Christmas-Sharing

SPECIAL TOOL

This tool has been created in respose to a special request we received. (Open stickers-emojis-Christmas) Print on adhesive paper and add the stickers to children’s projects or activity sheets or use them to describe their mood in their agenda or journal.

CIRCLE TIME

Invite each child to bring something that is precious to him to daycare. Encourage children to share their item with the group. You may also let them bring a toy from home to daycare to share with their friends throughout the theme. In return, you may share a daycare toy with each child. They will love bringing a daycare toy home and playing with it in a different environment.

Sharing with a secret friend

At the beginning of the theme, during circle time, have each child secretly pick a picture of one of their friends out of a jar. Throughout the theme, children must make an extra special effort to share with the friend they picked, without ever revealing his identity. At the end of the week, invite children to guess who their secret friend was.

AREAS SETUP

Thematic poster-Christmas-Sharing

(Open thematic poster-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate.

Poster-Secret friend

(Open poster-Secret friend) Print and display on the door of your daycare. Each day, add the picture of a child in your group. The secret friend of the day may bring a photo album from home and present the pictures to the group. He may also bring his favorite CD, movie, or game to share with the group. Be sure to pay special attention to him and offer as many privileges as possible.

Educa-theme-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educa-theme-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and their parents) while decorating your daycare.

Educa-decorate-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educa-decorate-Christmas-Sharing) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

Garland-Christmas-Sharing

(Open models-Christmas-Sharing) Print and let children decorate the garland elements. Cut out the items and use them to create a garland that can be hung near your daycare entrance or within your daycare.

Stickers-Christmas-Sharing

(Open stickers-Christmas-Sharing) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create original stickers for your group.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group.  Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Christmas-Sharing) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.

Memory game-Christmas-Sharing

(Open picture game-Christmas-Sharing) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY AND WRITING SHEETS

Activity sheets are provided for each theme.  Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Christmas-Sharing)

Writing activities-S like sharing

(Open writing activities-S like sharing) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-Christmas-Sharing

(Open stationery-Christmas-Sharing) Print. Use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or to identify your thematic bins.

Educa-nuudles-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educa-nuudles-Christmas-Sharing) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don’t have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles:

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS

Have fun with these wonderful workshop ideas.

Construction/building blocks:

• Sort blocks by colour, size, type, etc.
• Arrange to exchange toys with other daycare groups.
• Add recycled materials from children's homes to the area (empty cardboard rolls, boxes, etc.). Parents will be happy to share these items with the group.
• Small stacking cubes like the ones used in schools.

Arts & crafts:

• Create stimulation bottles for younger children with the older children in your group.
• This is the perfect theme for creating a collective mural or a crafty project that requires teams of two or three children.
• Provide only a limited quantity of art supplies and ask children to share them (one glue stick to be used by two friends, two pairs of scissors for four children, etc.).
• Organize a painting activity but provide only one container per colour. Children will practice waiting for their turn.
• Recycled material that parents share with the group can be used for crafts.
• Crafts are great for sharing. Present the group with a variety of material and they will automatically share among themselves.

Drawing:

• Coloring pages that represent objects children share at daycare, at home, etc.
• One child begins a drawing, another child continues, etc.
• Provide only one crayon per color. Children will have to wait for their turn.

Role play:

• Add one or two aprons to your kitchen area. Children will have to share.
• You may add fruits and vegetables which can be cut (Velcro).
• A costume box filled with all kinds of costumes.
• Ask parents to share costumes or items related to their work for a few days.

Manipulation:

• Memory game with illustrations representing items children share at daycare or at home.
• Board games with simple rules that require at least two players.
• A single color of modeling dough. Divide it among the group. Provide a few items children can share to cut the dough.
• Several tiny objects for sorting, patterns, etc.

Pre-reading:

• Children can bring a photo album to share with the group.
• Children may share one or two of their favourite storybooks with the group.
• Visit your local library; it "shares" its books with you.

Pre-writing:

• Hunt and seek games.
• A variety of activity sheets related to the theme.
• Educatall word flashcards.
• Tracing or maze games and activities.

Motor skills:

• Parachute-all games involving a parachute require collaboration and cooperation.
• Organize a parade with musical instruments.
• Prepare a collective show or presentation.
• Set up a treasure hunt, children must work as a team.
• Cooperative games involving movement that don’t involve competition.

Sensory bins:

• Large bins filled with pasta. Teams of two children can measure, fill, empty, etc.
• Water table with objects that float or sink.

Science:

• Experiment involving water and oil (the mixture shares).
• Separate milk and cream.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) (Open giant word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) share, divide, cut, exchange, love, kindness, toys, portion, friendship, together, give, receive

Christmas sharing day

(Open perpetual calendar-Christmas-Sharing Day) Print and display. Divide your group into pairs for the day so that children can experience sharing. Organize a bottle drive and give the money you make to a local organization or ask parents to send in clothing items that no longer fit or that they no longer wear and, with your group, deliver them to a local shelter or Salvation Army.

Word sharing

(Open word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) (Open giant word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) Print several word flashcards and hide them throughout your daycare or yard. Divide your group into two teams. When you give the signal, children try to collect as many word flashcards as possible in a pre-determined period, for example 3 minutes. When the time is up, children gather around you. To earn a point for their team, children must be able to “read” the words they found. If they don’t succeed, the other team can earn the point if they can find the correct word.

Words under the mistletoe

(Open word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) (Open giant word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) Print two copies of several word flashcards. Hang one copy of each word on an indoor clothesline using red and green clothespins. Arrange the other word flashcards in a pile. Children take turns picking a word flashcard. Read the word together before encouraging them to find the matching word on the clothesline. They can hang the word flashcards one on top of the other. Hang mistletoe in the center of your clothesline. Help younger children manipulate the clothespins.

Reinvented scrabble

(Open word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) (Open giant word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) Print many copies of the word flashcards and encourage children to use scrabble tiles to write the words. Manipulating the small tiles represents a great fine motor skill exercise. At the same time, children will notice which letters make up the different words.

Associating words and pictures

(Open word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) (Open giant word flashcards-Christmas-Sharing) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall close to your circle time area or on a large piece of cardboard you can move within your daycare. Children take turns identifying the words you name.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES-THEMATIC DAY-CHRISTMAS-SHARING

For the occasion, invite children to bring a toy from home to daycare. Inform them ahead of time that they should bring a toy they are willing to share with others.

Perpetual calendar

(Open perpetual calendar-Thematic day-Christmas-Sharing) Print and display.

Schedule

(Open schedule-Thematic day-Christmas-Sharing) Print. Use the document to inform parents of your schedule. Display it near your daycare entrance.

Area setup

(Open thematic poster-Day-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate. Use the poster to decorate your daycare.

Greeting

As children arrive, they can show you and others the items they brought from home. If you wish, they could bring one item that they consider precious, but are willing to share with the group for the day, as well as a second item they are willing to give to a child in need.

Activities

Give each child the chance to present their “precious” item to the group. Encourage them to explain why it is so dear to them. They can also take turns presenting the item they have chosen to give to a child in need. When they are done, deliver the items children want to give away to a local shelter or organization. Your group will experience the joy of sharing with others.

Divide your group into pairs and invite children to play “blind man” (where one child gives verbal instructions to guide his partner who has his eyes closed). Encourage them to practice mimes or to mimic their partner’s actions (like a mirror). Organize a bottle drive and donate the money you make to a local charity.

Snacks and lunch

Plan a potluck lunch where each child brings something. One child can provide the morning snack, another child can bring the afternoon snack, one or two children can bring something for lunch and another child can prepare dessert. Plan everything with the parents of the children in your group.

Souvenir photo-Thematic day-Christmas-Sharing

(Open picture frames-Thematic day-Christmas-Sharing) Print several copies and use the frames to display pictures of your thematic day within your daycare or to send a souvenir home with children at the end of the day.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Game-This is my spot-Christmas-Sharing

(Open game-This is my spot-Christmas-Sharing) Print two copies of each picture. Use adhesive paper to stick one copy of each picture on the table. Set the other copies in an opaque bag. Children take turns picking a picture out of the bag to determine where they will sit at the table throughout the day. If you wish, you may also use the fabric pieces to determine naptime spots or children’s place in the task train.

My Christmas-Sharing path

Print the items and secure them on the floor to create a path within your daycare. The path can lead to areas children visit daily such as the bathroom, the cloakroom, etc. If you prefer, you may use the shapes to delimit various areas.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Playing cards-Christmas-Sharing

(Open playing cards-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate. Give each child the same number of cards. They can take turns hiding them in your daycare. When they are done, the race begins! Everyone tries to find as many cards as possible.

Race to find the cards-Christmas-Sharing

(Open playing cards-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate several cards. Hide them throughout your daycare or yard. Divide your group into two teams. When you give the signal, children race to collect as many cards as possible in a pre-determined period, for example three minutes.

Sharing blocks

For this activity, divide your group into teams. Give each team the same number of wooden blocks. Each team must share the blocks it was given and use them to build a structure.

Sharing balls

Have children try to roll balls through the hole in the center of your parachute.

Let’s share this game

Ask each child to hold your parachute with one hand and hold their other hand out to the side for balance. Run around in one direction, then have them switch hands and run in the opposite direction. You could also play music and use it to signal when it’s time to change direction (for example, every time the music stops).

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Photo booth-Christmas-Sharing

(Open photo booth-Christmas-Sharing) Print the accessories. Cut them out and stick a drinking straw behind each one. At your local dollar store, purchase additional accessories such as Christmas hats, headbands, scarves, sunglasses, etc. to complete your photo booth. Set up a special corner by hanging a piece of fabric, a large cardboard background, or a special Christmas décor. Let children choose the accessories they prefer and photograph them. Invite parents to have fun with your photo booth too. Print and display the pictures. They will represent great souvenirs.

Educ-trace-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educ-trace-Christmas-Sharing) Print for each child. Children must trace the lines with the correct colors and then color the corresponding items using the same colors.

Color by number-Christmas-Sharing

(Open color by number-Christmas-Sharing) Print for each child. Children must color the picture according to the color code.

Educa-symmetry-Christmas-Sharing

(Educa-symmetry-Christmas-Sharing) Print. Children must color the picture on the bottom to make it look exactly like the picture on the top.

Educ-pairs-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educ-pairs-Christmas-Sharing) Print. Children must draw a line between identical items or color identical items using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educ-intruder-Christmas-Sharing

(Open educ-intruder-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate. Children must search for the six items shown at the bottom of the page in the scene.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A gift for all of us

Purchase a new toy or game that your entire group can enjoy together (board game, set of plastic dishes, set of figurines, etc.). Wrap the toy or game and let children discover it…and then share it.

Christmas treats to share

Have children cut different types of Christmas treats and desserts (cakes, pies, fruit cake, gingerbread cookies, etc.) out of grocery store flyers. Glue each item on a piece of construction paper. Children take turns picking a treat and rolling a die. Per the number indicated on the die, they must cut their treat with scissors, so that they end up with the corresponding number of portions. For example, if a child picks a candy cane and rolls a “4”, he will have to cut the candy cane into four pieces and distribute the portions to the same number of friends.

Toy drive

Encourage each child to bring a “precious” item to daycare and present it to the group. Encourage them to explain why it is so dear to them. They can also take turns presenting an item they have chosen to give to a child in need. When they are done, deliver the items children want to give away to a local shelter or organization. (Open poster-Toy drive-Christmas-Sharing)

To share or not to share?

(Open game-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate. Children must pick a card and associate it with the correct picture, considering whether the item may or may not be shared. Examples of items that should not be shared are a pacifier, a toothbrush, etc.

Snakes & ladders-Christmas-Sharing

(Open snakes and ladders-Christmas-Sharing) Print and laminate. Use a die. Every time a child rolls a “4”, he or she can share two points with a friend. Both children move their playing piece ahead two squares.

Christmas sharing treasure hunt

Hide puzzle pieces throughout your daycare or yard. Encourage children to search for the pieces and deposit them in the centre of a circle. Once they have all the pieces, they can work together to reconstruct the puzzle.

Task sharing chart

For this special theme, print a special task sharing chart. (Open task sharing chart-Christmas) With adhesive putty, add each child’s picture and/or name to the chart. As time goes by, you can change up the tasks or ask children to stick a pictogram next to the tasks they have chosen.

Solo or orchestra

Encourage each child to pick a musical instrument. Ask each child to play alone. After a while, invite your group to play their instruments simultaneously. Record the music they make and listen to the recording together afterwards. When only one child is playing his instrument, it is easy to recognize. As they listen to the music they make when they play together like an orchestra, children will realize what they can accomplish as a group.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Cookie exchange

Invite parents to bake (or buy) a dozen Christmas cookies. Once you have received cookies from each family, organize a cookie exchange at the end of the day. With your group, arrange the different types of cookies on Christmas platters and set them on a table, next to your cloakroom. As parents arrive, hand them a pretty Christmas-themed box. If you wish, you could have children decorate their box with stickers, glitter glue, foam shapes, etc. during the day. They will be proud to fill it with cookies with their mother or father and bring them home to share with their family.

Sweet table runner

Set a long piece of waxed paper on the table, like a table runner. Deposit cut strawberries, miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips, vanilla wafers, and tiny Christmas cookies on the waxed paper. Melt a small quantity of white chocolate in a measuring cup. Once the chocolate is completely melted, pour it on your table runner, zigzagging it over the ingredients. Watch out for little fingers, the chocolate will be hot! Let the chocolate set for a few minutes before inviting children to share this sweet treat.

Christmas ornaments to share

Serve balls of Christmas Rice Krispies and hot chocolate at snack time.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Models-Christmas-Sharing

(Open models-Christmas-Sharing) Print the models and use them for various crafts and activities throughout the theme.

Puppets-Christmas-Sharing

(Open puppets-Christmas-Sharing) Print the various models on cardboard. Ask children to cut them out and decorate them with arts & crafts materials. Glue a Popsicle stick behind each one to complete the puppets.

Mandalas-Christmas-Sharing

(Open mandalas-Christmas-Sharing) Print for each child. Encourage children to color the mandalas to help them relax.

A shared Christmas craft

Plan a craft during which children will have to share. Provide a single glue stick, a single pair of scissors, a single marker, etc. Encourage children to work together to complete a specific project.

A blanket for all

Have each child paint on a small square piece of fabric. You can use fabric paint, but acrylic paint represents a good option since it won’t wash away in the laundry and it is relatively inexpensive. Once the paint is dry, assemble the pieces to create a quilt. Encourage children to share their personalized blanket throughout the theme.

Group project

Create greeting cards for children who are in the hospital or seniors in a nursing home. Children will be proud to deliver the cards themselves.

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme-Christmas-Sharing) Print.

Identical coloring pages-Christmas-Sharing

Print the same coloring page for each child and an additional copy for your model. Color only certain parts of your picture. Present the model to your group and ask them to color their picture to make it look exactly like yours.

Musical drawing-Christmas-Sharing

Play musical drawing with your group. Give each child a coloring page. Have children sit around a table. When the music starts, they must pass the coloring pages around the table. Every time the music stops, they must color the picture in front of them until the music starts again.

Sand drawing-Christmas-Sharing

Use white glue to trace the contour of certain parts of a coloring page. Sprinkle it with sand and remove any excess sand over a garbage can.

Homemade color by number activities-Christmas-Sharing

Use the coloring pages to create original color by number activity sheets. Simply add a legend at the bottom of each page (ex. 1=red, 2=green, etc.).

Group coloring activity-Christmas-Sharing

Cut a coloring page into pieces so that you have one piece per child. Have each child color his part of the picture. When they are done, assemble the pieces.

Have fun!

The educatall team