1. Starlight:
a. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwaanza are all mentioned in this song. Read a story about each holiday to the class, and then talk about other holidays that are celebrated during the winter season.
b. Starlight can be seen from everywhere in the world when people look up into the night sky. This is something that all people have in common. Have a discussion with your class about what else is common to all people.
2. Christmas on the Block:
a. Some of the lyrics say “and they see all the colors that we cannot,” which is referring to people with visual impairments who decorated their tree for Christmas. Ask the class what colors they think the children can see that they themselves cannot see. Do the children in the song see the color of love, peace, hope, joy, etc.? What about sadness and anger, etc.? What color do you think each of these would be?
3. Frosty the Snowman:
a. Make up motions/movements to follow along the actions/rhythm of the song.
b. The song ends with Frosty saying “I’ll be back again some day.” Have each of the students write a story for Frosty of when he comes back. (And not the story that is already out there as a cartoon, but a story that they come up with using their own imaginations!)
4. She Just Doesn’t Get It:
a. In this song, the boy’s younger sister does not understand about Hanukkah. Invite students who have younger siblings to share or write down times when their younger siblings did not understand something. If using this as a writing prompt, have those without siblings write about a time when they didn’t understand something that was explained to them or write a fictional story about a younger sibling who doesn’t understand what he or she is told.
b. Learn more about Hanukkah and have students share what they've learned with younger students. Also include various winter holidays from around the world. See activity for Starlight (Track 1).
5. Two Sets of Footprints:
a. Have students write about their favorite part of the year.
b. Have students write a letter to someone that they love to spend time with, telling them so.
c. Give each student a piece of chalk and two pieces of black construction paper. Have them rub the chalk all over the bottom of their shoes, then step onto the black construction paper, each foot on a separate piece. Spray the footprints with hairspray to make the chalk stick to the paper. Once everyone’s is dry, scatter them throughout the room while students aren’t watching. Everyone takes off a shoe, puts it into a pile, then grabs someone else’s shoe and tries to find the matching footprint. Another activity would be to randomly split up the footprints into two groups. Split the class in half and then each half needs to work together to categorize their group of footprints however they see fit. A spokes person for each group will then share with the rest of the class why they categorized the footprints the way that they did.
6. A Pickle For My Christmas Tree:
a. As a class or in small groups, write new lyrics for the song. Students can then illustrate the new lyrics.
b. There are many different varieties of trees grown and used for Christmas trees. Check out the National Christmas Tree Association’s website at http://www.christmastree.org/teachers.cfm where you can find teacher resources including their database of tree types. (Students could compare and contrast different varieties of Christmas trees and determine which they feel is the best one to choose and why.) They also link to their sister site http://www.realtrees4kids.org/ where you’ll find free lesson plans and classroom materials about Christmas trees, available by grade level.
7. I Have a Little Dreidel
a. Read a book about dreidels to the class.
b. The four Hebrew letters on the dreidel are Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin. Their meaning: A Great Miracle Happened There. Have students make their own dreidel: http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/dreidel.html or http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/hanukkah/dreidel/
c. In small groups, have the students play the Dreidel Game: http://judaism.about.com/od/chanukahhowtos/ht/dreidel.htm
8. Tikkun Olam
a. Have the students write what they can do to repair the world around them.
b. Discuss charities with the class and how individuals and organizations help people around the world by donating time, money, clothing, toys, etc. As a class, choose several charities to learn more about and then have students break up into small groups and find out what they can about the charity they’ve been assigned. Each group then shares with the class what they found out. Students can then vote on the charity that the class would like to support in some way during the remainder of the school year.
9. Wintertime is Here
a. This song can become one to add to "the soundtrack to your life!" Substitute words for what you are doing: dinnertime, dinnertime, dinnertime is here…; summertime, summertime, summertime is here…; naptime, naptime, naptime is here…, etc. You get the idea!
b. Have students write down something that they hope for in the coming year.
10. You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
a. Read Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
b. Discuss, write, and/or draw how people can change from negative to positive.
11. Hanukkah in Santa Monica
a. Many Jewish observances/holidays are mentioned in this song. Share a little about each with your students.
b. As a class, locate all of the cities that are mentioned in the song. You could then have them get together in small groups, map out the route, and then calculate how many miles the entire trip would be. Then ask them to calculate how long it would take if they were driving 60 miles per hour the entire time.
12. Deck the Halls
a. Create your own percussion instruments with things that are in the classroom. Have students try to “perform” the song without using the music from the CD.
13. …and a Happy New Year
a. As a class, enjoy making up more crazy voices/words/noises to use as you “sing” this song!
a. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwaanza are all mentioned in this song. Read a story about each holiday to the class, and then talk about other holidays that are celebrated during the winter season.
b. Starlight can be seen from everywhere in the world when people look up into the night sky. This is something that all people have in common. Have a discussion with your class about what else is common to all people.
2. Christmas on the Block:
a. Some of the lyrics say “and they see all the colors that we cannot,” which is referring to people with visual impairments who decorated their tree for Christmas. Ask the class what colors they think the children can see that they themselves cannot see. Do the children in the song see the color of love, peace, hope, joy, etc.? What about sadness and anger, etc.? What color do you think each of these would be?
3. Frosty the Snowman:
a. Make up motions/movements to follow along the actions/rhythm of the song.
b. The song ends with Frosty saying “I’ll be back again some day.” Have each of the students write a story for Frosty of when he comes back. (And not the story that is already out there as a cartoon, but a story that they come up with using their own imaginations!)
4. She Just Doesn’t Get It:
a. In this song, the boy’s younger sister does not understand about Hanukkah. Invite students who have younger siblings to share or write down times when their younger siblings did not understand something. If using this as a writing prompt, have those without siblings write about a time when they didn’t understand something that was explained to them or write a fictional story about a younger sibling who doesn’t understand what he or she is told.
b. Learn more about Hanukkah and have students share what they've learned with younger students. Also include various winter holidays from around the world. See activity for Starlight (Track 1).
5. Two Sets of Footprints:
a. Have students write about their favorite part of the year.
b. Have students write a letter to someone that they love to spend time with, telling them so.
c. Give each student a piece of chalk and two pieces of black construction paper. Have them rub the chalk all over the bottom of their shoes, then step onto the black construction paper, each foot on a separate piece. Spray the footprints with hairspray to make the chalk stick to the paper. Once everyone’s is dry, scatter them throughout the room while students aren’t watching. Everyone takes off a shoe, puts it into a pile, then grabs someone else’s shoe and tries to find the matching footprint. Another activity would be to randomly split up the footprints into two groups. Split the class in half and then each half needs to work together to categorize their group of footprints however they see fit. A spokes person for each group will then share with the rest of the class why they categorized the footprints the way that they did.
6. A Pickle For My Christmas Tree:
a. As a class or in small groups, write new lyrics for the song. Students can then illustrate the new lyrics.
b. There are many different varieties of trees grown and used for Christmas trees. Check out the National Christmas Tree Association’s website at http://www.christmastree.org/teachers.cfm where you can find teacher resources including their database of tree types. (Students could compare and contrast different varieties of Christmas trees and determine which they feel is the best one to choose and why.) They also link to their sister site http://www.realtrees4kids.org/ where you’ll find free lesson plans and classroom materials about Christmas trees, available by grade level.
7. I Have a Little Dreidel
a. Read a book about dreidels to the class.
b. The four Hebrew letters on the dreidel are Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin. Their meaning: A Great Miracle Happened There. Have students make their own dreidel: http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/dreidel.html or http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/hanukkah/dreidel/
c. In small groups, have the students play the Dreidel Game: http://judaism.about.com/od/chanukahhowtos/ht/dreidel.htm
8. Tikkun Olam
a. Have the students write what they can do to repair the world around them.
b. Discuss charities with the class and how individuals and organizations help people around the world by donating time, money, clothing, toys, etc. As a class, choose several charities to learn more about and then have students break up into small groups and find out what they can about the charity they’ve been assigned. Each group then shares with the class what they found out. Students can then vote on the charity that the class would like to support in some way during the remainder of the school year.
9. Wintertime is Here
a. This song can become one to add to "the soundtrack to your life!" Substitute words for what you are doing: dinnertime, dinnertime, dinnertime is here…; summertime, summertime, summertime is here…; naptime, naptime, naptime is here…, etc. You get the idea!
b. Have students write down something that they hope for in the coming year.
10. You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
a. Read Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
b. Discuss, write, and/or draw how people can change from negative to positive.
11. Hanukkah in Santa Monica
a. Many Jewish observances/holidays are mentioned in this song. Share a little about each with your students.
b. As a class, locate all of the cities that are mentioned in the song. You could then have them get together in small groups, map out the route, and then calculate how many miles the entire trip would be. Then ask them to calculate how long it would take if they were driving 60 miles per hour the entire time.
12. Deck the Halls
a. Create your own percussion instruments with things that are in the classroom. Have students try to “perform” the song without using the music from the CD.
13. …and a Happy New Year
a. As a class, enjoy making up more crazy voices/words/noises to use as you “sing” this song!
Coloring Pages:
| hnycolor1.pdf |
| hnycolor2.pdf |
| hnycolor1.jpg |
| hnycolor2.jpg |