Christmas Around the World - Germany

In order to start our passage around the world for Christmas, we must first start with a Passport and airline tickets.  We will make our own from the ones found here:
http://www.mrsnelsonsclass.com/teacherresources/thematicunits/worldholidays.aspx

For each of our Christmas Around the World units we will be learning/doing/focusing on the following:
1. basic information for that country, the map, the flag, etc. (Day 1)
2. videos (Day 1)
3. Christmas stories/books (Days 1 -5)
4. traditions (Day 1 and 2)
5. the date of gift giving (Day 2)
6. what Santa Claus looks like (Day 2)
7. a typical gift from that country (Day 2)
8. songs (Day 3)
9.  how this country has influenced our own traditions and customs in the USA (Day 3)
10. learning what is the favorite customary decoration for that country (Day 4)
11. do a craft from the country (Day 4)
12. holiday meal - we will make a Christmas treat (Day 5)
13. extra

Christmas Around the World - Germany

For each of our Christmas Around the World units we will be learning/doing/focusing on the following:

1. basic information for that country, the map, the flag, etc. (Day 1)

Map of Germany
Flag of Germany coloring page
labeled map of Germany and surrounding countries


2. videos (Day 1)
 Christmas in Germany video of images
German traditions in a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQfpf-7sqgU
The Nutcracker - even though this is Russian, it highlights nutcrackers, a great tradition in Germany


3. Christmas stories/books (Days 1 - 5)
 Cobweb Christmas
Gingerbread Boy (to introduce gingerbread) on-line version of the book
The Elves and the Shoemaker


4. traditions (Day 1 and 2)
  * Advent Calendar
  * Advent Wreath
  * Christmas Markets
  * Saint Nicholas (Sankt Nikolaus)
  * Christmas Tree (Der Tannenbaum)
  * Three Kings
 
German Christmas traditions
German advent wreath: http://german.about.com/library/definitions/bldef_cmas0323.htm
History of the Christmas Tree
German Christmas Traditions, including Silent Night & Christmas Dinner
More Traditions
German traditions From the North Pole - http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/germany.html
Great explanation of the 3 kings:
Lot so great information and links: here This is an amazing site with fabulous links!
here more great tidbits

 5. the date of gift giving (Day 2)
 
In Germany, the 6th of December is a special day:
 According to legend, on Christmas Eve in Germany rivers turn to wine, animals speak to each other, tree blossoms bear fruit, mountains open up to reveal precious gems, and church bells can be heard ringing from the bottom of the sea. Of course, only the pure in heart can witness this Christmas magic. All others must content themselves with traditional German celebrating, of which there is plenty. As a matter of fact, there is so much celebrating that is has to begin on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day.  from here

...There's a special tradition all over Germany on December 6th. [On] the evening of December 5th you put your cleaned (big) boots outside the house in front of the door (or inside). Some people also put a plate there or on the windowsill. The bread in the plate is for the white horse of Santa Claus ... In the morning you see that Santa Claus really was at your house and put nice things into the boots or plates, e.g., all kinds of nuts, oranges, apples, sweets, chocolate, small presents ... But if you [weren't] well behaved the whole year you only get a switch so that your parents can punish you, but they don't!
Kristine and Wiebke, Germany
from: here
 

6. what Santa Claus looks like (Day 2)

 Who is Santa Claus in other countries


7. a typical gift from that country (Day 2)
 


8. songs (Day 3)
 
O Tannenbaum http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/o050.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPxCHi4mLYAHere is the history of the song, Silent Night
9.  how this country has influenced our own traditions and customs in the USA (Day 3)

 comparison between USA Christmas and German Christmas here


 10. learning what is the favorite customary decoration for that country (Day 4)
 
 "Prior to the evening feast, is the presentation of the tree. The Christmas tree, as we know it, originated in Germany. It has a mysterious magic for the young because they are not allowed to see it until Christmas Eve. While the children are occupied with another room (usually by Father) Mother brings out the Christmas tree and decorates it with apples, candy, nuts, cookies, cars, trains, angels, tinsel, family treasures and candles or lights. The presents are placed under the tree. Somewhere, close to the bright display are laid brilliantly decorated plates for each family member, loaded with fruits, nuts, marzipan, chocolate and biscuits. When all is ready a bell is rung as a signal for the children to enter this Christmas fantasy room. Carols are sung, sometimes sparklers are lit, the Christmas story is read and gifts are opened...The custom of trimming and lighting a Christmas tree had its origin in pre-Christian Germany, the tree symbolizing the Garden of Eden. It was called the "Paradise Baum," or tree of Paradise. Gradually, the custom of decorating the tree with cookies, fruit and eventually candles evolved. Other countries soon adapted the custom. Charles Dickens called it "The Pretty German Toy."
  from here (there are more traditions here as well)


 11. do a craft from the country (Day 4)
 
German Christmas Star http://www.craftideas.info/html/german_paper_star.html


12. holiday meal - we will make a Christmas treat (Day 5)
 
bratwurst (not traditional Christmas meal, but a German food that my children will eat!)
gingerbread cookies recipe
resource for German recipes http://www.germanfoods.org/consumer/recipes/recipes.cfm
13.  extra -

 Jan Brett's Interactive game to decorate a gingerbread man

To view in season:

The German Christmas market: here

German Advent calendar with a German information daily: here

 Extra Resources:
 http://www.myfreshplans.com/2010-12/christmas-around-the-world-lesson-plans-germany/

Menu Plan

After a month of "abnormal" schedules, I think I am finally ready to tap back into doing a menu plan.  It has been a very long two months, with lots of ups and downs.  We celebrated scouts, graduation, and I went on two small trips.  Then, my dad was in the hospital for a month prior to him dying in the hospital.  We then had his funeral and the stress that follows.  Friends brought us meals for a week, and I am now ready to "do it on my own again".  My oldest son will be gone for 12 days, and we are picking up a side of beef and hog meat tomorrow, so our freezer will be stocked full again.  Already, as soon as my children heard that I am picking up the side of beef, they have requested to have cube steak, a family favorite (which my kids can make on their own now).

Wednesday - chicken caesar salad

Thursday - cubed steak, mashed potatos

Friday - beef stroganoff, butter noodles, corn, carrots

Saturday - (will be in St. Louis most of the day) breakfast for dinner

Sunday - enchiladas

Monday - chicken fried rice

Tuesday - spaghetti

Wednesday - 4th of July, homemade ice cream, cheeseburgers

Thursday - pork chops

Friday - meat loaf

Saturday - bubble taco bake

Sunday - pizza

Hairbow Holder

I found this great tutorial for making a hair bow holder!  Check it out at: Embroitique.Com

Menu Plan

Menu Plan - June 11 - 23, 2012


Breakfast - (each week)

Baked Oatmeal with blueberries and apples
Cereal, banana
Scrambled Eggs x 2
Blueberry Muffins or Banana Bread and yogurt
Bacon and Eggs
French Toast, banana


Lunch -

hot dogs, corn, pears
calzones, apples x 2
sandwiches, chips
chicken quesadillas, carrots and celery sticks
chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, pineapple
leftovers
grilled chicken, salad
ham salad sandwiches, strawberries
italian sandwiches, grapes
cheeseburgers - grilled, salad
BBQ pork sandwiches


Dinner -

pork chops, applesauce, mashed potatoes
lasagna
sweet n sour brisket, butter noodles
breakfast skillet meals
steak quesadillas, corn on the cob, sweet potato fries
ham, cheesy potatoes, glazed carrots
beef stroganoff, green beans, noodles, applesauce
enchiladas, spanish rice, corn
pizza
cheeseburgers
chicken stir fry
spaghetti
chicken caesar salad
leftovers/sandwiches
taco night

Movie - The Muppets Lesson Plans

what the Muppets teaches

Use The Muppets to introduce and incorporate Project Based Learning.  We do this often, planning for Walt Disney World.  I think we will use this movie to further work for this concept and set up more for Walt Disney World.  Here is a link for the Muppets and Project Based Learning:  Muppets - Project Based Learning
Here is a link as to some important fund raising concepts introduced in The Muppet Movie Fund Raising

Foods/Cooking:
Day 1 - Kermit Head Apple and Dip
Day 2 - Fozzie cookies  (all of the ideas for days 2 -5 are from the following blog: Alicia Policia) or Rainbow Connection Sundaes Rainbow Connection Sundaes
Day 3 - Fruit Kabobs for Over the Rainbow
Day 4 - Scooter shaped Cheese Balls - make ours into Chocolate Chip Cookie dough - Scooter will just have freckles!  (let me know if you would like the recipe - it is delicious, and easy!)
Day 5 - Pigs in a Blanket and Swedish Chef Meatballs

Crafts -
Day 1 - Finger Puppets: Kermit and Fozzie Finger Puppets - Alicia Policia
Day 2 - Miss Piggy's Glam Mirror Glam Mirror
Day 3 - Make a muppet out of old socks or a paper puppet (with lesson plans) paper puppet - marionette
Day 4 - Muppet Charms Muppet Charms Printable
Day 5 - Kermit Cup Cozies Cup Cozies


Science Experiments
Prisms - Making a rainbow
Beaker the Muppet - Watch video She Blinded Me with Science
Hot Air Balloons


Character Development:
Perserverance
Team Work
Loyalty
Kindness
Big Dreams
Reconciliation


Social Studies/Unit Extensions:
Hollywood
Marionettes
Amphibians - Hands of a Child ebook/lapbook, Herpetology
How to Make a Movie

Use Your Imagination

If you were going out to dinner and you could invite one costume character to go with you, which one would you like to go out with you? 
My answer is Stitch - I would just hope we didn't get kicked out of the restaurant!

Use Your Imagination

In prepartion for our trips, I make a question everyday to ask my children.  It is a question which requires them to use their imagination!

Today's question:  If you could have the Fairy Godmother make one of your dreams come true, what would that dream be?

What would be your answer?

Menu Plan

I do my menu plan in 2 week intervals since my husband gets paid every two weeks.  This menu will be slightly different than normal since my oldest son and I will be gone for 5 days.  We also have his graduation and graduation party.  However, I still have to set the menu to last while I am gone.   We are also very heavily in the baseball/softball season and I am also working a great deal.

Every year, I purchase a side of beef  and a whole hog.  We are currently out of hamburger, bacon, and sausage.  Additionally, we are trying to clear out some meat from our freezer since the meet will be ready around the 4th of July (and we are currently almost out).

Additionally,  we have a family pizza party every Sunday night that we are home where we watch a movie - my children love this tradition and feel lost if we do not do it.  There are some great family movies!!

For breakfasts, we will have:
cereal
french toast
pancakes
omelets
baked oatmeal
muffins - I will freeze muffins for the kids to pull out while I am gone the second week.
smoothies

For lunches, we will wing it the first week, but I have planned simple food for the second week while I am gone.
I will make some ham salad.

Saturday - going to a 50th birthday party.  Kids will eat leftovers, etc

Sunday -  going to a graduation party

Monday -  beef stroganoff in the crockpot, noodles, vegetable, salad

Tuesday -  pork chops, mashed potatoes, carrots, salad

Wednesday -  scout picnic, all are invited.  Taking a dish - cold pasta salad

Thursday -  breakfast for dinner - egg scrambles, fruit salad

Friday -  Graduation Party: pulled pork; cole slaw; pasta salad; baked beans; corn

Saturday -  left overs

Sunday -  Graduation - homemade pizza

Monday -  chicken stir fry

Tuesday -  (I'm gone)  lunch will be calzones; dinner will be tacos

Wednesday -  (I'm gone)  lunch will be fish sticks; dinner will be Chicken caesar salads

Thursday -  (I'm gone)  lunch will be chicken nuggets (frozen); dinner will be Chicken tenders from Sams

Friday -  (I'm gone)  Kids are spending the night at grandma's house.

Saturday - (I return)

Movie - Tink/Peter Pan Lesson Plans Resources

To begin the week, the first thing I will do will be to print out coloring book pages and activity sheets that my children can work on independently throughout the week.  Here are some links to print out activity sheets and coloring book pages: 

Coloring book pages 
coloring book pages
activity sheets
activity sheets (look at the left column)


Games for the week:  (There are 3 games)
Party Games

Crafts:
Day 1:  Fairies in a Jar
Day 2: Bird Feeder
Day 3: Build a Fairy House.  Look here and here for inspiration.
Day 4: Make garden party lights for our snack on day 5: Garden Party Lights  Also, make a Tinkerbell to hang up using a coffee filter and clothespin: Tink
Day 5: Decorate our houses with pinwheels: Vidia's Wind Wheel

Snacks:
From the same website as I used in the link above for the Tink made with a coffeee filter and clothespin, they posted these ideas for food:
Serve up as an appetizer; tasty fairy wands for the kids to snack on. These are easy to make by just dipping some large pretzel sticks in white chocolate or dark chocolate and giving them a good coating of sprinkles. The main course for your Tinkerbell party can be Tink’s Magic Pizza, a homemade pizza with magically colored dough. A few drops of blue or red food coloring when you are mixing up the pizza dough should be good enough. Make the magic pizza even more special by giving it a stuffed crust using mozzarella string cheese. Dessert is Tinkerbell’s Honeydew and Blueberry Ambrosia for everyone to enjoy. In addition, we will serve up Tink's trail mix:  Trail Mix  (I will make this up at the beginning of the week and it will be our snack as we go through the unit.)

We will be reading the book, Peter Pan.  You can purchase the book from Amazon Peter Pan and the follow up book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (the kindle version is free right now). 

I teach my children by using unit studies.  Here are two lesson plans aready done for Peter Pan.  The first one, Lesson plans by Chapter  has journal writing, etc., to be used chapter by chapter.  I will use this one as we read the book.  The second one, Unit Study is pulling more ideas out and expanding on them.  I really like both approaches since we need to work on both areas.  Therefore, I will combine the two.  (and I can access both of these for free)

There are several other concepts which can be pulled out of Peter Pan and are worth exploring in this unit:

Simple Machines

Shadows

England

Crocodiles

Leadership

Map Skills

Rotation of the Earth

Division of Labor - It takes a Village

Nurse Maids - History lessons

I will update this post as we begin working to incorporate the above concepts into our plans.  Really, this lesson could go on for a month, easily!

Movies to Study for Our Trip to WDW

I just compiled our list of movies we will study before we go to WDW. We are currently a little over 200 days out, and I figure we will take one week off. Otherwise, we will watch one movie a week and do lesson plans around that movie.

Here is our list:
* Tink
* Muppets
* Brave
* Honey I Shrunk the Kids
* Star Wars
* Indiana Jones - Raiders of the Lost Ark
* Alice in Wonderland
* Aladdin
* Nightmare Before Christmas
* Cinderella
* Beauty and the Beast
* Avatar
* Lilo and Stitch
* Swiss Family Robinson
* Tangled
* Fantasia
* Toy Story
* Little Mermaid
* Bug's Life
* Lion King
* Pocohontas
* Finding Nemo
* Michael Jackson - This is it.
* Pirates of the Caribbean
* Winnie the Pooh


There are more that could be used, but this is the best list for my family, with children ages 5, 8, and 9. I will post the lesson plans for each movie as well so check back!

Planning Time Line for Our Trip

Our Disney preparation: Now - heavy into making and saving money to make sure we have enough to go! Craigslist/ebay/etsy/card making are all a top priority! We are setting up our couponing binder and getting that organized! Whew! What a job! The focus now is getting this all organized so I have a plan in place as we proceed through the months. I am also going to start some of the survey companies! Another big part is meal planning for home right now. This helps us save tons of money by being prepared. When I stay on top of our meals, everything runs much smoother but this incorporating time for couponing has geared me off my meal plans for awhile! Also, we are starting to work our curriculum around WDW. Meaning, we are learning about safari animals, countries we will see in Epcot, ocean animals (Nemo), etc. It really is quite fun! At 7 months out, we start conditioning and will continue until the day we leave. My kids will have to walk, I can't push a double stroller. At 7 months out, we will also plan our itinerary. The unofficial guide is a lot of help! I bought park hopper tickets, but I'm not sure I will keep that option. I really think one park a day is enough, but we'll see how the itinerary is shaping up. 6 months prior to vacation, 6/6/12, make dining reservations! Since we are doing Deluxe Dining (we do this since I am the only adult and my kids are still little. It gives us a rest time during the day. We did it the last time we went and it was worth every dollar! Our best memories are from the dining experiences! Prince Charming kissed my 3yo's hand. Oh, my. Chip and Pluto got into an argument at our table. Princess Aurora made my daughter feel like she was the princess of WDW!) At 6 months out, we will also start watching Disney movies. We watch a movie as a family every Sunday night, termed Popcorn/Pizza/Movie party. My kids live for Sundays! So, we will turn to Disney on Sunday nights. we will also order another set of maps from Disney so we can mark all places we intend to go. At 6 months out, we will start our paper chain. We will use our Cricut to cut Mickey Mouse heads. A large red head will be for every 10th chain, a smaller white head will be for every 2nd chain to count by 2's. The colors will be red, black, and white, giving each child a color to remove. (and I don't have to remember which child took down a link the day before.) At 5 months out, we will start making clothing and pajamas. I have a Disney embroidery machine, so we will embellish t'shirts as well as make some shorts, shirts, and skirts. We will also make t'shirts with appliques. (This will be in the summer months while our school will be slower and I will have more time.) At 3 months out, we will start to pack. Yes, pack. Since we will have an alternate wardrobe for the trip, we can pack it safely away. At 2 months out, we will make our cards for the characters. Super fun! We will also make our "special" autograph book, for those signatures we want to have in a separate book. Last time, my oldest daughter had the princesses sign two books, her regular book and her special book. The special book held only princess signatures. We will also order a special book from Kristina's Disney Designs from facebook. It will be an Epcot passport book. At 1 month out I will host a special card making class of cards I design around WDW themes. This class is for my stampin' friends and is a lot of fun! they enjoyed it last time. At 2 weeks out, my kids and I will host a small party with family and friends with a WDW theme. They really look forward to sharing the enthusiasm. And, who doesn't enjoy a little party for no reason at all but to have fun? At 1 week out my kids will pack their bags they will take on the plane as an under the seat bag. We will check batteries for leapsters, camera, etc. We will make sure we will have some disposable cameras for each child to use to take their own pictures at dinners, etc. We will also make sure that my husband and oldest son have plenty of food for while we are gone, etc.