Family Movie Night

MJR Theater Summer Movie Specials for June

MJR Theaters are offering certain family friendly movies to be shown over the summer for ticket costs of $3. These are fun, air conditioned, budget friendly opportunities for fun for this summer!

After watching the movie, try these enrichment activities:

•Making Connections Activity ("Shrek 2"): Have your child identify which character your child wishes were real so your child could meet the character. Discuss why your child would like to meet that character. Have your child draw a picture showing what they would do together and have them write about the things they would do on a special day

•Story Elements Activity ("Bad Guys"): Stories can be discussed in terms of the "Story Elements".  This Youtube video might help you understand story elements & how to identify them.  Complete a “High Five” with your child using the five fingers/thumb on your hand. Identify the following as you move through your fingers: 1- characters (WHO or what does or says something in the movie); 2- setting location (WHERE does the story take place); 3- setting time (WHEN does the story tale place: present, past, future); 4- Plot (WHAT happens in the story); 5- Lesson identification (WHY did the events take place)

•Genre Discussion Activity ("Land Before Time"): Discuss what fiction and nonfiction are (This Youtube video on fiction & nonfiction might help you... it talks about books but the same applies to movies). Discuss how there can be elements of nonfiction present in fiction. Identify how the story portrayed in the movie is fiction (e.g. talking animals, human behaviors, non-humans wearing clothes, etc.). Have your child draw a scene from the movie. Make a list of things that are real-like and things that are make believe in that scene.

Exploring Story Elements: Characters, Setting & Plot

Engance Movie Night Experiences with These Suggested Items:

Ready to Find Something New & Exciting?!

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.. 

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.

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.

Build Holiday Houses (aka Gingerbread 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!