Welcome to #3rdchat! Let's talk about Winter Holidays in the classroom. Tell us your name, where you're from, and your favorite holiday tradition that you have!
Hey #3rdchat friends! Ashleigh, 3rd grade from KS. My favorite holiday tradition is getting ice cream with the family and driving around and looking at Christmas lights!
Ron Martiello. Learning Coach from PA. Hello, #3rdchat. I love watching Christmas movies with the family. We have a must watch list every year. #SmilesAreMyFavorite
Azure from Derby, KS. A favorite family tradition is remaking this particular picture each year. My daughter was so happy that she put up the stockings! She is now a freshman in college and her spelling skills have greatly improved. #3rdchat@ashlee_jo523
Hey friends! Finally back after a short hiatus 🤦🏼♀️ Erin checking in from Fostoria, Ohio! My favorite tradition is watching A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve with my husband in our pajamas after a day with family! ❤️❄️ #3rdchat
A1: I remember we use to rotate to all the teachers the day before Christmas break started and each teacher did a craft. It was such a fun day, and a good way to kick off winter break! #3rdchat
A1: My favorite was a whole school experience. We had a tree lighting ceremony every year. It was well attended every year and the community gathered in the cold to kick off the Holidays. #3rdchat
A1: Doing a Christmas play! When I was in first grade, we actually each had to memorize a page from The Polar Express and we acted it out in front of our parents! We finished the night with hot chocolate and Christmas carols! #3rdchat
A1: My entire elementary school did The Nutcracker performance every year. Every student participated and the entire town came to the performance. That tradition is still happening today! #3rdchat
A2: I LOVE holiday read alouds! I love to do How Santa Got His Job, and How Santa Lost His Job. Last year we started reading The Santa Trap and the kids BEGGED me to read it a second time. They are all so good! #3rdchat
A2: I love reading old school books from my childhood... The Grinch, The Polar Express... I feel like I make them more fun because I love the books so much! My students love it! #3rdchat
A3: I LOVE designing and creating Santa's sleigh. After they have designed it, they create a path for it to travel using Ozobots... it is so fun to see all their creativeness! #3rdchat
A4: We have taken time to write letters to our troops. Soldiers and their families make the sacrifice to keep us safe all year long. They need an extra special thank you this time of the year. #3rdchat
A4: In the past we have skyped different experts learning about various cultures and the kids have loved that. I also love doing the holiday card exchange. @ProjectsByJen has some really great opportunities to connect! #3rdchat
A5: We do Christmas around the World with our amazing 4th grade classes- and then the students create an iMovie and present it to the rest of the class teaching them about Christmas or their version of it. #3rdchat
A5: Students researched and created projects around a holiday of light from around the world. The essential question: Why do different cultures from different parts the world celebrate light? How are they alike and how are they different? #3rdchat
A4: We do some weather tracking with other classes in different states. We call it our "Snow Watch". The students are always surprised that California has a warmer holiday season! #3rdchat
A5: Students choose and research holidays of light from around the world. Essential questions: Why do cultures from different parts of the world celebrate with light. How are they the same? How are they different? #3rdchat
A6: I love this time of year because our Ss really feel the need to be giving. We do a food and clothing drive. Right now our first graders are doing Random Acts of Kindness. I LOVE it! #3rdchat
Q7: Do you send home a parent gift (from your Ss) before your school dismisses from winter break? If so, share what you do and add pictures if you have any! #3rdchat
A7: We have done a ton of things... but the past few years we have made an ornament with their picture in it.. and then we have done a calendar. We send home a note asking for important family dates and they add it to the calendar they design. It turns out so special! #3rdchat
A5: In the past, I have taught winter holidays around the world. We learn about different holidays, read a book picture book, sometimes have a special guest to share about the holiday, and make some sort of craft to go with each one. I haven't done this in years though! #3rdchat
Q7: Do you send home a parent gift (from your Ss) before your school dismisses from winter break? If so, share what you do and add pictures if you have any! #3rdchat
A7: We made winter ornaments with the student’s picture in them. As a parent, I always appreciate breaking out those ornaments that my own kids made. #3rdchat
Q7: Do you send home a parent gift (from your Ss) before your school dismisses from winter break? If so, share what you do and add pictures if you have any! #3rdchat
A6: Our third graders ring the bell at a local grocery store for the Salvation Army. They love this and the community enjoys seeing the students serve. We also collect food and toys for Operation Holiday which benefits people in our community. #3rdchat
A8: We haven't had a lot of students in my 9 years that don't celebrate Christmas, but I have recently seen a letter that I LOVED asking about the different holidays the students celebrate with their family. I am going to send that out to my families this year. #3rdchat
Jessica here late! STEM activity I’ll be doing tomorrow on the theme of generosity during December- Students need to design some sort of symbol scared or action that I can take a photo of 4 a slideshow about generosity that will be playing in a school assembly next week.#3rdchat
A8: Allow students choice when it comes to activities. Also consider those students who may not be too excited about Holiday breaks. Know your students and adjust activities to make them more inclusive. #3rdchat
A7: We take 6x6 ceramic tiles, put a few finger prints on them with tempera paint and connect them to look like Christmas lights. I once had a parent share that the gift from their child was the only gift they received, so I will always do something for parents. #3rdchat
A8: Holidays around the world has been great for all of my students. I sometimes will have students share about the special holidays they celebrate as well. It's been very eye-opening for my students. #3rdchat
Looking for examples of elementary school schedules that help innovation thrive. Want to break the traditional model! Anyone have ideas or resources? #ksredesign#WhatSchoolCouldBe@Shari31696
