Just look at the below days and plan some December fun! Lots of activities for"Special Days" at links and the bottom of this page!
Flower: Narcissus-Stands for Self-Love
Birthstone: Turquoise
Astrological Sign:
Sagittarius, November 22-December 21
Capricorn, December 22-January 19
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DECEMBER IS:
• Hi Neighbor Month
• Read a New Book Month
• Universal Human Rights Month
• Write a Friend Month
• World Aids Month
• National Stress Free Family Holiday Month
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Few months have as many multicultural Holiday Celebrations as December!
• Saint Nicholas Day (Christian)~ December 6
• Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican) ~December 12
• St. Lucia Day (Swedish) ~December 13
• Hanukkah (Jewish) ~Begins at sundown on December 11; Ideas at page bottom
• Christmas Day (Christian) December 25
• Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish) December 26
• Kwanzaa (African American) December 26 to January 1
• Omisoka (Japanese) December 31
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DOING THE WEEKS!
Week One
Hand Washing Awareness Week
Cookie Cutter Week
Deaf Heritage Week
Week Two
You're doing a Good Job Week
Coats for Kids Days (Many Communities have an annual coats & toys for kids drive; coats are distributed about the 10th of the month)
Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday December 11.
Human Rights Week 10th to 16th
Week Three
International Language Week (See Ideas page bottom), Lipstick Week (See page bottom), Las Posadas (Spanish for the Inns) ~ a nine day celebration that begins December 16 and ends December 24; the 24th is called Noche Buena ("Holy Night"). It is a yearly tradition for many Christian Latin Americans symbolizing the trials which they believe Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay and where Jesus could be born.
Week Four
Kwanzaa: December 26 to January 1
Kwanzaa means 'first fruits of the harvest'; it is a non-religious celebration in which African Americans celebrate their rich heritage. Each of Kwanza's seven days represents a different principal:
PRINCIPLES OF KWANZAA
1. UMOJA...Unity
We help each other to build a strong community.
2. KUJICHAGULIA...Self-determination
We decide who we are and who we will be.
3. UJIMA...Collective work and responsibility
We help each other, working together to make a better life.
4. UJAMMA...Cooperative economics
We support African-American businesses.
5. NIA...Purpose
We have reason to live. We want to make our people great.
6. KUUMBA...Creativity
We think of new and different things to do.
7. IMANI...Faith
We believe in all African people, our dreams, and our future.
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DOING THE DAYS~DECEMBER 2009
1. World Aids Day
Rosa Park's Day (Refused to give up bus seat-1955)
Eat a Red Apple Day (How simple is that 
)
National Pie Day (See ideas below)
Brittany Spears Birthday-1982
2. National Fritters Day
3. National Roof over Your Head Day
International Day of Disabled Person
World's first heart transplant (1967) by Dr. Christian Barnard
4. National Cookie Day (Make cookies from No Bake Category)
Wear Brown Shoes Day
5. Walt Disney's Birthday
6. Everglades National Park dedicated-1947
Mitten Tree Day (Can you do this for a Community Service?)
St. Nicholas Day
Special Kids Day
7. National Cotton Candy Day
Pearl Harbor Day
8. First Christmas card produced (Put out supplies and make cards!)
National Brownie Day (the dessert)
9. Home-made Gift Day (See great ideas in gift category)
Ball bearing roller skates patented - 1884
First Christmas Seals issued 1907
10. Emily Dickenson's Birthday (1835)
Human Rights Day
First Nobel Peace Prize awarded
Grand Ole Opry-first radio broadcast from Nashville in 1927
11. Apollo 17 lands on moon 1972
Pilgrim's land on Plymouth Rock (Some sources say the 21st)
UNICEF Anniversary, Hanukkah begins (See below)
12. Poinsettia Day: First plant brought from Mexico
Bonza Bottler Day- (See below)
Gingerbread House Day (See Christmas Crafts )
13. St. Lucia Day in Sweden
National Cocoa Day (See Cocoa Category) and Ice-Cream Day (below)
Violin Day
First Susan B. Anthony Dollar (1978)
14. NASCAR founded
15. Edison patented first phonograph in 1877
Underdog Day
16. Boston Tea Party
Los Posadas
National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Ludwig Von Beethoven birthday 1770
17. National Maple Syrup Day (See page bottom)
18. Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day and Bake Cookies Day
19. Oatmeal Muffin Day
20. Louisiana Purchase completed-1803
20. Games Day (Gym, Outside, Low Energy, Winter Inside Games, Winter Outside Snow Games
21. Humbug Day and First Day of Winter (See below)
Look at the Bright Side Day
Don't Be a Scrooge Day
National Flashlight Day
First Crossword puzzle in newspaper
22. First Christmas lights for sale -1882
23. Roots Day
24. National Eggnog Day
Last Minute Shoppers Day
25. Christmas Day
National Pumpkin Pie Day
26. Kwanzaa begins
Boxing Day - Observed the same date each year in:
UK, Canada, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina,
West Virginia Boxing Day
National Whiners Day
27. Howdy Doody premier on NBC 1947 to 1960
Holocaust Remembrance Day
28. Card Playing Day (Have a card playing marathon)
National Chocolate Day
30. Rudyard Kipling (novelist) born 1860
Tiger Woods birthday -1975
31. Make up Your Mind Day
New Year's Eve
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DOING THE DAYS ACTIVITIES
PIE DAY~ DECEMBER 1
PIE EATER TAG GAME!
- Split the students into two different groups; one is apple pie and the other group is pumpkin pie.
- Have one student be the pie eater, who will be standing on the center line. The pie eater can only move from side to side on the center line.
- All the students say to the pie eater, "Pie eater, pie eater are you hungry?" The pie eater responds with a 'yes or no' answer.
- If the answer is no, the pies (students) ask again.
- If the answer is yes, then the pies ask again, "What kind of pie would you like?"
- The pie eater then says apple or pumpkin and that pie tries to make it to the other side.
- If the pie is tagged, then they become a pie eater.
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Play a game of 'Apple, Apple, PIE!' It's played just like 'Duck, Duck, Goose'--but change the words...
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SERVE STORE BOUGHT PIE OR MAKE A PIE ...
SUPER QUICK APPLE PIE
Ingredients:
18 Oatmeal cookies
1 can Apple pie filling
Large square or rectangular microwave container... • Have children crumble 9 cookies in the bottom of dish.
• Open and pour the can of pie filling; spread evenly.
• Crumble the other 9 cookies on top.
• Cover the top lightly with Saran wrap type product and put it in microwave for 5 minutes on high.
• Allow to cool before serving.
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Easy Apple Turnovers
1 can apple pie filling and Tin of refrigerated biscuits (American style-not cookies)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400′.
- Flatten each biscuit into a 6″ round. Place 2 heaping tablespoons of pie filling on each biscuit.
- Moisten edges of dough with water. Fold over and press edges firmly with a fork to seal.
- Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar and then sprinkle over top of biscuits. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
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DECEMBER 11--HANUKKAH BEGINS.
Hanukkah or the "Festival of Lights" is celebrated by Jewish families for eight nights (it's almost always in December.) During this time, Jewish families exchange gifts with each other. They light one candle each night on the menorah-until all eight are lit.
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MAKE A HANUKKAH MENORAH
Materials:
- Eight empty toilet paper tubes
- One empty paper towel tube
- Holiday wrapping paper
- Blue and gold sequins
- Aluminum muffin/cupcake cups
- Rubberbands
- Cellophane paper,yellow
- Crepe paper, yellow, orange and red
- A long box to hold the Menorah
- Tacky Glue
- Scotch tape
- Scissors
Directions:
1. Cover the tubes with wrapping paper. The center "candle" is covered in white paper.
2. Decorate the middle tube with sequins.
3. Place the muffin/cupcake cups at the bottom of each tube and rubberband to fit tightly. Fold down the top of the muffin cup so that candles will fit close together.
4. Wrap the long box that will be the base of the Menorah in wrapping paper.
5. Center the middle candle on the box and glue it down.
6. Place the other eight candles onto the box with four on each side and glue them down.
7. To make the flame, cut pieces of yellow cellophane, red, orange and yellow crepe paper and tape them together. Place each flame inside of the candles and attach with tape. Idea and photo from the Kansas City Public Library
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FYI: A Hanukkah menorah (otherwise known as a hanukkia) has nine candles. Eight of these are the Hanukkah candles, and one is the shamash - the "assistant candle" that is used to light the others. On the first night, families place one candle in the Menorah's far right (as you face the Menorah) candle holder. Another candle is placed for the Shamash (helper candle) The structure of the hanukkiah: the shamash is not in a line with the others. It is either above the other eight or off to the side. A menorah in use in the Temple had seven branches.
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MAKE A MENORAH BULLETIN BOARD: Create a classroom or program menorah by using strips of blue construction paper. Place a strip of paper horizontally ________ on the bottom of the board to form the base. Staple a strip that is perpendicular (vertical) to the base and attached at the very center. Next, staple a third strip -the same length as the base - and parallel/horizontal to the base. (This is the top that the candles are attached to)
Write 'Happy' on the top strip-and 'Hanukaah' on the base strip! On each of the eight days, have a child draw in one candle on the menorah. (Or place a pre-made construction paper candle with flame)
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HANUKKAH SNACKS
MAKE AN EDIBLE MENORAH!
Cut a banana in half and slice it down the middle lengthwise.
Have children take 8 pretzel sticls and place them in the banana; the pretzels, which are standing upright are the candles.
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MAKE A FLAT MENORAH
Ingredients:
Bread, pretzel sticks, raisins, cream cheese OR peanutbutter, carrot coins
1. Spread bread with cream cheese or peanut butter.
2. Press carrot coins into the spread for the base of the menorah.
3. Next place pretzel sticks above the carrots for candles and then the raisins as flames.
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LATKES RECIPE
Ingredients: 4 large peeled potatoes, 1/4 cup grated onions, 2 slightly beaten eggs, 2 Tbs. flour, salt and pepper, vegetable oil
1. Grate potatoes and measure 3 cups. Have a chold combine the grated potatoes with the onion, egg, flour andcdash of salt and pepper. Mix gently.
2. Put 1/2" oil in heavy skillet. preheat oil. Drop 1 Tbs. potato mixture into pan for each pancake. Flatten with a spatula. Fry each side until golden.
3. Drain well on paper towels. Makes 24 small pancakes. Serve plain or with applesauce and or sour cream.
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MAKE EDIBLE DREIDELS!
1. On the flat side of a chocolate kiss- attach a mini marshmallow with frosting or peanut butter.
2. Insert a pretzel stick into the mini marshmallow.
3. The children can then spin an edible dreidel! (Or just eat!!!) Be sure you have extra pretzels on hand to munch while making them!
This idea has been brought over from the "former" site After-School-Care.com--however-- since posting it I came across the above photo and activity extension at Nickelodeon. Let the kids use blue icing (shiny icing that comes in a ready-to-draw tube) to carefully write "nun," "gimel," "hay" and "shin" on the sides of the marshmallow. You can see how to make the Hebrew letters at Virtual Chanukah. (If that's too messy--or too much work-- decorate the dreidel with some dots and stripes.
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Don't forget 'Bonza Bottler Day' on December 12!
It's a day just to have a reason to celebrate. So celebrate!!!
This happens each month when the day and date are the same number!
Example: November 11, December 12, January 1, etc.
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ICE-CREAM DAY~ DECEMBER 13TH
1. Serving ice-cream of any kind is fun~ in a cone, dish, or sundae bar! Also, consider the below...
2. ICE-CREAM EATING: No Hands Used!
Give each child a scoop or two of ice-cream in a bowl. Have them sit comfortably at a table ...
The fun is that they keep their hands behind their backs and eat the ice-cream with only their mouths! It's NOT a speed eating contest--Just silly fun!
3. BE SURE TO VIDEO TAPE AND TAKE PICTURES!
Do this at a family party and have Dad's participate
4. I SCREAM FOR ICE-CREAM ~ Pair this up with an ICE-CREAM SOCIAL Teach the kids: "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Divide the group into teams (number of teams depends on number of youth) WHICH TEAM CAN SAY IT THE LOUDEST? Have a third party judge...
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DECEMBER 17 IS NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY! IF YOU HAVE SNOW~ MAKE SOME MAPLE SYRUP SNOW CANDY...(See page bottom)
(NO SNOW? MAKE PANCAKES!)
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FIRST DAY OF WINTER-DECEMBER 21...
START TRADITIONS TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER!
Winter has long been immortalized in art, poetry, and song. For many of us, winter makes us think of frolicking on snowy days and reading by the fire on cold nights-even if we live in a warm place where it never snows!
Brainstorm with your kids about the words and images that come to mind when they think of winter. How do these words and images compare to their own experiences with winter weather?
Have children select and read a picture book about winter. How do the words and images in the book compare to the list they brainstormed and to their own experiences?
As kids read, ask them to look for examples of WINTER ACTIVITIES that the characters do with their families or friends. Were there any winter traditions on the list students brainstormed?
CHALLENGE YOUR STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE WHAT WINTER MEANS TO THEM BY STARTING THEIR OWN TRADITION ON THE FIRST DAY OF WINTER. Have them invite family and friends, to participate in the new tradition. Start some for your program! (Adapted from readwrite think.org)
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WEEK THREE: INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE WEEK
LEARN TO SAY "HELLO" IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
For example:
• Arabic: Marhabah (mar-ha-bah)
• French: Bonjour (bone-joor)
• Hebrew: Shalom (shah-lome)
• Italian: Buon giorno (bone-zhee-or-no)
• Mandarin Chinese: Nea how (nee-how)
• Russian: Priviet (pri-vee-et)
• Spanish: Hola (oh-la)
• Swahili: Jambo (zham-boh)
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LEARN TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES!
Canada--Merry Christmas
USA--Merry Christmas
China--Sheng Dan Kuai Le
France--Joyeux Noel
Finland --Hauskaa Joulua
Denmark--Glaedelig Jul
Spain--Feliz Navidad
Mexico--Feliz Navidad
Sweden--God Jul
Russia--S Rozhdestvom Kristovym
Portugal-- Boas Festas
Japan--Meri Kurisumasu
Italy --Buon Natale
Greece--Kala Christougenna
Belgium--Vrolijke Kerstmis
Poland--Wesolych Swiat
Netherlands--Zalig Derstfeest
Germany--Frohliche Weihnachen
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WEEK THREE: LIPSTICK WEEK
MAKE EDIBLE FRUIT LIP GLOSS
Materials:
Favored drink mix
1 cup vegetable shortening
Food coloring
Small container such as a film container
1. Mix one packet of drink mix with shortening.
2. Add in a few drops of food coloring that matches the flavor. ie: yellow for lemon.
3. Pack in small container, such as a film container, and you have wonderful tasting and smelling lip gloss. Of course the lip gloss is edible should some accidentally be licked off.
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NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY--DECEMBER 17!
SNOW CANDY #1
Ingredients:
2 cups of brown sugar, 3 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup water.
Bring water with other ingredients to a rolling boil.(boil for about 10 minutes)
Have children make a smooth place in clean snow - pour the snow candy on it. You can pour in any desired design or pictures. Don't touch until it has cooled.
IF THE SNOW ON THE GROUND BOTHERS YOU---scoop up some clean snow and place it in a bowl or dish---you can also take the snow inside and make your candy there!
SNOW CANDY #2
If you use real Maple Syrup and boil it the same way, you get an all natural treat that doesn't require any measuring or mixing of ingredients. Fans of Laura Ingall Wilder may remember the author’s vivid descriptions of this candy: It is warm, buttery in flavor, gooey, and delicious when eaten outside while making a snow fort with your daddy.
This idea is also in Winter Inside Fun and Fall/Winter Snack Categories!
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HAVE FUN WITH ALL THE WINTER PAGES!
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