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Science Center Idea- Submitted by Lisa in VA
Use film canisters to put in cotton balls soaked in essential oils or spices used during the holiday season. Hot glue the lids onto the film canisters and poke small holes in the top. Have the children smell the containers and match it to a picture of the item. Have fun!
CAREFUL WITH THE CINNAMON SOME ARE ALLERGIC!!!
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Gift Hide and Seek- Submitted by Christi
Have all the children hide their eyes while you "hide" a gift in the room. (It should be placed in plain view) Tell the children to find the gift, but not touch it. Once they spot it they should sit back down in their spot. The first one to sit down again will get to hide the gift.
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Gift Hide and Seek #2- Submitted by Christi
Play the game the same as above, except tell the chidlren individually whether they are "hot" or "cold" to the relation of the gift. Allow the other children to have a chance to hide the gift. It may be a good idea to discuss the meaning of hot and cold before you play this game.
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Candy Cane Hide and Seek- Submitted by Christi
Have the children take turns hiding candy canes! The winner gets to keep the candy cane!
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Snowblowers- Submitted by Christi
A good set of lungs and coolness under pressure are essential for this contest. To set up, hang three large paper cups with tape off one side of a table, so that the cup openings are level with the table's surface. Fill each cup halfway with small prizes (candy canes, colored pencils, stickers, bright erasers) and clear away any chairs so players have an open pathway at both sides of the table. Give the first two players paper towel tubes and explain that when you place a ping pong ball in front of each of them, they must blow through the tubes like a snowblower. (Point out that a gentle breath is all it takes to get the "snowball" rolling.) Each player will have 15 seconds to direct the ball across the table and into one of the paper cups. Each winner gets to pick one prize from the cup and the playing continues until each child wins a prize.
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Gift Box- Submitted by Christi
Take a piece of red or green posterboard, full sheet, and add a parcel tie and bow. Then at circle, or group, let the children close or cover their eyes. Then, choose one child to come and "hide" behind the box. The other children have to guess who is behind the present. This is a great memory game for young children.
Where is your Gift?- Submitted by Christi
Played like "Doggie Doggie where's your bone?"
Have one child sit in the middle of the circle, and hide their eyes. Give another child a Small Gift to hide behind their back. Have
all the other children put their hands behind their back. Chant the
following song:
Santa, Santa
The child in the middle gets three guesses. Then the child who had the gift goes into the middle.
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Christmas Musical Chairs- Submitted by Christi
Play musical chairs using some of the children's favorite Christmas music.
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Play "Who stole the Cookie?"- Submitted by Christi
Class: Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? *****
Play "Reindeer Pokey"- Submitted by Christi
You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out. *****
What time is it Santa?- Submitted by Christi
This is a fun game to play outside. You can change the name to suit any theme. The children all line up against a wall or fence.
And one child, (Santa) or the teacher faces away from the children, a good distance away from the children. The children yell, what time is it "Santa", Santa answers 1 o'clock, and the children all take one step toward Santa. The children yell again, what time is it "Santa", Santa answers (fill in the blank) o'clock, and the children all take same number of step toward Santa. This continues until all the children are very close to Santa, then Santa will answer it's midnight, and chases the children back to the fence or wall that they started at. The first person Santa touches will be the new Santa.
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Colored Gingerbread- Submitted by Christi
Make different colored gingerbread houses and laminate on posterboard. Then die cut coordinating gingerbread men and write childrens' names on them. At circle, give each child his/her gingerbread man and have them find the corresponding house he/she belongs to.
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Unwrap the Present- Submitted by Christi
Ahead of time wrap one gift once for each guest (or more). ( I use tissue paper for many of the layers) Inside have something that can be enjoyed by everyone, like a piece of candy for each, or a "gift" for the classroom all can enjoy. Then pass it like hot potato, when the music stops, the person holding it unwraps a layer, until you get to the box!
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Christmas Bells- Submitted by Cheryl
Ring the Bell Game- Using a large (4 foot x 3 foot) piece of heavy duty cardboard, cut a large bell shape from the center. Add ribbons with jingle bells attached to hang from the open middle area. The children threw bean bags through the bell to "Ring the Bell". Great for hand-eye coordination and throwing skills!
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Explore Hay- Submitted by Cheryl Explain to the children that the baby Jesus did not sleep in a soft, warm bed like they do. Jesus slept in a bed of hay. Have the children tell you what it feels like. What does is smell like? Would it be comfortable to sleep in? Put the hay in your sensory table for the children to continue to explore.
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Christmas Stockings- Submitted by Cheryl
Provide a few different sized stockings and various sized toys. Encourage the children to fit the toys into the stockings. Have small, medium and large stockings and toys available.
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Christmas Stocking Lacing Cards- Submitted by Cheryl
Make a large stocking shape into lacing cards. Make two for each child using laminated construction paper, a hole punch. Have the children use yarn to lace them together. Not only are the children lacing and using fine motor skills, they will have a stocking to put any of their little gifts in to take home!
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Jingle Bell Fun- Submitted by Cheryl
Play a fun game with jingle bells in the weeks before Christmas. Take bells & attach them to a little piece of elastic string. Then lay out a flat bed sheet & have the children put their bells in the center of the sheet. Pick up the sheet with everyone holding on & working together. Sing Jingle Bells while gently rolling the bells around in the sheet. On the second "hey" at the end of the song lift high & the bells go sailing. The kids REALLY love this & will ask for it daily!
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