Once Upon a Book ~ My Christmas Gift

My Christmas Gift

by Crystal Bowman

Summary: Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? The Bible explains it--the answer is clear. Young children will discover the most important gift of all through charming rhyme and meaningful pictures.

Daily Activities

Supplies needed: Plain wrapping paper or butcher paper, paint, cookie cutters and sponges, gift bows and 2 small boxes.

Dec 14: Homemade Wrapping Paper

Buy some solid colored wrapping paper, get out the cookie cutters, paint, stickers and let your LO create your holiday wrapping paper!

Dec 15: Sorting fun

Gather some holiday gift tags and have your LO sort them by size, color, theme etc...

Dec 16: My gift for Jesus

Have your LO decorate a heart. Place the heart in a box and wrap with homemade wrapping paper and label it (LO's name) Gift to Jesus Hang it on the tree.

Dec 17: Pass the Gift Game

Wrap a small box and play 'pass the gift' just like the hot potato game.

Dec 18: Gift Ornament

Hang your Gift For Jesus gift on the tree.

Bible Memory

December’s Bible Verse: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

This weeks part for LO's to memorize: ‘For there is born to you this day in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord.’

Song Time

Baby Jesus Song

To the tune of "Are you Sleeping Brother John"

Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus, (cup and rock your arms)
Born to us, Born to us,
You came to save us, You came to save us, (raise hands to heaven)
Amen, Amen. (prayerful hands)

Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus, (cup and rock your arms)
We love you, We love you. (hug yourself)
We’re going to heaven, going to heaven, (point upwards)
Thank you, Thank you. (prayerful hands)

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage! For the December activity schedule, please click here.

Once Upon a Book ~ A Star for Jesus

A Star for Jesus

by Crystal Bowman

Summary: A little girl looks into the sky at a bright Christmas star, and thinks about the first Christmas in this beautiful book die cut into the shape of a star.

Daily Activities

{click on the craft title for full directions}

Supplies needed: salt, flour, water, star cookie cutter, paint, clothespins, posterboard, cinnamon, sugar and tortillas.

Dec 7: Salt Dough Stars

Dec 8: Clothespin Star game

Make a poster board star and have you LO clip a clothespin on each point.

Dec 9: Count the Star

Make a poster board star. Have your LO count the points and write the number and also the number word in the center of the star.

Dec 10: I'm a Star Ornament

Make a poster board star. Have your LO decorate it and put their picture in the middle of the star.

Dec 11: Cinnamon and Sugar Stars

Use a cookie cutter to cut out stars then follow the directions to make cinnamon sugar stars.

Bible Memory

December’s Bible Verse: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

This weeks part for LO's to memorize: ‘for there is born to you this day in the city of David’

Song Time

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Christmas

Sung to: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Twinkle, twinkle little star

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the manger so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

Guiding the wisemen on their way,

To where Baby Jesus lay.

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage! For the December activity schedule, please click here.

Once Upon a Book ~ Jesus, Me and My Christmas Tree

Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree
by Crystal Bowman

Summary: Little ones can't wait to put up the Christmas tree -- a clear sign of exciting things to come. But what's the meaning of this holiday tradition? Learn the symbolic meaning of the Christmas tree, from lights and ornaments and the star on top to the blessing of presents underneath.

Daily Activities

{click on the craft title for full directions}

Supplies needed: green paint, white or cream construction paper, green construction paper, star stickers, sugar cones, green frosting, and sprinkles.

Dec 1: Christmas Tree Handprint craft

Dec 2 Christmas Tree Mobile

Dec 3: Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Dec 4: Sugar Cone Christmas Tree

Bible Memory

December’s Bible Verse: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

This weeks part for LO's to memorize: ‘for there is born to you’

Song Time

The Lights on the Tree
Sung to: "The Wheels on the Bus"

The lights on the tree go blink, blink, blink,
Blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink.
The lights on the tree go blink, blink, blink
All Christmas Day.

Other Verses:

The presents at the house go rattle, rattle, rattle, etc.
The mom at the house goes bake, bake, bake, etc.
The dad at the house goes snore, snore, snore, etc.
The grandma at the house goes hug, hug, hug, etc.
The grandpa at the house goes kiss, kiss, kiss, etc.

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage! For the December activity schedule, please click here.

Once Upon a Book ~ Christmas Activities

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

During the month of December we have some great ideas in store for you to do with your little one ~ every day of the week! The activities will be posted the Thursday before the week begins, so you have a few days to prepare for the following week.

In case you would like to check through your supplies and round up anything that you don't have on hand, here is the list of what you will need to do the activities along with the books we'll be using.

Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree
by Crystal Bowman

Supplies needed: green paint, white or cream construction paper, green construction paper, star stickers, sugar cones, green frosting, and sprinkles.

Dec 1: Handprint Christmas Tree

Dec 2: Christmas Tree Mobile

Dec 3: Christmas Tree Ornament

Dec 4: Edible Christmas Tree

A Star for Jesus
by Crystal Bowman

Supplies needed: salt, flour, water, star cookie cutter, paint, clothespins, posterboard, cinnamon, sugar and tortillas

Dec 7: Salt Dough Stars

Dec 8: Clothespin Star game

Dec 9: Count the Star

Dec 10: I'm a Star Ornament

Dec 11: Cinnamon and Sugar Stars

My Christmas Gift
by Crystal Bowman

Supplies needed: plain wrapping paper or butcher paper, paint, cookie cutters and sponges, gift bows and 2 small boxes

Dec 14: Homemade Wrapping Paper

Dec 15: Sorting fun

Dec 16: My gift for Jesus

Dec 17: Pass the Gift Game

Dec 18: Gift Ornament

Happy Birthday, Jesus
by Kim Mitzo Thompson

Supplies needed: plain wrapping paper, markers and crayons, white/cream construction paper, flour, salt, water, peppermint extract, cake mix, frosting and decorations.

Dec 21: Birthday Banner

Dec 22: Candy Cane J ornament

Dec 23: Candy Cane Playdoh

Dec 24: Make and Decorate a Birthday Cake

Dec 25: Sing Happy Birthday

Once Upon a Book ~ I Love My Family

I Love My Family
by Mark S. Bernthal

Summary: The Baxters love BOZ. He's like family to them. They teach him new things. They invite him to play. BOZ is part of God's family too. And God loves BOZ.

November's Bible Verse

During the month of November we will be learning parts of this verse each week so that by Thanksgiving time your little one will be able to say the whole verse!

"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting." Psalm 106:1

This weeks' verse segment: "Praise the LORD!" and add: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."

Family Memory

Get out the photos, some card stock and make up a memory game for your LO's to play.

Family Memories

Start a family memories scrapbook and journal. Take pictures and write memories of all your adventures as a family.

Family Tree

Print out this adorable Bear Family Tree and make your own to add to the Family Memories book.

Song Time
from DLTK site

(sing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell")

Some families are big. (spread arms out wide)

Some families are small (bring arms close together)

But God made our families (point up in the air) one and all!

Some families are big. (spread arms out wide)

Some families are small (bring arms close together)

But God loves our families (cross arms over chest) one and all!

Some families are big. (spread arms out wide)

Some families are small (bring arms close together)

But God keeps our families (cup hands in front) one and all!

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Once Upon a Book ~ Give Thanks to the Lord

Give Thanks to the Lord : Celebrating Psalm 92
by Karma Wilson

Summary: Give Thanks to the Lord celebrates joy of all kinds, from the arrival of distant relatives to a cozy house already filled with merriment, to apple cider and the delicious smells of roasting turkey and baking pies.

November's Bible Verse

During the month of November we will be learning parts of this verse each week so that by Thanksgiving time your little one will be able to say the whole verse!

"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His loving kindness is everlasting." Psalm 106:1

This weeks' verse segment: "Praise the LORD!"

Thankful Jar

Get a jar and decorate it. add a slip of paper with something each member is thankful for (you can do this daily or weekly) and read them all on thanksgiving day.'

Nursing Home Visit

Bake some treats and take them to a Nursing Home with your kids they love seeing kids and getting visitors. Call ahead to make sure its ok!

Song Time

We are Thankful
(to the tune of "Are You Sleeping")

We are thankful, we are thankful,
For our food, for our food.
And our many blessings,
And our many blessings,
Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord.

(Author Unknown)

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Now I Know My ABC's ~ Great Sites

This week marks Shannon's last post for Now I Know My ABC's. She will still be posting for Once Upon A Book through the end of December. Thanks so much Shannon for all the hard work that you've put into Totally Tots for this post!

Stay tuned because starting next week Now I Know My ABC's will begin featuring some fun alphabet crafts for you to do with your little one! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done.

Here are some great blogs and sites to help you develop a wonderful alphabet curriculum to use with your little one.


SITES

Preschool Express: Alphabet Station

Hummingbird Educational: ABC's

Carl's Corner: Alphabet


BLOGS

Confessions of A Homeschooler ~ Erica has some awesome pintables and letter activities

Our Crafts N Things ~ she does some neat Letter of the Week posts

No Time For Flashcards ~ Lower case and Upper case letter crafts

Home Grown Hearts ~ She does some great activities and has tons of printables

ABC and 123 ~ A great collection of some letters activities from around the blog world

Homeschool Creations ~ Craft ideas, printables and letter of the week ideas

Sunflower Schoolhouse~ Some wonderful printables that would compliment any alphabet curriculum


Online Free Alphabet Games

Literacy Center Education

Once Upon a Book ~ Halloween, Is It For Real?

Halloween: Is It For Real?
by Harold Myra

Summary: Teaches a Christian view of Halloween by presenting it as a holiday on which to celebrate God's victory over evil and evil spirits.

Bible Verse

"And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out." John 1:5

Song Time

Once I Had A Pumpkin
(from Dr. Jean’s website)

"Sing to the tune of Did You Ever See a Lassie..."

Oh, once I had a pumpkin, a pumpkin, a pumpkin.
Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.
With no eyes and no nose and no mouth and no teeth.
Oh, once I had a pumpkin with no face at all.

So I made a jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern, jack-o-lantern.
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big, funny face.
With big eyes and a big nose and big mouth and big teeth.
So I made a jack-o-lantern with a big, funny face

Craft Time

Orange and Black Sensory Tub

Put orange dyed rice and black beans, tiny candy holder pumpkins and a spoon in a tub/bin for a great sensory tub. To see a picture go to Mommies Wise Little Bookworms.

Yellow and Black Blotto

Have your LO paint a piece of paper yellow and then squirt a dab of black paint in the center. Fold the paper and let your LO smear it together. Open the paper up and let it dry. Once dry, you can add the Bible verse.

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Now I Know My ABC's ~ Zz

It's time for some fun Zz activities!!! We hope you enjoy these! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done, letters (with books listed) coming up, as well as the PDF of the cover sheet for your ABC notebook!

1, 2, 3 to the zoo : A Counting Book
by Eric Carle

Summary: Each car on the train has one more zoo animal than the one before, from the first car with an elephant to the last with ten birds.

Zz is for Zoo

Print out a Zz Zoo picture and have your LO color it and then glue onto a piece of construction paper. Add holes and put it your alphabet book!

How to Build A Zz

Print out the letter Z (make 2 copies) and put one onto a piece of construction paper. Hole punch and add it to your alphabet book. Cut the other letter Z into 3 pieces each to make them puzzle pieces for your LO to build their own Z's.

Once Upon a Book ~ My Happy Pumpkin

My Happy Pumpkin
by Crystal Bowman

Summary: Young children delight in picking out and carving their first pumpkins. Now help them learn about God's love by comparing the experience to God's choosing us and shaping us to his delight.

Bible Verse

Younger: "Let your light so shine before men." Matthew 5:16

Older: "Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Craft Time

Pumpkin Gospel: Make a Gospel Pumpkin and read the poem that Carisa made. You can also read all about their Halloween Edition of Rock Stars.

Some Extra Crafting Fun

Make a Happy Pumpkin

Carve a pumpkin and make it a happy pumpkin! Have your LO help you dig out all the "yuckies". The you can gather all the pumpkin seeds and roast them.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

- 1.5 cups of pumpkin Seeds

- 2 TBSP of butter

- season to taste

Roast at 300 for 45 mins and eat!

Song Time

Shine Jesus Shine
(For the whole song go here)

Chorus:

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory.
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Now I Know My ABC's ~ Yy

It's time for some fun Yy activities!!! We hope you enjoy these! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done, letters (with books listed) coming up, as well as the PDF of the cover sheet for your ABC notebook!

In My New Yellow Shirt
by Eileen Spinelli

Summary: A boy wears his new yellow shirt and is transformed in his imagination into a duck, a lion, a daffodil, a trumpet, and other things.

Yy is for Yellow

1. Print out or hand draw the letter Yy.
2. Have your LO decorate it using yellow crayons.
3. Paint over with a watered down yellow paint wash.
4. Cut it out and glue to a piece of construction paper.
5. Hole punch and add it to your alphabet binder.

Shades of Yellow

You'll Need:

- Yellow paint chip cards {2 of each chip color strip}
- Construction paper
- Envelope
- Glue

To Make:

1. Pick up paint yellow paint chip cards at your local paint store.
2. Glue 1 set of cards to construction paper.
3. Cut the other paint chip card into color strips.
4. Place the cards in an envelope and have your LO match the correct yellow shades with each other.
5. Store in your binder.
   

More Yellow Fun

- Go on a yellow hunt around your house.

- Cut out 2 squares of different yellow fabrics to make texture fabric squares.

- Have your LO cut yellow yarn into pieces and glue it to a 'Y' printout and make a Yy yellow yarn collage.

Once Upon a Book ~ Boz's Pumpkin Party

Boz's Pumpkin Party
by Michael Anthony Steele

Summary: BOZ greets his preschool guests at a harvest party in his tree house. Everyone dresses up as their favorite character to celebrate God's gifts of the season and the love of friends and family.

Bible Verse

Younger Tots: "Let your light shine." Matthew 5:16

Older Tots: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

Bible Song

I'll Be A Sunbeam
Kids Music Town

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
To shine for Him each day
In every way try to please Him
At home, at school, at play

A sunbeam, a sunbeam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
A sunbeam, a sunbeam
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him

Jesus wants me to be loving
And kind to all I see
Showing how pleasant and happy
His little one can be

A sunbeam, a sunbeam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
A sunbeam, a sunbeam
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him

I will ask Jesus to help me
To keep my heart from sin
Ever reflecting His goodness
And always shine for Him

A sunbeam, a sunbeam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
A sunbeam, a sunbeam
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him

I’ll be a sunbeam for Jesus
I can if I but try
Serving Him moment by moment
Then live with Him on high

A sunbeam, a sunbeam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
A sunbeam, a sunbeam

I’ll be a sunbeam for Him

Fun Halloween Games

Pumpkin Numbers ~ We play this game daily in our house but it would be a great party game too!

Need:

- Poster board to make your giant pumpkin
- Orange paint {if you don't use orange posterboard}
- Yellow poster board cut into eyes, nose and mouth. I used circles for the eyes, triangle for the nose, then cut 5 squares for mouth pieces.
- Number Cards, double sided sticky tape.

To Play: Have your child pick a number card and stick the correct number of mouth pieces to form the Jack O' Lanterns mouth.

Bean Bag Toss

Need:

- Beanbags or rolled up socks
- Pumpkin treat buckets or an orange candy bowl

To Play: Have your child toss the beanbags or socks into the bucket or candy bowl.

Pumpkin Bowling

Need:

- 6 small water bottles
- orange food coloring
- glue
- small pumpkin

To Play:

Fill the bottles with water and color the water with orange food coloring. Glue the lids on to make them less likely to leak! Set the bottles up into a triangle - 3 in the back, then 2 in the middle and 1 in front. Give your child the pumpkin for to roll and knock down the pins.

Another Great Book

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
by Hans Wilhelm

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!

Now I Know My ABC's ~ Xx

It's time for some fun Xx activities!!! We hope you enjoy these! If you are new, you can visit our ABC webpage to find links to any other letters we have done, letters (with books listed) coming up, as well as the PDF of the cover sheet for your ABC notebook!

Jessica's X-ray
by Pat Zonta

Summary: Jessica is scared when she has to go to the emergency room, but she finds out all the things she can do to help people. She comforts her friend when he comes to the hospital, and she can't wait to get home to have all her friends sign her cast.

Xx X-ray

1. Print out or hand draw Xx,
   
2. Print out and cut the xray bones and have LO glue them to the sheet
   
3. Color the Xx, cut it out and glue it to the construction paper sheet with the bones
4. Hole punch and add to alphabet binder.
   

Option 2 (we did this one): I cut out the X-ray, the X (then recut it in black construction paper) and the X is for X-ray. I gave my LO the pictures, construction paper and the glue bottle and had her color and glue the sheet. Then you can hole punch it and add it to your homemade alphabet book!

Xray Puzzle

You'll Need:

- 2 xray puzzle sheets
- Construction paper
- Glue

To Make:

1. Print off puzzle sheets.
2. Glue one puzzle set to construction paper.
3. Hole punch and add it to alphabet binder.
   
4. Cut out and laminate the other sheet. Place it in an envelope in the binder.
5. Have them assemble the puzzle.
   

More X Fun

- Painters Tape X: place painters tape in the shape of a X have LO paint and remove tape to reveal the X

- Cut an X into pieces and have LO reassemble

- Play with a Xylophone