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Christmas Around the World
We
had a great time on our trip around the world. Everyone had a
passport and got it stamped when we visited a new country. We
learned about the Christmas traditions from England, Germany,
Sweden, Holland, Mexico, Italy, Russia, Ireland, France,
Kwanzaa, China, and Hanukah

America found
it's traditions of stockings, singing carols, Christmas cards, and
wreaths from England. We made Christmas stocking to
celebrate our visit.


Our class joined an internet project where we exchanged Christmas
cards with other first grade classes from around the U.S.

The
tradition of decorating a tree came from Germany . Kris
Kringle is what they call "Santa". Gingerbread came from
Germany. We all made gingerbread men. The gingerbread
men all ran away.

Kris Kringle


Our class read the Gingerbread man story. The Gingerbread Man
came to visit and ran away. He left clues for us to follow all
over the building. It was so exciting to read each new clue.
We finally ended up finding the special treats that he left us.

Amelia read our first clue. He was thirsty so we went to the
water fountain.

Liz found clue # 2. He said he wanted a book so we went to the
library.

Clue # 3 told Boone that he was hungry. We went to the
cafeteria.

Clue # 4 told Peyton that he had stomach ache. We went to see
the nurse.

Clue # 5 told Kendrianna that he was making a phone call.
We headed to the office.

Clue # 6 said that he was going to where you went when you were in
trouble. Braxton said we needed to see Mrs. Burns.

Mrs. Burns told us that he had ran away but he had left
everyone a surprise. There a basket of delicious gingerbread
cookies for everyone!!!!

In Italy,
a witch comes to visit the children. She is called
"La Befena". She is a kind witch
This is a picture of our "La Befena".



We got the
beautiful flower, poinsettia, from Mexico. We read the book "
The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola.




We also made
wooden shoes and filled them with toys. We made windmills and
colored a flag. This is how Christmas
in Holland is celebrated.



We made a Crown of
Candles for Sweden. We colored a girl and boy dressed in
traditional Swedish outfits. We made a Swedish flag. The
class enjoyed reading The Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett and
designing a toy horse that was in the story. In Sweden if you are not good, a goat will
come to visit and butt you!




We made
Pere Noel and the French flag. We also decorated a Nativity
scene because the Nativity is a very big part of French Christmas
traditions. We made beautiful angels for France.

Kwanzaa is
the African American celebration of Christmas. We made a
Kinara and an African flag. We also made a small reader with
the definitions for each of the candles in the Kinara. The
candles are called Mishumaa saba.



In Israel Hanukah is
celebrated. We made Menorahs.


In Ireland, they place lighted candles in the window on Christmas
Eve to show Mary and Joseph the way. Christmas is celebrated
more from a religious view than fun activities. They hang
Christmas sacks instead of stockings. Everyone makes Christmas
candles with holly around them.


In Russia they call it Festival of Winter. They have a
Babushka which means Grandma. She comes around and brings
presents. The Nutcracker Ballet is a tradition at Christmas
time.


Jacob brought a real
nutcracker to share with us.

This year we added China to our countries. In China
they celebrate Chinese New Year. The children enjoyed reading
books about China and their customs. They made a Chinese mask
and also a Chinese dragon.





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