Family Natters

“Do we still have to pay those men money?” Tom asked today as I was tucking him in bed.

“What men?”

“You know… for the lights and the water.”

It took me a few moments to realise he was asking about paying the bills.

How have your kids made you smile today?

If you are stuck for a novel idea for a Christmas card for KS1 kids, and have been learning about electricity in science, why not consider this snowman card.

The snowman himself is simply A4 paper cut by an adult as per the shape.  The child then writes his or her message inside before it is laminated and a hole made for the nose.

The child then glues on materials for eyes, a scarf and buttons then connects the lamp and electrical circuit shown.

FS1 and FS2 children  can enjoy this creative activity that also helps to develop fine motor skills.  The face is simply a paper plate while the beard and hat fur is cotton wool.  If children have been learning about shapes, they can cut out triangles for the hat and nose, and make the nose, hat bobble and eyes out of circles.

Treat the kids this Christmas by following making this kids Christmas recipe.

Ingredients

• shop-bought marshmellow covered in chcolate buns
• bag of maltesers
• bag of large chocolate buttons
• icing ‘pen’
• small bag of sweet jellies
• appropriate scarf sweet (could be a longer one cut down to size)

Method

• Melt some of the chocolate buttons by putting them in a bowl, then putting the bowl in hot water
• Use this melted chocolate to secure a jelly sweet and large chocolate button on to a malterser (to make a head with a hat on) then secure this on to a marshmellow bun body
• wrap a sweetscarf round the snowman’s neck
• using the icing pen to add buttons and facial features

‘We haven’t heard anything about James lately,’ Amelia’s mummy said to me in an email today.  ‘Does that mean he’s been on his best behaviour?’

Well, Amelia’s mummy, I’m afraid to say he hasn’t.  He has been behaving exactly like he always does.  Let me give you an example of what he did last Sunday.

There was no bread to make sandwiches for Tom’s packup so I said I’d pop to the little shop at the end of our road for some.  At this James was in such a rush to get up from the armchair where he’d been watching rugby, that he got his feet caught up in the pouffe and fell over. 

‘I’ll pop for it,’ he said.  ‘You sit down.’ 

I should have known he was up to something.  Over three hours later he stumbled through the door clutching a loaf that looked like it had been sat on repeatedly by an extremely heavy person.

‘There you go,’ he slurred, throwing the bread towards where I was cooking tea.  ‘Don’t say I don’t do anything.’

Then he staggered into the living room and managed to fall over the Christmas tree even though it was in a corner.  Then instead of getting up and putting it right, he just fell asleep underneath it.

‘He’s broken my chocolate Santa!’ Tom wailed.  ‘And the angel’s head’s come off.’

As you can imagine it took me a while to sort it all out.  By the time I returned to the kitchen there was an acrid smell coming from near the cooker.  The bread that James had thrown down had landed on a red-hot hob and the plastic bag had melted and bubbled all over.  By then the corner shop was closed, so poor Tom had to make do with a sandwich that was more like a small piece of toast the next day.  And the worse thing was that when James woke up the next day he remembered none of what he’d done and was affronted we weren’t more grateful that he’d fetched the bread.

So, Amelia’ mummy, I think you’ll agree that he’s changed very little over the last few weeks.  But, I suppose there’s always hope…

The Christmas Alphabet is a wonderful Christmas song for Foundation Stage and KS1 Children.  Children can be assigned letters to paint with which to decorate the classroom, and the song can be sung at the Christmas show.

The lyrics are:

C is for the candy trimmed around the Christmas tree

H is for the happiness for all the family

R is for the reindeer prancing by the window pane

I is for the icing on the cake, as sweet as sugar cane

S is for the stockings upon the chimney wall

T is for the toys beneath the tree so tall.

M is for the miseltoe where everyone is kissed

A is for the angels  that makes up the Christmas list

S is for old Santa who makes every kid his pet

Be good and he’ll bring you everything in the Christ-mas - Alph-abet!

Diddly dom-dom, dom-dom

The nursery rhyme, When Santa got stuck up the Chimney, has long been a favourite with Foundation and KS1 children:

When Santa got stuck up the chimney

he began to shout

“You girls and boys won’t get any toys

if you don’t let me out!

My beard is black,

there’s soot in my sack,

my nose is tickly too.”

When Santa got stuck up the chimney,

A-choo!  A-choo!  A-choo!

This Christingle lesson plan is suitable for both KS1 and KS2 children and provides a natural link to RE and our local community.  It includes how to make a Christingle and the Christingle story.

Aim: to know the meaning of Christingle

•  Tell the story of Christingle, that in 1747 the German Pastor John was one evening trying to think how to explain to children what Christmas means.  Ask the children for their ideas, perhap using response partners.  Then explain Pastor John hit on the idea of giving each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, and then saying the prayer:”Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children’s hearts”.  This custom was so successful that it has spread to more and more churches each year.
• Demonstrate how to make a Christingle while at the same time asking the children what they think the various parts might symbolise.  You will need an orange and candle for each child, a reel of narrow, plain red ribbon, cocktail sticks and a bag of dolly mixtures. 
• Explain the red ribbon represents the blood of Jesus and his sacrifice, the orange and dolly mixtures) symbolise the fruits of the earth and the four seasons while the lighted candle is Christ, the light of the world.
• in pairs have the children make their own Christingle.  Obviously smaller children will need help and cautions regarding not eating the sweets and the dangers of the cocktail sticks.
• ask for volunteers to show their Christingles and explain what the parts mean
• if possible attend a candlelit service in the local community, or alternatively turn the lights off and recite the above prayer, making sure the children are first aware of the rules with regard lighted candles and the behaviour you expect during a service

If you are a fan of Orson Bright Ideas or Culture Vultures albums, and would like Orson concert tickets, why not consider seeing them in a small venue during their UK tour. 

I saw them at Leeds Met last night where the audience must have been less than 400.  Even though I was over half an hour late, I were still able to stand at the first barrier so was only 2 metres away from the stage!  And because it wasn’t packed out, there was no pushing and shoving, and the band were able to accomodate the audience’s wishes better.  For example, when I waved him over, Jason Pebworth kindly moved to sing directly in front of me so I could take a photo.   Similarly, Johnny Lonely’s  sudden grimaces, bounces, hops at such close range kept me entertained (and on my guard) all night. 

Well done, boys!  No Tomorrow is fantastic.

Teddy bear, teddy bear, dance on your toes
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch your nose
Teddy bear, teddy bear, stand on your head
Teddy bear, teddy bear, go to bed
(Shhh! with finger to lips)

This nursery rhyme should be sang whilst moving a teddy bear through the actions.
It helps children:
- associate sounds with actions
- learn action words
- listen and concentrate

Variations include substituting teddy for say, Katie Doll.