School Age Storytime: School Daze–Fun Stories Celebrating a New School Year (K-3)

Book:  The Wrong Side of the Bed – Wallace E. Keller* (talked about what that expression means, delightful story in which a child literally gets up on the wrong side of the bed and goes through the day upside down!) also available as a Top 10 Storybook App (Kirkus Reviews): http://www.seeherestudios.com/tickle-books/the-wrong-side-of-the-bed

Poem: "School Days Rap" from Lunch Money & Other Poems for School – Carol Diggory Shields

Book: Sarah's Story – Bill Harley (Sarah doesn’t think she knows any stories for school until she gets caught up in an adventure involving a Queen Ant in search of a honey sandwich!)

Book: Just Another Ordinary Day – Rod Clement (deadpan language about an ordinary day is very funny when paired with anything but ordinary illustrations)

Song: "By the Way" from Joe Scruggs album Deep in the Jungle lyrics below:
also available on Youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jWE6Cs_tA . Props: paper bag with “lemonade can”, “sardine can” (I used image from internet wrapped around a box), 6 cotton balls & 4 rubber bands.


Book: Minerva Louise at School – Janet Morgan Stoeke (younger) booktalked other Minerva Louise books; Toll Bridge Troll – Patricia Rae Wolff (older) --  text-to-text
connection to The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Interactive Book: One – Kathryn Otoshi  -- All the other colors are intimidated by “Red’” until the “One” arrives and shows how everyone can count. This is a deceptively simple concept book that is also a brilliantly empowering story on how students can help one another stand up to bullies.  

 

Songs: “Smelly Locker” and “Heavy Backpack” from the book Smelly Locker Silly Dilly School Songs by Alan Katz

 

Poem (if time): "Clock Watching"  from Lunch Money & Other Poems for School – Carol Diggory Shields

***

Lyrics to By the Way by Joe Scruggs

It’s Monday morning, I’m running late,
There’s not a minute to spare.
Mom calls out, “Come on, Let’s Go,”
As she finishes drying her hair.
Now I’m in my place,
With a smile on my face
Just thinking about my day.
Then I think of some things
I’m supposed to bring,
and that is when I say,
“Dear Mom,
oh, by the way (echo)
I need an orange juice can,
4 cotton balls, and 6 rubber bands
And by the way, (echo)
I’m an angel in the play.
I’m gonna sing & I need some wings” (echo)
Well I guess I’ve induced some stress.
Mom’s smile begins to fade.
As she runs to the kitchen
And digs through the trash
For the can from the lemonade.
Now I start to protest
But she’s doing her best
So then I try to make it right.
I say, “I need everything by eight-fifteen
But I don’t need the wings till tonight.
Oh, by the way (echo)
I need an orange juice can,
If its lemonade, will the teacher understand?
And by the way, (echo)
They’re having meatloaf today.
If you don’t mind a bunch (echo)
I’m going to need a lunch.” (echo)

Sometimes I just don’t believe
How resourceful moms can be.
She gets the cotton balls
And the rubber bands,
From her vanity.
I’ve got a lemonade can,
Not quite the right brand.
But mom says it will do!
Then we’re out of the door
At seven fifty-four,
I won’t be late for school.

Oh, by the way (echo)
Meatloaf is better than it seems.
For my lunch, (echo)
Mom packed a can of sardines.
And for the play, (echo)
It’s sister’s costume from ballet.
I’m gonna sing (echo)
In her butterfly wings (echo)

Bedm 9.14

Other possible books:

New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story – April Halprin Wayland (a wonderful book describing the tradition of tashlich --making apologies and tossing away the things that you did wrong the previous year so as to start the new year with a clean heart -- not a bad idea for all of us, no matter what time of year it is!)
Mouse Views – Bruce McMillan (close up views of classroom objects – great guessing game interactive book)
The Little School Bus – Carol Roth (rhyming -phonemes, action)
Late for School:
Frank! -- Connah Brecon (2014)
Sarah's Story -- Bill Harley
Planet Kindergarten -- Sue Ganz-Schmidt

Mrs. Spitzer's Garden -- Edith Pattou -- beautiful book emphasizing metaphor of young students/garden

 

Bedm 9.18:

Minerva Louise at School by Janet Morgan Stoeke  (Kdg classes)
The Wrong Side of the Bed by Wallace E. Keller (literal interpretation of that figure of speech)
Gravity by Jason Chin (discussion of the principle of gravity, note that the book appears in the book)

One Green Apple by Eve Bunting (a new immigrant girl joins her class for a field trip to pick apples and finds even though she is different and speaks no English, she will be able to make friends)
One by Kathryn Otashi
Just Another Ordinary Day by Rod Clement (great book for modeling interplay between words & pictures -- unusual illustrations show that this is anything but an ordinary day!)

Some classes:

Songs: ”Heavy Backpack” & “I am in the Lunchroom” from Smelly Locker silly dilly school songs by Alan Katz
Prop Story: Flannel: "School Stuff" on  p.206 of A Storytime Year -- Susan Dailey (silly guessing game – phonics & letter knowledge)
Prop Song: “Oh By the Way” (details above)
Poems “Eight-Oh-Three” “School Daze Rap” and “Clock Watching” from Lunch Money by Carol Diggory Sheilds.

Kdg only: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Mary Had a Little Lamb (illustrated by Bruce McMillan)

New books: https://www.invent.org/blog/trends-stem/back-to-school-books : 

“The Magical Yet” by Angela DiTerlizzi This rhyming and inspiring book is beautifully illustrated and engaging for young readers. The story encourages children to practice persistence as they learn new skills alongside their new best friend – the Yet! We all experience failures or difficulties, but this book reminds us that anything is possible, we just haven’t learned everything yet.

 “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi How do you find the courage to be yourself? In this story, Unhei is concerned about fitting in at her new school when classmates struggle to pronounce her name correctly, so she contemplates choosing a different name from a jar of class suggestions. However, a new friend helps her to be proud of her name and the significance that it holds within her Korean culture. This book is a great reminder to embrace diversity and expand your friendships.

 “The School of Failure: A Story about Success” by Rosie J. Pova In this charming book, three not-so-familiar characters attend the School of Failure after being rejected from their classic fairytales. Through patience and perseverance, they learn that mistakes are what help us grow! With bright illustrations and a sweet message, this story reminds kids that happy endings are often found at the end of bumpy, messy roads.

 “The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be” by Joanna Gaines This New York Times bestseller celebrates the beauty of creativity, acceptance and uniqueness. As children build their own hot-air balloons, we discover how different ways of working and varying tastes come together to create something wonderful, teaching kids to value diversity by embracing the things that make us each different. The world benefits from each of us being true to who we were meant to be.

 “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller What does kindness mean to you? Explore this important question when you share this New York Times bestseller with your child. The story suggests many situations in which a child can choose to be a good friend, to be helpful or to make a classmate feel included. Throughout the book, we learn that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life!

 “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson Stepping into a new classroom when you feel like an outsider can be nerve-wracking. However, reaching out to others may show us that we are all more alike than we realize at a glance – and that our differences are what make each of us special. This heartwarming story of building connections between classmates shows us that new friendships can be made with just a little bit of courage!

School Age Storytime: Gifts and Giving

 

Storytimes emphasizing the non-material aspects of giving and receiving.
Great lead-ins for holiday coat & food drives.
Also includes a true story about how a town fought hate.

Looking for additional special holiday titles?  Check out this bibliography: http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/kids/PDFs/holidays2011.pdf

 

Extraordinary Gifts 12.16 BWL
(done in addition to a “very special trees” & “holiday lights” programs earlier in the month) K&1st + Ms. Valentine’s 2nd

 

 

Giving by Shirley Hughes (explores the different kinds of giving & sharing)

The Teddy Bear by David McPhail (A young boy’s lost teddy bear becomes a comfort to a homeless man)

 

Action Song: “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around”

Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story by Cynthia Rylant (Loosely-based on a true story. A rich man rides a train through Appalachia every year at Christmas tossing gifts to the poor children who are waiting in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there  the young boy waiting for gifts each year who grows up and also gives back to the community.)

The Marvelous Toy by Tom Paxton (sung) (Several book versions available. hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)

 

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard and Tanya Simon (a young German Jewish refugee in 1938 traversing 100 blocks of Manhattan to meet his aunt rejoices in the kindnesses he encounters from people along the way)

What a Wonderful World based on the song by Bob Thiele & George David Weiss, illustrated by Tim Hopgood (Louis Armstrong version performed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21LGv8Cf0us)

Encouraged kids to look for ways they could contribute to less fortunate – coat, food, toy drives…

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"Gifts of Kindness"  12.12

Boxes for Katje – Candace Fleming  (Based on a true story -- boxes from children in America helped townspeople in Holland after WW2) (Also available as a DVD from Spoken Arts)

Sing: The Marvelous Toy – Tom Paxton  (Several book versions available. hand-me-down toy has special meaning; performed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCjslf_a11c)

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate -- Janice Cohen (True story of how the town of Billings Montana stood up to hate speech and hateful actions -- the text is rather long for a read-aloud, so I have abridged it -- my adaption is below.) or Each Kindness – Jacqueline Woodson/Lewis (a new girl at school is rejected by other students -- kind & unkind acts cause ripples that sometimes cannot be undone)

The Extraordinary Gift – Florence Langlois (Imaginative fold out book which says that the best gift is a book!)

If time, can add some of the materials from the programs below.

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Gifts & Giving 12.11

The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree – David Rubel. (Wonderful story loosely based on the actual history of the Rockefeller Center Tree in the Depression. The tree's wood is now used for Habitat for Humanity Houses.   Here's a link:
http://earth911.com/news/2011/11/30/what-happens-to-the-rockefeller-tree-after-christmas-2/
http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2010archive/12_23_2010_rockefeller_christmas_tree.aspx)

New Old Shoes – Charlotte Blessing (One child's outgrown shoes go on to other children -- told from the point of view of the shoes!) Here's the link for http://www.soles4souls.org/ 

Immi's Gift – Karin Littlewood (Modern magical fable, somewhat reminiscent of David Wiesner’s Flotsam -- an Inuit girl finds colorful objects in her fishing hole, later the bear she drops is found by a boy in the tropics who had dropped those objects in the water!)  Interesting quote from the author: “I had written her story and drawn her again and again, but this little girl I knew so well did not have a name. Then I came across the Inuit name Immi and knew it was right for her. It was only much later that I found out Immi is short for Immiayuk, meaning echo, a word that seems very fitting for this story." - Karin Littlewood, author and illustrator of Immi's Gift  and/or Rabbit's Gift: A Fable from China – Shannon (Each animal decides to give the turnip found on their doorsteps to another.)

Book/Song:  The Marvelous Toy – Tom Paxton (Father gives son the same marvelous toy he received from his dad years before.)

The Gift of Nothing – Patrick McDonnell (Clever fable of the importance of friendship in this materialistic world!) and/or The Gift – Gabriella Keselman (Extremely funny book in which parents are desperately trying to  figure out what their child wants as a present -- until they realize it is a hug.)

The Extraordinary Gift – Florence Langlois (Imaginative fold out book which says that the best gift is a book!)

If you are interested in helping your kids and families explore the value of "nothing" (or experiences rather than stuff), you might want to add this link to your parent pages: Reclaiming the Holidays (from PBS.Parents)  http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2011/11/reclaiming-the-holidays.html

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Gifts & Giving 12.10

Silver Packages -- Cynthia Rylant (Loosely-based on a true story. A rich man rides a train through Appalachia every year at Christmas tossing gifts to the poor children who are waiting in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there  the young boy waiting for gifts each year who grows up and also gives back to the community.)

The Marvelous Toy - Tom Paxton (sung)

The Trees of the Dancing Goats -- Patricia Polacco (also based on a true story from the author's childhood about how her family helped neighbors in need.)

Glove with 10 international children: Uno, Dos, Tres amigos... (here:
http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/search?q=amigos)

Storytelling with props: The Surprise – George Shannon (Need 5 boxes that nest inside each other, 2 small squirrels stuffed animals (one for the beginning of the skit and one that sits inside the smallest box) and  optionally, a big squirrel Folkmanis puppet.)
The Surprise by George Shannon

Squirrel was worried.
His mother’s birthday was one day away and he still hadn’t found her a present.
She had perfume & books & the most beautiful garden.
He’d already given her drawings, and songs that he’d made up.
And every time he made a cake,
he burned it.
He sighed and said “I’ll just have to send her a plain old birthday card,” but as he was putting the stamp on, he had an idea.
He called his mother on the telephone and said, “I’m sending you a package with a surprise inside. Be sure to open it right away!”
The next day when the package arrived, his mother took off the ribbons and opened the box.
But there was another box inside.
So she opened that box – and found another box!
And opened that box – and found another box!
And opened that box – and found another box!
And when she opened that box…
Squirrel jumped out and gave her a big kiss!

Night Tree - Eve Bunting (family decorates a tree in the forest with food for the animals)  or  December – Eve Bunting (a mother and son living in a cardboard box share what they have with an old woman one Christmas Eve and find that their luck changes afterward.) or The Teddy Bear – David McPhail (A boy who loses his teddy decides that the homeless man who has found it needs it more)

Additional books to consider: Giving – Shirley Hughes, Elizabeti's Doll – Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Gifts – Jo Ellen Bogart,Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear – Audrey Wood, The Gift – Gabriela Keselman,  Knuffle Bunny 2 – Mo Willems, That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown – Cowell, Paper Cranes – Rosemary Wells, Extra Yarn – Mac Barnett, Shall I Knit You a Hat? – Kate Klise, Morris’ Disappearing Bag – Rosemary Wells, A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michele Edwards

Additional Song/Flannel: “Helping” from the book: Free to Be You and Me by Marlo Thomas & Friends.
 

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The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate 

Adaption/abridgement by Carol Simon Levin from the book by Janice Cohn.
I show the pictures from the book while telling the story something like this:

 

Not too many years ago, a boy named Isaac Schnitzer lived with his mother and father in the town of Billings Montana (might show location on a map so kids understand this is in the USA).

 

On the third night of Chanukah -- just as they did on every night of Chanukah --Isaac's family lit their menorahs and placed them in the windows of their house.    A little while later, Isaac heard a crash.  Heading upstairs toward the sound, he discovered that the window to his bedroom was shattered and a rock lay on the floor.

 

His parents rushed upstairs -- then called the police.

 

When Chief Inman arrived, he suggested that it might be safer if they took down their menorahs.

 

But Isaac's mom replied, “We’re not taking down the Chanukah decorations.  Being Jewish is who we are—we are not going to hide it.”

 

“You shouldn’t have to,” responded the chief, “but there is a small group of people in Billings who have been causing a lot of trouble.   They’ve  sent out leaflets saying hateful things about Jews.  They’ve spray-painted threats and insults on a Native American home and tried to frighten African-Americans in their church.  Just last week they damaged a synagogue – now they are throwing rocks at menorahs.”

 

“Let’s put our menorahs away,” said Isaac.  “Then maybe they won’t bother us again.”

 

His dad put his arm around him. “I know how you feel.  It’s frightening.  But celebrating Chanukah is part of being Jewish.  It is what we believe in.  We’re not about to let some bullies keep us from celebrating our holiday.”

 

“But what can we do?” asked Isaac.

 

“Isaac,” said his mom, “A lot of people in this town—all kinds of people—are really angry at what these haters have been doing.  I’m going to be interviewed on TV and tell  everyone in Billings what happened to us and ask people to help.”

 

“Yes,” agreed the Chief, “If the whole town takes a stand, we can stand up to these bullies.”

 

Many people in Billings saw Mrs. Schnitzer on TV.  Afterwards, a special meeting was called by Chief Inman and a friend of their family named Ms. McDonald.

 

“The police are doing everything they can to catch these people,” Chief Inman told the crowd.  “But it’s important to show that an act of hate against even one person in Billings is an act against all of us.”

 

“I have an idea,” said Ms. McDonald.  “I remember a story my parents told me. When the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War 2, they ordered all Jews to wear a yellow star on their clothes so that they could be easily identified.  The courageous King of Denmark believed that the lives of all the Danish people were precious.  According to legend, King Christian said that if the Jews had to wear stars, then he would too. The next morning, riding his horse out of the palace, he did.   Soon many other Danes also wore stars -- even though the enemy threatened to punish them.  Because of their courage, the lives of many Jews were saved.”

 

“The Schnitzers have been told it would be safer for them to take down their menorahs,” she continued, “but that is not the answer.  What if the rest of us were told to take down our Christmas trees and lights because people might throw rocks at us for being Christians?  I say, let’s take a stand like the Danish people – let’s all put up menorahs!”

 

And that is just what happened.   Some citizens in Billings cut menorahs out of construction paper and taped them to their windows.   Then the newspaper published a picture of a menorah and even more people taped them to their windows.  Soon menorahs appeared in houses on almost every street in the town.

 

Isaac’s friend Teresa Hanley had never seen a menorah -- so Isaac explained about the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil.  His teacher pointed out that Chanukah celebrates the fight for religious freedom.

 

A few days later, Isaac was driving in the car with  his mom.  “Mom, remember last year when I told you I wanted to bring some of my Chanukah presents to school to show the other guys?”

 

“Uh-huh,” his mom answered.

 

“Well…now don’t be mad…but I didn’t tell them they were Chanukah presents.  I felt funny.  Nobody else gets Chanukah presents.  And I didn’t want to be different.  I just wanted to be like the rest of the class so I told them they were Christmas presents.  But this year I’m going to say I got them for Chanukah.”

 

“I’m glad, Isaac,” his mom answered.

 

“Mom, stop!”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Look!”

 

Ahead was a house with a big picture window. Taped to the window was a large picture of a beautiful menorah drawn with many brightly colored crayons.  Over the menorah was the message.  “For our friend Isaac – with love from Teresa and the rest of the Hanley family.”  Underneath was a picture of a Jewish star and a Christian cross.

 

“She never told me she was doing this…” Isaac said.

 

“You know, honey,” his mom replied.  “Hate can make a lot of noise.  Love and courage are usually quieter.  But in the end, they’re the strongest.”

 

As Chanukah passed and Christmas grew nearer, more and more menorahs could be seen throughout Billings.  The town continued to fight against the acts of hatred, and slowly but surely those acts began to stop.  The townspeople told each other this was a gift they had given to themselves.  And that it was their best holiday gift, ever.

 

School Age Storytime: Something Special For the Holidays

Holiday Lights

This time of year, lots of darkness – many holidays push back the darkness with lights – Diwali, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa)

Storytimes emphasizing the commonalities of the winter holidays

-- lights in the darkest part of the year and how the kindness and empathy and actions of some people can bring light to others

 

 

Book: Lights for Gita – Rachna Gilmore (Gita’s family has recently emigrated from India and she is eagerly anticipating celebrating Divali with her new friends, but when an ice storm threatens her Divali celebrations, Gita discovers that the love of family and friends is what is really important)

 

Poem: “Star Catcher” from Winter Lights: A Season in Poems & Quilts – Ann Grossnickle Hines 811.54 HIN (briefly discussed “quilts” = fabric pictures)

Stand up & sing with hand motions: This Little Light of Mine(traditional)  (heart/dream/won’t let anyone blow it out)

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate – Janice Cohn (Describes how the people in Billings Montana-- joined together to fight a series of hate crimes against a Jewish family. This is a long story.  My abridgment is below.)

 

Glove/Song: “One Little, Two Little, Three Little Candles” (Kdg)

 

Song/Flannel:  "Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, Come Light the Menorah"

 

Song/Flannel:  I Had a Little Dreidel (with silly variations --source unknown -- stood up and spun and acted out as we sung it – good stretch.

Encouraged making up new verses – rhymes/phonemic awareness:
”I had a little dreidel, I made it out of cheese, but when I went to spin it, I had a great big sneeze!!”

 

Lyrics for this and other songs can be found here:  http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/11/turkey-latkes-thanksgiving-chanukah.html

 

Book: Dusk by Uri Shulevitz (Asked who has seen the store windows & lights in NYC, mentioned this is another book with the same characters as the Caldicott-winning Snow. One December afternoon, boy with dog and grandfather with beard take a walk to watch the sun begin to set over the river. When the sun drops low in the sky, they start home. Buildings grow dimmer. People are rushing. As nature's lights go out, one by one, city lights turn on, revealing brilliant Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Christmas displays in streets, homes, and stores.)

 

Book: December by Eve Bunting (beautiful story of a homeless family and holiday miracle)

 

Poem: “Lights Out” from Winter Lights by Anna Grossnickle Hines – there are lots more good poems to use if more time) 
(Mentioned when I was their age I would go into my closet after “lights out” and read!)

 

Lights Out

I pull the covers

over my head

and let out a few snores

for good measure…

then snap on my flashlight

and open my book.

Now this is

reading for pleasure!

 

More about the quilts here: http://www.aghines.com/anna_html_pages/winterlights/winterlights.htm

 

Closing Song: “We wish you a Merry Christmas, …Happy Chanukah… Merry Kwanzaa & a Happy New Year.”

More song lyrics:
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/singalong-keep-spiritwinter-holiday.html

 

Looking for other special books for the holidays? Check out the great lists here:

 

 

www.whatdowedoallday.com/2016/11/multicultural-winter-holiday-picture-books.html

12.18 used above (after the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue)

12.16  (after an electrical blackout this week in Bedminster
& an upsurge in religious intolerance following the election.) Opened by asking about who experienced the electrical blackout this week. How they felt, how candles and flashlights provided welcome light.

Book: All the Lights in the Night by Arthur A. Levine (two young boys travel by themselves to Palestine to escape Russian anti-semitism – mentioned my own mother and her eight year old (older) brother escaped Germany by train without their parents along)  omitted 2018, used December instead.

 

12.15:

Holiday Lights

Poem: “Solstice” and/or   “A Sight to See” from Winter Lights: A Season in Poems & Quilts – Ann Grossnickle Hines 811.54 HIN 

Book: Lights for Gita – Rachna Gilmore (When an ice storm threatens her Divali celebrations, a girl discovers that the love of family and friends is what is really important) or Welcome Back Sun -- Michael Emberly (people in a Norwegian town cut off from the sun from November to March eagerly await its return -- nice tie in to solstice.)  Another possibility: Holiday Lights -- Jeron Ashford (a small lumpy candle gets passed from neighbor to neighbor as each needs it to light up their celebration).

 

Poems: “Star Catcher” & “Holiday Magic” from Winter Lights
Song: This Little Light of Mine (traditional)

Book: The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes – Linda Glasser (Girl figures out a way to include her lonely but stubborn neighbor in their Chanukah Celebration wonderful figurative language like: "Mrs. Greenberg's house was always clean and tidy, like its face was just scrubbed and its blouse was tucked in, while Rachel's house always looked like it was still in its pajamas and needed to brush its hair yet.")  or  Hanukkah at Valley Forge --Stephen Krensky (based on a true story -- George Washington came upon a soldier celebrating Chanukah and makes the comparison between the Maccabees and colonists own struggle.) or The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate – Janice Cohn (Describes how the people in Billings Montana joined together to fight a series of hate crimes against a Jewish family. This is a long story.  My abridgment is below.)  

 

Song/Flannel: “I Had a Little Dreidel” with many funny verses (see below)

Poems: “One Little Candle” & “Small Miracles” from Winter Lights

Book:  Olive the Other Reindeer-- J. Otto Seibold or Too Many Tamales – Gary Soto or Welcome Comfort -- Patrica Polacco or Elijah's Angel -- Michael Rosen

 

Poems: “Christmas Path” & “Morning Light” & “Kwanzaa” from Winter Lights 

Song: We wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Merry Kwanzaa

Poem: “Lights Out” from Winter Lights

Looking for additional special holiday titles?  Check out this bibliography: http://www.somerset.lib.nj.us/kids/PDFs/holidays2011.pdf

Holiday Lights: Divali & Chanukah Stories
A program celebrating the “early” winter holidays this year – Divali & Chanukah
(Christmas/Kwanzaa another week) 

(developing empathy -- including coat/food/toy drives, working together to make a difference, anti-bullying)

 

 

Open by asking if anyone has noticed what has been happening to daylight – shorter time after school before darkness falls – why? (daylight savings ended, earth tilt)…many religions have festivals celebrating light at this time of year: Divali, Chanukah, Christmas, Solstice, Kwanzaa, New Year’s…

 

Book: Lights for Gita – Rachna Gilmore (Gita’s family has recently emigrated from India and she is eagerly anticipating celebrating Divali with her new friends, but when an ice storm threatens her Divali celebrations, Gita discovers that the love of family and friends is what is really important)

 

Stand up & sing with hand motions: This Little Light of Mine(traditional)  (heart/dream/won’t let anyone blow it out)

 

Discussion How do we make light in our communities?“ – helping needy with food/coat/toy drives…outgrown coats, what it would feel like if they had no presents this holiday?

 

Hanukkah Bear -- Eric A. Kimmel (nearly blind "Bubba" mistakes a bear for the rabbi) (K-1 only)

 

“In India fireworks on Divali like 4th of July --- Now travel back 200 & 2000 years in this book based on a true story – ask -- anyone ever heard of “Valley Forge”?”

Book: Hanukkah at Valley Forge – Stephen Krensky (based on true story in which George Washington witnessed a Jewish soldier’s chanukah candle lighting)

--author’s note fascinating.  Discussion of local National Park Jockey Hollow, where troops spent a subsequent winter.

 

Song/glove puppets (or fingers): One Little Two Little Three Little Candles.

 

This is another book based on a true story that happened around 20 years ago:

 

Book: The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate by Janice Cohen –305.8934 COH  -- showed pictures but used my own abridgement below.  (1st-3rd grade)

 

Discussion: Have kids remember what happened (rock, policeman, mom-reporter, town meeting…led to community action.  Relate to their own lives…”whether someone not allowed to practice their religion, teased about where they come from, what they look like (tall, short, fat, thin, glasses, crutches, blue eyes, green nose!)…what should they do…one person helped if many people stand up!) true for communities as well – e.g.pollution

Book: The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes – Linda Glasser (Girl figures out a way to include her lonely but stubborn neighbor in their Chanukah Celebration) Kindergarten

Song/Flannel:  "Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, Come Light the Menorah"

 

Song/Flannel:  I Had a Little Dreidel (with myriad variations --source unknown -- students encouraged to make up new verses!)  

New verse today:
”I had a little dreidel, I made it out of cheese, but when I went to spin it, I had a great big sneeze!!”

 

Lyric for this and other songs can be found here:  http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/11/turkey-latkes-thanksgiving-chanukah.html

More song lyrics:
carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/12/singalong-keep-spiritwinter-holiday.html

12.12 Bedm:

 

Holiday Lights: Divali & Chanukah Stories
A program celebrating the “early” winter holidays this year – Divali & Chanukah

Book: Lights for Gita - Rachna Gilmore (When an ice storm threatens the Divali holiday plans of a new immigrant girl, she learns that the lights inside her are more important than fireworks and festivities.)

Song: This Little Light of Mine (traditional)

Book: The Magic Dreidels -- Eric A. Kimmel (Chanukah retelling of folktale "The tablecloth, the donkey and the stick" in which a tricky "fruma" tries to steal the magical dreidels given to a young boy by a goblin in a well.)

Song/Flannel:  I Had a Little Dreidel (with myriad variations --source unknown -- students encouraged to make up new verses!)   Lyric for this and other songs can be found here:  http://carolsimonlevin.blogspot.com/2013/11/turkey-latkes-thanksgiving-chanukah.html

Book: The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes --Linda Glaser (When unexpected guests are due, a girl borrows more potatoes and eggs from Mrs. Greenberg, the lonely but stubborn older woman next door, and finally figures out a way to convince her to join in the celebration.  This book has delicious examples of figurative language, e.g. "Mrs. Greenberg's house was always clean and tidy, like its face was just scrubbed and its blouse was tucked in, while Rachel's house always looked like it was still in its pajamas and needed to brush its hair yet."

Song/Flannel:  "Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, Come Light the Menorah"

Book (where time): The Ugly Menorah -- Marissa Moss (On the first Chanukah after her grandfather's death, his granddaughter learns to appreciate the handmade menorah he made from scraps during the Depression.)
Song/glove puppets (or fingers): One Little Two Little Three Little Candles.

Consider: Oscar and the Eight Blessings by Tanya Simon and Richard Simon, illustrated by Mark Siegel. In 1938 Jewish refugee makes his way up Manhattan on Christmas Eve.

12.13 Bedm



      Something Special for the Holidays (gifts of kindness, light, anti-bullying)

Hanukkah Bear -- Eric A. Kimmel (nearly blind "Bubba" mistakes a bear for the rabbi) (K-1)
Hanukkah at Valley Forge – Stephen Krensky (based on true story in which George Washington witnessed a Jewish soldier’s chanukah candle lighting) (2nd)

Flannel/Song: "Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, Come Light the Menorah"

Welcome Comfort -- Patricia Polacco (mention Patricia didn't learn to read until 5th grade when a special teacher helped her (her book Thank You Mr. Falker tells this story) (overweight foster child teased by other children finds a friend in the school custodian, and discovers the custodian has a second job every Christmas).  Booktalked her other miraculous holiday tales: The Christmas Tapestry and The Trees of The Dancing Goats.

Flannel/Song:  "He’ll be Flying on the Northwind"

Winter Candle -- Jeron Ashford (a lumpy candle provides essential light at five different holiday celebrations) (K-1), Welcome Back, Sun --Michael Emberley (After a long winter, Anna and her Norwegian family climb up the mountain in their eagerness to finally see the sun again.) (2nd grade)

Song/Book: This Little Light of Mine -- E.B.Lewis

Some groups (when time): Song:  I have a little dreidel (with additional verses - encourage kids to make up new ones)

12.14 Bedm


Other possibilities/booktalked in some groups: Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat -- Naomi Howland (magic frying pan makes latkes -- good comparison story to Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola), , One Candle -- Eve Bunting (older classes only -- grandmother recalls how she and her sister commemorated Chanukah in a concentration camp with a stolen potato and a scrap of margarine), Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins -- Eric Kimmel (ingenious trickster outwits the goblins who have been terrorizing a village.) 

Something Special for the Holidays

 

 

Book: Lights for Gita (Divali) – Rachma Gilmore

  Song/Action:  This Little Light of Mine (heart, dream)

Book:  The Magic Dreidels – Kimmel

  Song:  I have a little dreidel (sand, ice addl. Verses)

Book:  Silver Packages – Cynthia Rylant or  December – Eve Bunting

  Song:  Jingle Bells

Book:  Olive the Other Reindeer – J. Otto Seibold

  Song:  He’ll be Flying on the Northwind

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"Expect the Unexpected"

Book: The Chanukkah Guest -- Eric Kimmel
Book: The Magic Dreidels -- Eric Kimmel
Song: "I Have a Little Dreidel"
Book: The Trouble with Trolls --Jan Brett (mentioned that students should check
out Brett's books to look at the details in the edge illustrations)
Book: Sofie's Role -- Amy Heath (discussed homophones & figurative language)
Book: December -- Eve Bunting (a beautiful story about a homeless mother and child and a holiday miracle?)
(great tie-in to food & coat drives)
If anyone wants to make those cinnamon stars or gingerbread sleigh's in Sofie's Role, here are some good recipes:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Gingerbread-Cookies-I/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cinnamon-Stars/Detail.aspx

12.07

 

 

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate 

Adaption/abridgement by Carol Simon Levin from the book by Janice Cohn.
I show the pictures from the book while telling the story something like this:

 

Not too many years ago, a boy named Isaac Schnitzer lived with his mother and father in the town of Billings Montana (might show location on a map so kids understand this is in the USA).

 

On the third night of Chanukah -- just as they did every night of Chanukah --Isaac's family lit their menorahs and placed them in the windows of their house.    A little while later, Isaac heard a crash.  Heading upstairs toward the sound, he discovered that the window to his bedroom was shattered and a rock lay on the floor.

 

His parents came upstairs then called the police.

 

When Chief Inman arrived, he suggested that it might be safer if they took down their menorahs.

 

But his mom replied, “We’re not taking down the Chanukah decorations.  Being Jewish is who we are—we are not going to hide it.”

 

“You shouldn’t have to,” responded the chief, “but there is a small group of people in Billings who have been causing a lot of trouble.   They’ve  sent out leaflets saying hateful things about Jews.  They’ve spray-painted threats and insults on a Native American home and tried to frighten African-Americans in their church.  Just last week they damaged a synagogue – now they are throwing rocks at menorahs.”

 

“Let’s put our menorahs away,” said Isaac.  “Then maybe they won’t bother us again.”

 

His dad put his arm around him. “I know how you feel.  It’s frightening.  But celebrating Chanukah is part of being Jewish.  It is what we believe in.  We’re not about to let some bullies keep us from celebrating our holiday.”

 

“But what can we do?” asked Isaac.

 

“Isaac,” said his mom, “A lot of people in this town—all kinds of people—are really angry at what these haters have been doing.  I’m going to be interviewed on TV and tell  everyone in Billings what happened to us and ask people to help.”

 

“Yes,” agreed the Chief, “If the whole town takes a stand, we can stand up to these bullies.”

 

Many people in Billings saw Mrs. Schnitzer on TV.  Afterwards, a special meeting was called by Chief Inman and a friend of their family named Ms. McDonald.

 

“The police are doing everything they can to catch these people,” Chief Inman told the crowd.  “But it’s important to show that an act of hate against even one person in Billings is an act against all of us.”

 

“I have an idea,” said Ms. McDonald.  “I remember a story my parents told me. When the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War 2, they ordered all Jews to wear a yellow star on their clothes so that they could be easily identified.  The courageous King of Denmark believed that the lives of all the Danish people were precious.  According to legend, King Christian said that if the Jews had to wear stars, then he would too. The next morning, riding his horse out of the palace, he did.   Soon many other Danes also wore stars -- even though the enemy threatened to punish them.  Because of their courage, the lives of many Jews were saved.”

 

“The Schnitzers have been told it would be safer for them to take down their menorahs,” she continued, “but that is not the answer.  What if the rest of us were told to take down our Christmas trees and lights because people might throw rocks at us for being Christians?  I say, let’s take a stand like the Danish people – let’s all put up menorahs!”

 

And that is just what happened.   Some citizens in Billings cut menorahs out of construction paper and taped them to their windows.   Then the newspaper published a picture of a menorah and even more people taped them to their windows.  Soon menorahs appeared in houses on almost every street in the town.

 

Isaac’s friend Teresa Hanley had never seen a menorah -- so Isaac explained about the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil.  His teacher pointed out that Chanukah celebrates the fight for religious freedom.

 

A few days later, Isaac was driving in the car with  his mom.  “Mom, remember last year when I told you I wanted to bring some of my Chanukah presents to school to show the other guys?”

 

“Uh-huh,” his mom answered.

 

“Well…now don’t be mad…but I didn’t tell them they were Chanukah presents.  I felt funny.  Nobody else gets Chanukah presents.  And I didn’t want to be different.  I just wanted to be like the rest of the class so I told them they were Christmas presents.  But this year I’m going to say I got them for Chanukah.”

 

“I’m glad, Isaac,” his mom answered.

 

“Mom, stop!”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Look!”

 

Ahead was a house with a big picture window. Taped to the window was a large picture of a beautiful menorah drawn with many brightly colored crayons.  Over the menorah was the message.  “For our friend Isaac – with love from Teresa and the rest of the Hanley family.”  Underneath was a picture of a Jewish star and a Christian cross.

 

“She never told me she was doing this…” Isaac said.

 

“You know, honey,” his mom replied.  “Hate can make a lot of noise.  Love and courage are usually quieter.  But in the end, they’re the strongest.”

 

As Chanukah passed and Christmas grew nearer, more and more menorahs could be seen throughout Billings.  The town continued to fight against the acts of hatred, and slowly but surely those acts began to stop.  The townspeople told each other this was a gift they had given to themselves.  And that it was their best holiday gift, ever.