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SPECIAL DAYS:   

Share yours too.  E-mail me at stormie@preschoolbystormie.com

Christmas Party:
From Stormie:
Although I'm posting ideas here as often as I can, my very favorite activities (many of which fit this special party day) have been reserved for my "CHRISTMAS" booklet (see the "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" section of my website).

If you are presenting each child with a gift at the party, here's just one way to do it:
Have each parent buy one gift.  Set a price limit and remind them to buy something that isn't gender specific.  Once the gifts arrive at school, number them.  During the party, have each child pick a number from a bowl.  The gift they get is the one with the matching number.

Party Game Option: Play "Pin the Beard on Santa."

Food/Drink Recipes:
*Easy Red Christmas Punch: Pour 2 quarts of chilled Cranberry Juice into the punch bowl.  Then add 1 quart of Ginger Ale. Optional: Add 1 box of frozen Red Raspberries, thawed
*Green Christmas Punch: Combine all these ingredients in a punch bowl: 4 cups (1 Qt) CHILLED Apple Juice, 2 cups CHILLED Lemonade, 2-16oz (1 Qt) 7-UP, 1 Teaspoon Lime Juice, 2 Teaspoons green Food Coloring.  Garnish with Lime slices.
*The Yum Yum Vegetable Tree: Using toothpicks, attach vegetable chunks to a very clean Styrofoam tree-shaped cone (green pepper chunks, cherry tomatoes, unpeeled cucumber chunks, carrot rounds, etc).
Provide a ranch flavored dip nearby.

Gift Wrap: Here's one of my favorite ways to have children make their own gift wrap for their parents' gift(s).  For each child, lay out a 2-sheet thickness of white tissue paper or a large piece of brown paper bag that's been cut open.  Have children run the tires of tiny vehicles through Christmasy-colored paints and then run them all over the paper in different directions, creating "track lines."  It's a truly beautiful gift wrap.

Instead of a party:
Decide on a theme then have each teacher plan a table craft.  For example, let's say the theme is "Christmas Tree Decorations."  Each teacher plans a craft that can be used as tree decor.  So then, provide a special day when parents come to school and go around to the various tables and do the crafts with their children.  Afterwards, serve refreshments and sing Christmas carols.  Children and parents take their crafts home and hang them on their trees.

Please share your ideas too.  What do you do for your classroom Christmas party?

Party Snack Ideas From Debbie Reynolds: (Needed ingredients highlighted below in red)

Reindeer Face Cookies: We make these the day before our party: Children frost big sugar cookies (about 4") with thick chocolate frosting.  They can use M&Ms, red hots, butterscotch morsels (or whatever you think they will eat) for their reindeer eyes and nose.  We cut licorice whips for the mouth.  Pretzel twists make good antlers.  Place the cookies on waxed paper-lined trays in the fridge so they can "set."  Print the children's names under their cookies.

Elf Milkshakes: Using a mixer, have children help you mix milk, vanilla ice cream, and a flavor of Hershey's Syrup (chocolate or strawberry) in a deep bowl.  Mix until it's nice and thick.  Serve in clear plastic cups with straws and with the above reindeer cookies.

Elf Chex Mix: I believe in making at least one thing simple and goof proof for the party, so I buy one of those pre-mixed Chex party snacks.

Parent Contributions: I ask my parents to contribute cups, napkins, plates, tablecloth, and decorations.  By the way, if you end up with lots of "snowman" decorations, save them for your upcoming January Snow Day activities.

Also from Debbie Reynolds: Party Alternatives:

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Reminder from Stormie:
If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards."  Click here to check them out.

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