Our first week of Advent.....so far!

Boy!  If I take a night off, you all get a photo overload to look at the next day!

Sunday began the first week in Advent, and the students are learning about how the church looks different in the different seasons of the liturgical year.  Our worship table is decked out for Advent, with it's purple cloth and Advent wreath along with the Jesse tree.

I don't actually have a wreath, but we have four candles to light and the Holy Family in the centre reminds us that Jesus is 'the reason for the season.'

When my oldest boys were in Grade One, their teacher had them make a craft each and every day in December.  He told me that Christmas belongs to children and if we couldn't celebrate Christmas everyday when we are little, then we were missing the spirit of the season.  I am hoping to live up to his expectations.  For our first craft, the students made their own candle.

Goodness!  Have you heard about Snowflake?  She arrived, all wrapped up in a parcel from the North Pole yesterday.  This morning we found out that she had started to decorate our little classroom Christmas tree.  Silly girl!

We really couldn't have these wonderful field trip opportunities without the dedicated parents and grandparents who volunteer.  Here we all are listening to our guide at the Mutant Conservatory, Keira.

We visited all four pyramids.  In the arid climate, we learned that it is the Three Kings who bring the children of Mexico their presents, and that they are left in their shoes.

The tropical pyramid had these colourful orchids,

and we learned about a Philippine Christmas tradition.

We also had to search and see if we could find the plant that matched the cards...like banana

...and coffee.

They were so darn cute, I just kept taking pictures..

These little ones really like each other,

and are kind and gentle towards each other.

I am blessed to spend each day with them!

Here's my class along with a few cuties from another Grade 1 class.  We had to have only 3 groups for the program.  We just made it work with our 4 classes!

Today's special Christmas activity was a directed drawing of Santa Claus, which then was outlined with Sharpie pen and painted with watercolours.

It was a real learning experience for some of the children that you had to put lots of water, like a puddle, into the paint circle, and that you had to only go one way with the brush, not back and forth like a crayon.

Each one had it's own personality!  They are all 'hang on the fridge' worthy!