Teaching Theme: Christmas
2008-12-05
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
One of my favorite teaching units is Christmas. Well, okay Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Christmas is an excellent time to use interdisciplinary and cross curricula lessons.
Art and Music
3-D Christmas BellInstructions for making 3D Christmas bell ornamentsMore
Holiday RugThis is great art project for kids to do. It takes some one on one timeMore
Bible
Advent CalanderFree daily Advent guide prepared by Baptist Way Press.Read More
Celebrate Who He is this Christmas Season
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. More …
Christmas Reflection. Recently, I have read several sources questioning the authenticity of the Nativity narrative. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has recently questioned the traditional Nativity narrative portrayed in Christmas plays, Christmas cards and various Nativity scenes. Are the traditions associated with the Nativity true? More ..
True Meaning of Christmas Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Although many of the traditions associated with Christmas and even the day on which is celebrated have pagan origins. More…
Language Arts
Christmas Journal IdeasListing of several Christmas journal starters. More …
Snowy Day Lesson IdeaI will present this book by simply showing the cover to the students. Based on the title of the book and the cover illustration, I will ask students what they think this book might be about. After the children have shared their ideas, I will read the...
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National Cookie Day
2008-12-03
Cooking is a great practical teaching tool. It can be used to reinforce reading and math skills, following directions and life skills. In honor of National Cookie Day tomorrow I am posting one of my favorite cookie recipes.
Grannies Oatmeal Cookies
½ C soft shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C sifted flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 C raisins
2 C oatmeal
2 T milk
½ tsp soda
¼ tsp Nutmeg
- Mix all ingredients.
- Drop with a spoon on a slightly greased baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
History of Christmas
2008-12-01
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Although many of the traditions associated with Christmas and even the day on which is celebrated have pagan origins.
Most likely Christ was not born on December 25th. The weather conditions at that time of the year would have made it unlikely Mary & Joseph would have been able to spend the night in the stable. The stable was not like the barns we think of today but rather a cave or other crude structure. December 25th comes from pagan winter festivals and was an attempt by the church to Christianize pagan customs.
The arrival of the Magi did not occur on the night of Christ's birth. The Magi did not arrive until approximately two years after the birth of Christ. That is why in Matthew's account of Christ, King Herod had all of the boys under the age of two killed.
Knowing the actual date of Christ's birth is not as crucial as understan...
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December Theme Ideas
2008-11-28
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
Holidays/Special Days and Birthdays
Nov 30: 1st Sunday of Advent
Dec 1: In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man.
Dec 3: The first successful heart transplant was conducted Dec 3, 1967.
Dec 4: National Cookie Day
Dec 5: Walt Disney born 1901
Dec 6: 13th Amendment passed 1865
Dec 7: 2nd Sunday of Advent
Dec 8: National Brownie Day
Dec 10: Human Rig...
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Mexico: Homeschooling Ministry Gives Hope to Families
2008-11-26
In September of 2008, ten international homeschool leaders joined HSLDA’s annual National Homeschool Leadership Conference. The following is taken from Mike Richardson’s presentation at the conference and describes his family’s ministry though Vida Nueva Ministries.
From Candidate for State Legislature to Homeschool Dad
In the mid-1980s, Mike Richardson ran for the Georgia House of Representatives. During his campaign, a small group of homeschool families invited him to speak to them. Through that contact, Mike became close friends with Daniel, a local high school teacher and homeschool father. Daniel and his family had a tremendous impact on the Richardsons. It was through Daniel’s teachings, as well as his example in daily life, that Mike and his wife Pam decided to begin homeschooling their three children in 1986. (Seven of the Richardsons’ ten children are still at home.)
Mike credits Daniel for his accomplishments in the Spanish-...
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Washington Times Op-ed—Testing Proves Success of Graduates
2008-11-24
by J. Michael Smith, HSLDA President
From the beginning of the re-emergence of homeschooling in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the strongest criticism of homeschooling was that untrained, noncredentialed parents could not provide the quality of instruction needed to match the education provided in public and private schools. To address this criticism, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) commissioned several studies to compare how homeschoolers score on standardized achievement tests compared to their public and private school counterparts.
The results of those tests demonstrated that on average, homeschooled children regularly outperformed their peers. These test results had a significant impact on the growth of homeschooling. First, state legislators were convinced that homeschooling parents could provide a high level of education, and they passed laws that recognized the right to homeschool. Additionally, many parents who were conte...
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Teaching Resource: This Week in Rap
2008-11-21
By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div
This Week In Rap is a new on-line resource by Flocabulary that presents the weeks current events in a rap format. All lyrics are “classroom safe”. It is an interesting approach to teaching current events.
Flocabulary offers language high interest material for the struggling reader on the secondary level. They offer materials for language arts, social studies, science and math. Math rap written on a 2nd to 5th grade level teaches basic facts.
Founded by Blake Harrison and Alex Rappaport in 2004 Flocabulary offers a unique multimedia resource for teaching secondary students. Harrison, creative director, uses his experience to create an educational tool that seeks to engage students in a relevant manner. Rappaport is the CEO and runs the business side of Flocabulary.
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