Christmas Countdown & 50 States

By Library Romp - 3:12 PM

The countdown for Christmas has begun and its official, I’m going with a red & white color scheme this year. Not the Target look, but something more along the lines of striped candy canes and red barns.

Today I just finished a most amazing story. No not really, but here’s what I did finish. A candy cane countdown to Christmas chain. The kids will take a link off each day, and from the Little Reader to the teenager fun will be had by all. Here’s our list of activities and what we are doing.

1. Texas Tech Basketball game. Wear red.

2. Gingerbread books & make gingerbread sandwiches

3. Make paper bag gingerbread houses

4. Read Legend of the Candy Cane & make candy cane sun catchers

5. Watch a Christmas movie

6. Christmas tree books

7. Pinecone Christmas trees

8. Santa Claus books & letters to Santa

9. Nutcracker books

10. Nutcracker stick puppets

11. Christmas puzzles

12. Snowman soup & make a gingerbread house

13. Reindeer books & make ornaments

14. Reindeer food

15. Drive around to look at Christmas lights & bundle up for a neighborhood walk.

16. Read The Giving Tree & surprise someone with an act of kindness

17. Christmas Story & Nativity craft

18. Bake cookies

19. Snow globe books & make snow globes

20. Christmas popcorn

21. Animal hibernation books

22. Make ornaments for the birds and squirrels

23. Read snow books & have an indoor snowball fight

24. The Night Before Christmas & reindeer rest

25. Merry Christmas!

Cut strips and pasted activity on each. Bell template from website. http://www.freekidcrafts.com/countdown-christmas-bell.html

Christmas Chain Poem:

From now until Christmas

Is the longest time of the year.

It seems as though old Santa

Never will appear.

How many days ‘til Christmas

Is mighty hard to count.

So this little paper chain

Will show the exact amount.

Take one of the chains off each night.

When Sandman casts his spell.

And Christmas will be here real soon.

By the time you reach the bell!

Voila! There you have it, our candycane chain.

We are so excited for our first activity.

Other Happenings

Look what my Big Reader (C) found on a romp with Mom

(He’s getting ready for a 50 states test)

The United States Cookbook: Fabulous Foods and Fascinating Facts From all 50 States

By D’Amico, Joan

Gobble up factual tidbits and tasty bits native to each of the fifty states. No, we are not going to attempt eating all of America, but will pick out a few that look interesting. C started with the Wisconsin Cheddar Dill Puffs. How much food can an eleven year old consume?

The Scrambled States of America

By Keller, Laurie

During a party the states amusingly decide they want to switch locations. But after leaning the grass isn’t greener on the other side, they must find their way home. A perfect blend of education and entertainment, and to make more enjoyable they have the game as well.