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!

Sock Baby Jesus

Thanks to Lacy Rabideau for sharing her Catholic crafty talents with the world, and with our classroom.  I wonder if she knows how far her influence goes in this world?

Step one:  Fill a new child's white sock with 'fibrefill" stuffing.

It should look like this.

Step two:  Use an elastic to keep the stuffing in, just below the ribbed part of the sock that would go up the leg.  Pull that ribbed section down over the stuffed part of the sock, then fold it back up so that it resembles a little cap on the head of the baby.

Step three:  Use another elastic to create the head and body by putting it on the filled sock, about 1/3 head and 2/3 body.

Step four: Tie a white ribbon over this elastic to hide it.

Step five:  Use a sharpie pen or a thin felt pen to create the sleeping eyes, little nose and mouth of the baby Jesus.

Step six: Swaddle baby Jesus in a cozy blanket made from a triangle of fleece.

Step seven:  Fold down the edges of the cut off bottom of a paper lunch bag.

Step eight:  Cut the upper portion of the paper bag into strips which will be the hay that the baby Jesus will lie on top of in the manger.

 I told the children that for every piece of 'hay' that they added to the manger, they had to make a promise to Jesus, that they would keep in the season of Advent.  It warmed my heart to bursting to hear them say, quietly, as they filled the manger:
"I promise to eat everything on my plate." "I promise to let my little sister come into my bedroom."  "I promise to be nicer to my friend and let them chose the games we will play at recess."  "I promise to go to bed without arguing."  There were a LOT of promises made and I know they were made with sincere hearts.

The final result was this darling baby Jesus laying in the manger on a bed of promises.  The students took them home with instructions to lay the baby under the Christmas tree, because HE is the reason for this season that we wait for.

They were so very proud of their efforts and I know it will be something that they will gladly pack up  with the tree ornaments and bring out year after year!  Thanks again Lacy for this adorable connection to our Catholic-ness.

Catching Up post

I am soon sorry that I haven't posted for almost a week.  The computer at school have been giving me nothing but trouble!  Can't print, can't get to sites, can't download photos!  It has been a bit discouraging!   Trying to catch up now......

Our books about Moonbear by Frank Asch have led to a great deal of understanding about how the Earth revolves around its axis to create one day, then travels around the sun to create the seasons.  Once around the sun is one year.  The moon also revolves around the Earth and that creates the phases of the moon.

On Friday, Moonbear's story led us on a baking adventure.

The students learned how to read the basic recipe printed on the back of a cake mix box.  They learned that recipes have two parts, one that lists the ingredients and one that explains the method.  There are many, many verbs in the method that we were able to discuss.

The result of baking, was a chance to do a little eating!

I just noticed those two sweet faces in the photo!

On Tuesday we heard a knock on the door and this parcel was delivered!

Inside was a letter from the desk of Santa Claus....

and our scout elf!  We are pretty sure she is the same one that arrived in my class last year, so she is again being called Snowflake!

Here's Snowflake on Wednesday morning, sitting up on top of the speakers of the SmartBoard.

She seems to be happy with what she sees!

I am happy to show you these smiling faces!  All of these very grown up children have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  I am so proud that they are able to understand what is right and what is wrong and are willing to share their mistakes and ask for forgiveness.  What a truly 'grown-up' step for each of them!

See you all at the Toy and Turkey Bingo on Friday night here at the school!

Third week of Advent

That Snowflake!  She's such a kidder!  On Monday she tried to disguise herself as Santa...

...and as a reindeer!  It didn't work!  We knew it was her!

She wanted us to get in on the fun, so she brought us larger antlers and a red nose, so that we could dress up too!

Bet you can't guess who this is!

On Tuesday, she turned our paper lanterns into a hot air balloon, so that she could spy on the children from above...

where she could see if they were meant to be on Santa's naughty or nice list.

On Wednesday, she brought a pal back with her from the North Pole.

She and the little guy were making snowmen from the mini oranges that she also brought to school!

Wednesday was a pretty exciting day.  Using a unit shared by the teacher who writes her blog using the title Primary World, the children rolled 3 dice and filled in a graph to see how many of each type of candy they would be adding to their house.  For example, if the three dice were 3, 5, and 2 then the student would have to colour in 10 blocks to show that they would use 10 chocolate chips on their house.  Numeracy is all around us!

The students then filled up a bag with the correct number of candies to add to their houses.

Thanks to the three moms and the grandma who made time in their busy lives to join us, adding some icing to their hair and clothing!  We really appreciated their support as evidenced by the children's happy smiles:

(Idea originally found here: http://www.myclassroomideas.com/tag/religion/)

Just wanted to add a photo of a display in the hallway down the centre of the school.  In this time of unrest in Ukraine, Pakistan and Syria and with the many, many deaths in Africa due to the Ebola virus, the whole world needs the influence of the one born in a lowly stable.