FAMILY PROGRAM
This was a special evening storytime for children of all ages and their families. Everyone gathered around the warm fireplace to listen to some Christmas stories and sing carols. Then Santa came to visit all of the good boys and girls and brought them treats!
OPENING SONG: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Adults received handouts with the words to the songs.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
SONG: Up On the Housetop
Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones, Christmas joys
Ho, ho, ho! (make round belly with hands)
Who wouldn’t go? (shrug shoulders)
Ho, ho, ho! Who wouldn’t go?
Up on the housetop, (point up)
Click, click, click (snap fingers and tap toes)
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick (bend down and touch ground)
FINGERPLAY: Here Is The Chimney
Here is the chimney (Make fist, enclose thumb)
Here is the top. (Palm of hand on top of fist)
Open the lid. (Remove hand quickly)
And out Santa will pop. (Pop up thumb)
BOOK 1: Little Porcupine’s Christmas by Joseph Slate
In this heart-warming story, Little Porcupine’s mom calls him the “light of my life;” he learns the truth of this during the Christmas play.
FINGERPLAY: Snowflakes Falling
See the snowflakes falling. (Wriggle fingers like dancing snowflakes.)
See the candles glow. (Hold up index finger like a candle.)
See the wreaths upon the door. (Form wreath shape with fingers.)
It’s Christmas time I know!
(Tune: Old McDonald Had a Farm)
For this flannel board, I have a large christmas tree on which I place each of the items as they appear in the song. Here is my printable clipart.
Ho, ho ho ho ho!
And on that tree he had some lights (twinkle twinkle)
Ho ho ho ho ho
With a twinkle twinkle here and a twinkle twinkle there
Here a twinkle There a twinkle
Every where a twinkle twinkle
continue….
candy canes—yum-yum
drums———-boom-boom
snowflakes—-flutter flutter
stars———–shine
The classic poem, accompanied by Robert Sabuda’s amazing pop-ups.
We handed out bells to jingle as we sang this song.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! Hey!
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight! Oh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh! Hey!
SONG: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Santa entered during this song!
You better watch out, you better not cry,
You better not pout, I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping,
He knows when you’re awake,
He knows if you’ve been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry,
You better not pout, I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town.
We ended with a visit from Santa Claus himself! He brought candy canes and treats for all of the children, and everyone had the opportunity to sit on his lap while parents took pictures. While children were waiting to see Santa, they could write their name on a light bulb to help us decorate our paper tree (the same one used in the Old St. Nicholas flannelboard).
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