Christmas

Learn About Traditions from Different Countries:

You can find information about how different cultures celebrate Christmas by researching online or at your local library.

Print out my Christmas Traditions Around the World Worksheet and together as a family write out traditions you find interesting.

Learning Activities

Christmas

WHERE IS Bethlehem?

Take out a globe or atlas (or look on Google Earth) for Bethlehem to see how far away it is from where you live.

Spirit of Christmas Box:

Here's a Christmas tradition that lasts for all of December and focuses on the true spirit of Christmas: focusing on giving and gratitude.

Click here to see how to make this special box box.

WEBSITE:

For information on the history of Christmas check here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

This site has lots of information about how Christmas is celebrated in many countries (74) and includes how to say Merry Christmas in over a hundred different languages:

http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

This site has information on how Christmas is celebrated in 32 countries:

http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/

This site has information on how Christmas is celebrated in 42 countries and includes some activities as well (craft ideas, colouring pages, Christmas Letterhead): http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/index.htm

CHARITY:

There are many different charities working during the holiday season collecting money or gifts.

One that we like is Operation Christmas Child.

Check here for info in USA
and check here for Canada.

and for Australia.

ADVENT WREATH:

NOTE: Advent is a Christian tradition that counts down the four weeks of Advent, which is the time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Materials: Green paper (a few sheets), glue stick, pink paper, purple paper (2 sheets), orange paper, child safe scissors, tape, paper plate.

Step 1: Trace your child’s hands onto a few pieces of green paper. We found that 10 hands worked for the base and used 4 more to hide the tabs.

Step 2: Help your child cut the hands out.

Step 3: Help your child glue the hands onto the paper plate to from a circle which will be the wreath and the base for the paper “candles”.

Step 3: Cut the purple paper in half to form two rectangles per page. Roll three of these rectangles into a cylindrical shape to represent candles.

Step 4: Cut the pink paper into a similar sized rectangle and roll that to be a forth “candle”.

Step 5: Cut about 4 or 5 small slits at the bottom of each “candle” and fold out. Apply glue to these folds and then press onto the wreath. You may want to hide these folds using more green hand prints if you like.

Step 6: Cut out four flame shapes from the orange (or yellow) paper and set aside. Each Sunday of advent you can have your child “light” the candle by taping the orange flame to a candle. Traditionally the pink candle is “lit” for the third week of advent.