jgarcia's blog

Hanukkah, also called Chanukuh, is the eight-day Jewish commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C., where according to Jewish legend, the Jews had risen up against their oppressors.

Kwanzaa, a seven day festival created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to bring African-Americans together to celebrate their African heritage, takes place from December 26 to January 1. Although Kwanzaa is celebrated throughout the world, it is mostly an American holiday. The words "matunda ya kwanzaa" mean "first fruits" in the Swahili language.

Join KidsSoup and Santa Claus as he visits 10 different countries and brings back souvenirs (see emergent reader booklet "Santa, Santa, What Can You See?). Invite children to join you on a trip around the world to visit other continents and countries and experience their culture and how their winter holidays are

Enjoy the colorful fall leaves by making a Fall Wreath Craft with your children. In fall, when the leaves are changing colors, go outside with your children and gather some large leaves. Then, form a coat hanger into a circle and have children lace the leaves to create a colorful wreath to grace your doorway.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot, our focus book for the month, is a humorous retelling of the classic children's tale, The Three Little Pigs--reimagined in outer space.