Grace Garden Preschool

What a magical week it's been in the Ladybug classroom! We've studied holidays that are celebrated this time of year all around the world. Your little ones' curiosities were in high gear - and it's a good thing, because the cold weather kept us inside!

We talked about the African holiday, Kwanzaa, on Tuesday and read books about this day. We also made a construction paper kinara, which is used to hold the candles that represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Those principles are unity, self-determination, community responsibility, shared work and wealth, purpose, creativity and faith. Although these principles are interesting to you and me, the Ladybugs enjoyed most looking at pictures of families cooking and eating together, and sprinkling glitter on their seven paper candles.

Menorahs and dreidels were the topic of discussion on Wednesday, when the Ladybugs explored the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. They were enamored with a wooden toy menorah we had in the classroom that day, as well as a wooden toy skillet, spatula, and two pretend latkes that they took turns cooking in our "kitchen". You can't keep these Ladybugs out of the kitchen, they love to cook! We sang "The Dreidel Song," as we inspected a dreidel and pretended to play the dreidel game. The Ladybugs colored paper candles with their beloved markers, which we used for our paper menorah in the hall. They also counted and arranged six blue triangles and silver glitter to form the Star of David.

We turned our eyes to Christmas on Thursday and talked about how the holiday is celebrated in Mexico. We toured the halls at Saint John's and looked at the beautiful red poinsettias lining our path, and talked about how these plants are native to Mexico. We decided to make our very own poinsettias out of tissue paper! We also talked about Las Posadas, a celebration re-enacting Mary and Joseph's long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of lodging. We examined a Mexican nativity set, and lastly, the Ladybugs made their version of a Mexican tin ornament. What a great day!

We, and our favorite jolly old elf, hope to see you at Grace Garden's Breakfast with Santa this Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Great Hall. Please bring an unwrapped toy for your child to give to Santa, so that he may deliver that toy to a child in need. There will be photos, cookie decorating, and plenty of milk and coffee to enjoy.

Next week, we will end our first semester with a BANG! as we celebrate Christmas for three days straight! See you on Saturday!

Love,
Ms. Shannon and Ms. Tammy