Monday, November 12, 2012

What's in Store

For the last couple of years we have taken a "break" from school for all of December.  Instead we do "Christmas School."  I love Christmas time and I love the fact that I can take the entire month of December and focus my kids on the Reason for the Season!!!  While we do away with History, Science, Spelling, English, Geography, and so on, here is what we DO do. 
Our Christmas School Traditionally looks like this:
1.  Christmas Devotional:  We focus on studying and learning about Christ.  In past years we have focused on all the aspects of the Nativity beginning with Prophecies about Christ's birth and going through his birth and the events that happened in America (from the Book of Mormon).  This year we are branching out and doing this unit study from Chocolate on my Cranium. 

2.  Singing Time:  We take turns choosing both secular and sacred Christmas songs and singing them around the piano while I play and sing with the kids.  This is always a favorite part of Christmas School. 

3.  Reading:  We read Christmas books together on the couch and have a wonderful time feeling the Spirit of Christmas.

4.  Project:  We then do a project of some sort.   These consist of crafts, making gifts for neighbors and/or grandparents, wrapping presents, Christmas worksheets, baking, or other fun seasonal activities.

5.  Family Activity:  When Ben gets home from work we take the opportunity to do family activities.  Some of the things in store for this year are:  Caroling, Willard Bay lights display, Temple Square, sledding, watching movies, going to the city Christmas Parade, visiting Santa, and making Gingerbread Houses. 

Audrey will continue doing her regular math in the month of December as it will be necessary in order to keep her on track.  Other than that, all typical school is out the window. 

We have a great time and my kids really look forward to their Christmas Break because of the deviation from the norm.  What special things do you do for Christmas?