For those who would like to visit the North Pole here is a fun website!
www.northpole.com

Here is a quick flick...
Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer

Happy Holidays!
Love Ms. V

Dear Parents,

After winter break we, the class, would like to begin cooking class on Fridays. We like to call it Cooking in the kitchen with Ms. V and the kids. I would like to try it for six weeks. If anyone would like to help on Friday afternoons please let me know. Also, I ask that each child bring in $10 to cover the cost of food. Thank you!

HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD


Museum of Science and Industry: Holiday Traditions

California Malls: Christmas Around the World

Santa around the world
Kwanzaa:

All About Kwanzaa
http://www.melanet.com/kwanzaa/about_toc.html
Everything About Kwanzaa
http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htmKwanzaa - An African-American Celebration
http://www.globalindex.com/kwanzaa/Kwanzaa Fun from Billy Bear
http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/kwanzaa/kwanzaa.htmKwanzaa Recipes
http://members.tripod.com/~Nancy_J/kwanzaa.htmPrinciples of Kwanzaa
http://www.benjerry.com/fun/holidays/winter_holidays/kwanza/index.cfm Kwanzaa
http://www.swagga.com/kwanzaa.htm
Kwanzaa
http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/



Kwanzaa

Multicultural Holiday Traditions

Hanukkah:

Chanukah On the Net
http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/Hanukkah Games and Activities from Billy Bear
http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/hanukkah/hanukkah.htm
History and Traditions of Hanukkah
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/hanukkah/Hanukkah - Not Just for Kids
http://www.grandpatucker.com/kids/hanukkah.html-ssiFrequently Asked Questions About Hanukkah
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htmInformation plus latke recipe
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-israel.htm Hanukkah from Ben and Jerry - http://www.benjerry.com/fun/holidays/winter_holidays/hanukkah/index.cfm



Around the World
Argentina - http://www.santas.net/argentinianchristmas.htm
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art26683.asp

Australia - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/australia.html
http://www.santas.net/australianchristmas.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/australia.html

Austria - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-austria.htm
http://www.santas.net/austrianchristmas.htm

Brazil - http://www.santas.net/brazilianchristmas.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/brazil.html

Canada - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/canada.html
http://www.santas.net/canadianchristmas.htm

France - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-France.htm
http://www.santas.net/frenchchristmas.htm

France and Canada - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/canada.html
- http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Noel/angl/

Denmark - http://christmas-world.freeservers.com/denmark.html
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Denmark.htm

Germany - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/germany.html
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-germany.htm

Great Britain - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/england.html
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-england.htm

Greece - http://christmas-world.freeservers.com/greece.html
http://www.gogreece.com/learn/christmas.htm
http://www.santas.net/greekchristmas.htm

Ireland - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/ireland.html
http://www.santas.net/irishchristmas.htm
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art6841.asp

Italy - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-italy.htm
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/italy.htm

Mexico - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/mexico.html
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html
http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/nacimnto.htm

Netherlands - http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/around/netherlands.html
http://www.santas.net/dutchchristmas.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/netherlands.html

Norway - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Norway.htm
http://www.santas.net/norwegianchristmas.htm
http://www.stavanger-web.com/jul/christma.htm

Poland - http://acweb.colum.edu/users/agunkel/homepage/polxmas.html
http://www.polishworld.com/christmas/
http://www.santas.net/polishchristmas.htm

Portugal - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Portugal.htm
http://www.santas.net/portuguesechristmas.htm
http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/portugal.html

Russia - http://www.santas.net/russianchristmas.htm
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/russia.htm
http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/russia.html

Scotland - http://www.santas.net/scottishchristmas.htm
http://christmas-world.freeservers.com/scotland.html
http://www.heartoscotland.com/Categories/christmas-in-scotland.htm

Spain - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-spain.htm
http://www.santas.net/spanishchristmas.htm
http://www.idealspain.com/Pages/Information/ChristmasInSpain.htm

Sweden - http://www.santas.net/swedishchristmas.htm
http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/sweden.html
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-sweden.htm
http://www.luth.se/luth/present/sweden/history/folklore/christmas.html

Switzerland - http://www.santas.net/swisschristmas.htm
http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Switzerland.htm
http://www.eda.admin.ch/washington_emb/e/home/culedu/swikid/xmas.html
http://www.swissworld.org/en/culture/seasonal_customs/advent_and_christmas/

Ukraine - http://www.santas.net/ukrainianchristmas.htm
http://www.brama.com/art/christmas.html
http://www.uazone.net/holidays/christmas.html

Venezuela - http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-Venezuela.htm
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=gosouthamerica&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fchristmas-world.freeservers.com%2Fvenezuela.html

Wales - http://christmas-world.freeservers.com/wales.html
http://www.santas.net/welshchristmas.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/christmas/sites/content/pages/customs.shtml
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Wales-History/WelshChristmas.htm

Today was our fun trip to the Chodl auditorium to see the Nutcracker. It was AWESOME! We love it! Click on the following link to read the story of the Nutcracker at home, play some games, listen to the music and get some recipes.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/nutcracker-story-music.html

UPDATES:
- I know I said we would not have anymore book orders but I did send one out last week. It was a good one and I couldn't resist! Thank you for tolerating the extra paper work!

-Please send a check for $10.00 made out to Erin Jackson for the class t-shirts if you have not already done so. I appreciate that Erin took the time to order the shirts for the class! Thank you Erin!

-Also, I do have a few parents that volunteer on a weekly basis. Your kids are now reviewing their sight words on a weekly. After the break we will begin reviewing math facts as well!

- We have been working really hard on writing letters, capitalization and punctuation and our handwriting. Over the holidays is a great time to have your child help make the shopping lists, write thank you letters for gifts, make place cards, etc. This is authentic learning, your kids can show off what they have learned!