Holidays & Celebrations in December
LAS POSADAS - "THE INNS"
Las Posadas (Spanish for "the inns") is a festival that lasts for 9 nights- beginning on December 16th & ending on Christmas Eve (December 24th) each year.
It is a festive celebration mostly celebrated by members of certain Latin American cultures, especially Mexican..
Recommended Items for Celebrating Las Posadas from Maestra Casiano:
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th every year. Advent is the waiting period that leads up to Christmas Eve when the celebration begins in many cultures.
Christmas is a very important holy celebration for Christians around the world. The holiday is celebrated in different ways through various traditions. In some countries, including in the USA, many families who are not Christians use this time to celebrate family & share gifts.
Items Recommended by Maestra Casiano for Exploring the Spirit of Christmas:
HANUKKAH
In 2024, in the U.S.A., Hanukkah will begin on December 25th. Hanukkah is a celebration that lasts for eight nights. The dates of Hanukkah change each year as it is a holiday that is based upon cycles of the moon. It begins on the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar) every year. Hanukkah is also known as "The Festival of Lights." It originated thousands of years ago & commemorates a historical event. The festival lasts for eight nights.
Hanukkah is a very important holiday for people who are Jewish in faith & culture.
KWANZAA
Kwanzaa is a holiday that began in the U.S.A. in 1966. It is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st each year. The weeklong festival honors & celebrates African American culture & heritage. It is a time of friendship, family, giving thanks, & sharing.
Although Kwanzaa incorporates several key themes & common beliefs held in many African cultures, the holiday is uniquely celebrated only in the U.S.A.
Downloadable Packets & Worksheets
To access the printable activity/packet, click on the image for that packet. These are downloadable PDF, WORD or PowerPoint files.
For Kids in Preschool through Kindergarten:
For Kids in Lower Elementary Grades (1-2):
For Kids in Upper Elementary Grades (3-5):
For Kids in Middle School Grades (6-8):
Kid Friendly Culinary Creations to Try in December
Cooking & baking together is great for family bonding while providing real life opportunities to explore math concepts such as fractions, measurements, & proportions; practice reading & writing recipes using specialized vocabulary & sequencing words; and developing gastronomical awareness
Executive Functioning for Families
Executive Functioning (EF) is basically the brain's management system. EF is a set of mental skills including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control that are used daily to learn, work, and manage daily life.
Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.
Family Fun Night Suggestion - Build Holiday Houses
Build Holiday Houses!
For best results, build the holiday house over several days.
Suggested process:
Planning Day (before December 12th): Complete steps 1, 2 & 3
Assembly Day (International Gingerbread House Day, December 12th): Complete step 4
Decorating Day (International Gingerbread Decorating Day, December 14th): Complete steps 5-6.
Allow for 7-10 days for your holiday house kit to arrive after ordering. Consider performing "Day 1" activities on December 12th (Gingerbread House Day) &
Step #1: Order one or more holiday house building kits from Learning Made Fun with Maestra Casiano
Step #2: Watch this short video on Gingerbread House Assembly (Click Here) & gather supplies
Step #3: Create a flow chart with your child which lists/illustrates the different steps to follow to assemble the house
Step #4: Assemble & build your holiday cookie house (use flow chart, ordinal numbers, sequencing adverbs to discuss)
After assembling the holiday cookie house, allow for at least 1-2 nights of "dry time" so that it does not collapse
Step #5: After your house has been allowed dry time of at least 24 hours, Decorate your holiday cookie house
Step #6: Photograph your completed holiday house & let it dry overnight
Step #7: Complete the "Build Your Own Gingerbread House Interactive Craftivity" (Click Here)
Step #8: Print, decorate & play the "Gingerbread House Sight Word Board Game" (Download Here)
For added fun, consider ordering the "Hansel & Gretel" pop-up book offered by Learning Made Fun With Maestra Casiano!
Be sure to send Maestra Casiano some pictures! You might be featured on the site & win a gift certificate!
Holiday House Craft Kits :
Activities to Support Holiday House Crafting :
Family Movie Night Suggestion
Disney-Pixar Coco (2017)
This super fun animated movie is full of adventure, family, & magic! You will explore the life & family of a young boy, named Miguel. You will learn a little about the celebration of Dia de los Muertas & learn fun Spanish-English bilingual songs, too! Miguel visits the magical land of his ancestors & uncovers the mysteries behind his family’s stories and traditions.
For added fun, create a Family Tree to identify your ancestors! These videos may help you (Family Tree video for Kids 5 & under or Family Tree video for Kids 6 & older)
Downloadable & Printable Activities to Go Along with Coco:
Coco Themed Items Offered by Learning Made Fun With Maestra Casiano:
Social-Emotional Development
Social & emotional development, especially in early childhood, provides a critically important foundation for children in developing & learning throughout their lives.
Social development refers to the ability to initiate, create, foster, & sustain meaningful relationships with adults & peers.
Emotional development refers to the ability to express, recognize, interpret, & manage one's emotions & the ability to respond appropriately to others' emotions.
Journaling Can Be a Highly Effective Way of Identifying, Addressing, & Regulating Emotions: