Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004
Dear Kindergarten Families,

We have begun our Christmas around the world unit. Over the next few weeks we will study the Christmas traditions of various countries around the world. The countries we learned about this week are Africa and China. Africa celebrates Kwanzaa. China’s important celebration is the Chinese New Year.

At the theme art center this week students were shown China and Africa on a world map. Like people in China during the holiday season, students made paper chains to put on our classroom tree. Students celebrated Kwanzaa by making a kinara, which is a candle holder with seven candles. A candle is lit for each day of the celebration. They also made a love gift. This is a hand-made necklace that they gave to a member of their group.

At the math center students completed a December calendar. They also put different lengths of string in order and wrote down the measurement.

At the Language and writing center students completed letter Kk books, learned two Kk tongue twisters, practiced writing the letter Kk, drew a picture of something that begins with Kk and wrote a sentence about their drawing.

On the last day of school before Christmas vacation (Dec. 22nd) we do a classroom book exchange. Please purchase a book that can be enjoyed by a boy or a girl, wrap it and put your child’s name on the gift. Please do not spend more than $5.00 on the book. You have book orders that were sent home recently so you can order this from those lists if you wish. You may send in your wrapped book anytime before Dec. 22nd. Also, please be sure to turn in those book orders no later than Monday December 6th.

Visit our website and check out our classroom feast. We made soup and butter all on our own.

We will be participating in a final Philanthropy (doing something for the common good) project. We have a giving tree here at school. Each ornament represents a different child at our school who needs basic articles of clothing. As part of our final project I would like all students to donate whatever amount of money they can so we can buy a child some needed items. I have discussed this project with all the children already. We talked about donating an allowance if they get that each week. We also talked about doing extra chores around the house to earn the money. I would like for your child to earn the money in some way and then donate it for this cause. When you send in the money please specify its purpose on an envelope or bag. Thank-you in advance for helping us provide for a child in need.

Our Christmas program will be held on the evening of December 15th. Girls are being asked to wear dresses and boys are being asked to wear dress shirts and dress pants.

Questions to ask your child this week are the following:

  1. What sound does the letter Kk make?
  2. Can you tell me 3-5 words that begin with the letter Kk?
  3. During the holiday season, how do people living in China decorate their trees? What do they call their trees?
  4. What is the holiday that is celebrated for seven days in Africa? Can you tell me the name of the candle holder that is used to represent each day of this celebration?

Have a great weekend!

Miss Schultz
kschultz@manistee.org

http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us/e2005/kdg/

Main Onekama School Page: http://www.onekama.k12.mi.us