usual, be a little mysterious.) Sing the new song frequently through the day during the work period as well as in the circle and ring. Sing lulabies. All baby songs are approximately for this season. Wed., Dec. 5. Continue conversation about pictures. Possibly a picture of the Holy Family may be permissible. Drop the Santa Claus thought and ask, "Whose birthday comes on Christmas"? Long ago, on the very first Christmas a dear little baby was born. This is a picture of that very baby. What was his name? What was his mother's name? We will find the very best place in our room for this picture of Jesus and his mother and father. Sometimes we call these three "The Holy Family." Have you ever heard about the song the angels sang when Jesus was born. Listen and I will try to sing it. Perhaps you go to Sunday School, you will hear it there. We love to sing it on Christmas Day. Let us look over all our pictures today and find the picture of the angels singing. Work. Begin the scrap book. Let each child enter one picture. (Choosing, Problem III.) Shall we put the baby's picture first, because it is his birthday? What are we to do with the book? (Problem IV.) Thursday, Dec. 6. Finger plays reviewed. Making a chimney for Santa Claus with the two hands. During the day have children build a chimney if possible, with bricks, also with blocks on the table. (Problem V.) Tell the story about "The Night Before Christmas" When all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, Not even a mouse. Quite young children can learn this poem or part set value upon our own possessions, we may not value those of others. Problem IX for us is to develop the pleasure of giving by recognizing very simple sacrifices. Tuesday, Dec. 11. A Christmas story, as Christmas in the Barn, A Visit to the Layman. See Froebel's Mother Play. Handwork. Making or drawing toys. Building a barn with toy animals set about following the story told. Practice songs. Rhythms and Games. Imitate motions of toys. Play Santa. Play Layman. Have a toy store on the tables with the blocks or in the ring with the chil dren, several children representing toys. Some children come to buy the toys and the kindergartner shows them one by one, as a doll that walks and talks, a lamb that bleats, a cow that turns her head and says, "Moo," a ball that bounces, a drum, a carriage, etc. Wed., Oct. 12. Teach a new song. Of course, every day a few minutes will be needed to let the children tell of their experiences outside of kindergarten and so much depends upon environment that it is hard to say just which road to follow. Meanwhile Nature may call us to enjoy a snow storm. And we must follow. Then will come on this or another day sleds in miniature. Old box lids can be used and with slight modifications, a string added and a table tipped for a slide. What fun the paper dollies will have, for of course some child will think of putting dollies on the toy sleds. Thursday, Dec. 13. If there has been a snow storm a second day must surely be devoted to the toy slide. Drawings on gray paper with white crayons will show all sizes of snow balls, snow scenes and possibly windows with snow, or the Christmas tree decorated with snow by Mother Nature. Friday, Dec. 14. Review day. Practice songs, especially as singing is helpful in quieting and holding the little ones together at this exciting time. Sing softly. Hum. Sing to the children. Let several children sing alone while all listen.. THIRD WEEK Monday, Dec. 17. Children's stories of home experiences. Consult calendar. Mark the three days, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Count the days to our Christmas party. How quiet and busy we must be this week. "Santa's Treasure Box" needs more chains, perhaps, or lanterns, or icicles, or paper snow balls, or bird cages of paper, or stars or balls. Problem X is to decide ad help choose colors, etc. Present a problem, think it over, hunt for the right material, then get to work. Tuesday, Dec. 18. A new Christmas story or song as the need is felt. The old stories bear repetition and the best is the story of Bethlehem, which we give elsewhere, in case it is in keeping with the school law. In some Jewish communities, only old prejudices are awakened by the day, but in others, more enlightened, we share our holidays. May we all be loving and forbearing as many have been in the past observing the holiday in a way to keep the spirit if not the letter. Rhythms-Ringing bells. Games as chosen by children. Dramatizing stories simply. Wednesday, Dec. 19. Conversation about invitations to our Christmas party. Show several. See if children prefer the bell or the star. What color? Trace the form decided upon but if possbile let children cut it out. If white paper is used the children may color it, using paint or crayon. It pays to prepare pretty invitations for parents and to use the children to deliver them. This kindergarten custom brings about a happy connection with the home. Even if a mother or father cannot come this attention has a power. A Christmas tree may be cut from green paper, doubled from below upward, or from the side so that it opens like a book. Little touches of yellow may be put on by the children, or if white paper is used, paint the tree. In like manner the bell or star may be double if the message written requires more space. Rhythms. Ringing bells. Making of toys. The jumping jack pleases the children. The drum suggests tapping. Drums may be easily made from cylidrical cardbard boxes, such as are frequently found in the kitchen, containing cereals. Cover such a box with red paper and trim it with green or vice versa. I prefer these colors at this season, but of course use what is convenient, even ordinary wrapping paper. If the box is covered with white paper trim with colored strips of red and green. Tie a cord around the box. The children can then hang this drum around their necks and tap on the ends wth fingers or sticks. These drums or even smaller colored boxes will make pretty presents. Girls may make pretty presents. Girls may make drums as surprise presents for the boys. Problem XI. What shall the boys make for the girls? Scrap books? Thursday, Dec. 20. Secure the tree by this time or earlier, if convenient. If this is the day before the party sptnd it in decorating the room and the tree, using the little ones as helpers as far as pos sible. Some things may be added as a surprise to the children after they leave, but this tree is mainly a surprise for mothers. I read a story once about children in a family who were worked up to the pitch of excitement about the Christmas tree, but never saw it until the last minute. A contrast story was told of children who shared in the preparations and were happier by far and less excited because they had found an avenue of expression while the first were so pent-up that the story ended in punishment and tears! Friday, December 21. Our Christmas Party. Children show mothers around the kindergarten room if this is their first visit. the children's work for the past Possibly some of four months is 10. Children find gifts on tree and carry them to parents, the kindergartner guiding and saying a few words about this kindergarten tree, as the child's expression of love. 11. Deciding what to do with the tree after the presents are removed. (Some prefer to send it to an orphanage or hospi tal, or pissibly to an absent kindergarten child who has been kept away by sickness.) It has often been found expedient to cut off a few branches for nature lessons, especially in cities where children do not see many trees throughout the year. THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM How many of you have a little baby at home? Where does he sleep? Are you very quiet when he is sleeping? I want you to be very quiet now and listen to a story about a wonderful baby boy. It is a Christmas story too, for this wonderful baby was born on Christmas Day. Christmas is his birthday. That is why I am telling you the story today, so that we can think about this baby on his birthday and every day till Christmas comes. Here is a picture of the baby. Who is it? Who is with him? (Some child will doubtless know, but if not, simply say, "This is the baby Jesus, and this is his mother, Mary." If possible, have a picture showing the father too and give his name. Mary and Joseph were not at home when God gave them this beautiful baby. They found a soft bed of hay for the baby in a stable. See, it is like a barn in our picture. Here are the kind animals looking at the baby wondering what has happened! They will not hurt the baby. (Secure a picture showing the animals, if you can. If not mention them.) There was a place like a box in the barn where there was hay for the cows and oxen to eat. box was a safe, warm place to lay the baby. called this box a manger. This They Now listen and I will sing about it. Once in royal David's city (See also in "Songs of a Little Child's Day," by Emilie Poulsson, "In the Bethlehem Stable." Luther's hymn "The Little Lord Jesus Asleep in the Hay" would be very timely this year as many are cele brating the 400 anniversary of Luther's work.) After singing the hymn several times, explain one or two words, as cattle. David's city was Bethlehem. called? Bethlehem is far away. What is our city It is not necessary to explain every word. A hymn for children should be simple enough to carry its meaning in the main. One verse is sufficient for one day with the wee ones. If any child volunteers to tell about the shepherds, or the star or the angel's song, let them tell what they know or promise to talk more of the baby Jesus next day, if it seems best to do so. Use a good sized picture, if possible. Mount it even |