....in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
In our home, this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. I have long loved the celebration of the Advent of our Lord, and of His miraculous birth. From December until April, we have the wonderful opportunity- as followers of Christ- to honor and commemorate His prophesied birth, His perfect life, His appointed crucifixion and His triumphant resurrection which we know to be His victory over sin and death. As we move from Advent to Lent to Advent to Lent, year after year as the Lord tarries, we have the pleasure of mindfully moving through our numbered days with Christ's birth and death ever on our minds and central to our day-to-day lives. I take great joy in celebrating those things, and in doing so with a joyful heart, despite the chaos that threatens to consume the richness of this season..
In our commercialized and over scheduled culture, we often struggle to find the balance between neglecting to enjoy God's good and perfect gifts and enjoying the gifts more than the Giver. Neither of these extremes allow us to fully experience the things that the Father of Lights has bestowed upon us, and neither of them point to Him during the Christmas season and say "for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." I believe that true balance in this area is found in prayerfully deciding on your family's must-do traditions and acts of ceremony for the holiday season, and then reasonably filling in the remaining space with things that may be lesser but are nonetheless important and enjoyable. We can glorify the Lord while at our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service and we can glorify Him while building a gingerbread house with our children....we do so by doing all of it heartily, as to Him, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit within us as we do each thing that this season holds.
I say this to say, celebrate. Create traditions that bring you joy and that point to Jesus. Enjoy those traditions. Do not fear celebrating too much, and also do not fear not celebrating as much as someone else. Make Advent and Christmas about Jesus, your family, your home, and joy filled celebration....and you won't get it wrong. It will not be perfect, but it will be worth it. You don't have to do as much during this season as my family does, and you can do more during this season than what I give you below. Avoid the trap of comparison, and create a peaceful and joyful season.
Orient your heart to the coming and birth of our Savior, order your affections toward celebrating Him, and determine to do what gives you joy and skip what doesn't.
With that being said, I am always asked to share what I do during this season, and am happy to do so. I love that there are so many mothers desiring to carry living education into the craziest, and most blessed, season of the year. I will share below what I do during this season, both in the classroom and outside of it.
For school, we finish our year at the end of November and begin a new one in February. Between the two, we spend twodays each week during December focusing on art, music, poetry, cultural studies and literature. This year, we will be reading through The Christmas Carol again,studying Christmas Around the World, studying the art of Grandma Moses, enjoying Handel's works, focusing on 1 carol each week for hymn study, examining some of the "symbols" of Christmas from a biblical perspective, reading and reciting poetry, and looking at the history of Dickens and his Christmas stories.
Outside of school, we make a big deal of Advent, and we observe the feast of Hanukkah. We have a time of Advent each morning, and a lengthier one each evening. This year, each evening we will be reading Scripture and completing a watercolor painting of symbols representing the Christmas story. We will also be reading through the Jesus Storybook Bible again.
Christmastide: from the 25th to Epiphany (Jan 6th), we celebrate Christmastide. We transition from the sober waiting of Advent to the joy of Christmastide on the 24th by making a birthday cake for Christ and opening our Christmas Eve bags. Then, we celebrate!! We do this by singing The Twelve Days of Christmas each day, playing games, reading corresponding Scripture about each day's meaning, writing thank you cards, singing Go Tell it on the Mountain on repeat, and reading and listening to The Nutcracker Ballet. We also move our Magi closer and closer to our Nativity scene each night to represent their long journey to find the Christ child.
Epiphany: we celebrate Epiphany by making Kings Cake, singing We Three Kings (which we've purposely avoided singing during the Advent and Christmastide season), having a "Find the Star" Scavenger Hunt, and reading the story of the Magi and observing the stars to remember their long journey and God's guidance.
Below, I share all of this year's specific plans. My hope is that you will find inspiration and ideas, and that you will create a Christmas culture in your home that bring your family joy. Feel free to copy my plans exactly, use a single idea, or use the format to inspire your own unique ideas.
May All Your [December] Days Be Spent.....Delightfully Feasting
Crystin <3
Yuleschool Plans
Week 1:
Literature
A Christmas Carol: Stave 1
A Christmas Carol Christmas Book: Story in Pictures
Art
Picture Study-
Grandma Moses
Christmas at Home
Cultural Studies
Christmas Around the World- Germany
1.Reading: Read About Christmas in Germany
2.Listen to and Sing: Good King Wencelas
3.Listen to and Sing: Carol of the Birds
4. Geography: Map Germany
5. Copywork: Froehliche Weihnacten
6. Star Craft
7. Bake Gingerbread
Music
Hymn Study-
Oh Holy Night
Composer Study- Handel
Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive
Christian Studies
Symbols of Christmas
Bells- Psalm 100
Poetry and Recitation
Poetry:
The Friendly Beasts
I Saw Three Ships
Christmas Daybreak
Recitation:
Advent Prayer
Shout for joy
The whole earth
And everything within
Rejoice!
For Light has come into the world.
The mountains sing
The seas resound
To the praise of your name
Salvation
Once promised is here on earth.
The angels' song
Rings in the air
A child has been born
Hallelujah!
The Saviour of the world is here!
Week 2:
Literature
A Christmas Carol: Stave 2
A Christmas Carol Christmas Book: Dickens and Christmas
Art
Picture Study-
Grandma Moses
Sugaring Off
Cultural Studies
Christmas Around the World-Mexico
1.Reading: Read About Christmas in Mexico
2.Listen to and Sing: The Pinata Song
3. Geography: Map Mexico
5. Copywork: Feliz Navidad
6. Poinsetta Papercraft
7. Read The Legend of the Poinsettia
Music
Hymn Study-
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Composer Study- Handel
There Were Shepherds
Christian Studies
Symbols of Christmas
Poinsettia- Matthew 6:28-30
Poetry and Recitation
Poetry:
Prayer of a Donkey and What the Donkey Saw
How Far is it to Bethlehem
Recitation:
Advent Prayer
Shout for joy
The whole earth
And everything within
Rejoice!
For Light has come into the world.
The mountains sing
The seas resound
To the praise of your name
Salvation
Once promised is here on earth.
The angels' song
Rings in the air
A child has been born
Hallelujah!
The Saviour of the world is here!
Week 3:
Literature
A Christmas Carol: Stave 3
St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond
Art
Picture Study-
Grandma Moses
Apple Butter Making
Cultural Studies
Christmas Around the World-Norway
1.Reading: Read About Christmas in Norway
2.Listen to and Sing: Mitt Hkerte Alltid Vanker
3. Geography: Map Norway
4. Copywork: God Jul
Music
Hymn Study-
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
Composer Study- Handel
Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Christian Studies
Symbols of Christmas
Holly- 2 Corinthians 8:9
Make Cornflake Holly
Poetry and Recitation
Poetry:
The Barn
The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly Bough
Recitation:
A Christmas Carol, by G.K. Chesterton
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(Oh weary, weary were the world,
but here is all aright.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star.
(Oh stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(Oh weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)
The Christ-child stood on Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.
Week 4:
Literature
A Christmas Carol: Stave 4
The Legend of the Candy Cane
Art
Picture Study-
Grandma Moses
Catching the Turkey
Cultural Studies
Christmas Around the World-Japan
1.Reading: Read About Christmas in Japan
2.Listen to and Sing: Japanese Christmas Carol
3. Geography: Map Japan
4. Copywork: Shimen Omedeto
Music
Hymn Study-
Oh Come, Oh Come
Composer Study- Handel
Hallelujah Chorus
Christian Studies
Symbols of Christmas
Candy Cane- Psalm 23
Candy Cane Bombing
Poetry and Recitation
Poetry:
The Camels
In the Bleak Midwinter
Recitation:
A Christmas Carol, by G.K. Chesterton
The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(Oh weary, weary were the world,
but here is all aright.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star.
(Oh stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)
The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(Oh weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)
The Christ-child stood on Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown,
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.
Advent
- Each Morning- Activity Card From Daily Envelope (Printable Set)
- Nightly- Scripture Reading and Watercolor Painting of Symbol (Printable Set)
- Nightly -Read from Jesus Storybook Bible (Printable Plan)
- Nightly- Singing Carols
- Nightly- Marking Day off of Calendar
- Nightly- Reading a Picture Book
- Weekly- Candle on Paper Advent Wreath
Hanukkah
- Nightly- Read Scripture About Light
- Nightly- Read Scripture About Jesus
- Nightly- Open Gift (These gifts are always activities to complete together- craft kits, etc)
- Nightly- Complete Activity Together
- Nightly- Color in Candle on Paper Menorah
Christmas Eve
- Read Full Christmas Story from Scripture
- Birthday Cake for Jesus
- Christmas Eve Bags (filled with pajamas, slippers, socks, toothbrush, cup, hot cocoa, snacks, stuffed animal, blanket, movie, book, quiet activities, bubble bath, bath toy, towel)
- Cocoa, Snacks, Movies, Cuddles}
- Thank You Cards for Gifts
- 12 Days of Christmas (Listen Nightly)
- Go Tell it on the Mountain (Listen Daily)
- Read, Listen to,Watch and Act Out The Nutcracker Ballet
- Play Games Nightly
- Move Magi Closer Each Night to Nativity Scene
- 12 Days of Christmas Nightly Devotion:
11 Pipers (11 Faithful Disciples)- Read Portions of the Gospels for Each Disciple / Read Matthew 10:1-15
10 Lords (10 Commandments)- Read Exodus 20
9 Ladies (Fruits of the Spirit)- Read Galatians 5
Eight Maids (Beatitudes) - Read Matthew 5:1-12
Seven Swans (Gifts of the Spirit)- Read Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, Ephesians 4:11-13
Six Geese (Days of Creation) -Read Genesis 1
Five Golden Rings (Books of Torah)- Discuss Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Dueteronomy
Four Calling Birds (Gospels)- Discuss writing style of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Three French Hens (Faith, Hope, and Love)- Read 1 Corinthians 13
Two Turtle Doves (Testaments) - Discuss Christ in Old and New Testaments/Read Prophecies of Messiah
Partridge in Pear Tree (Christ)- Read Matthew 27 and 28
Aaaaaannd another cart full of books! Lol! THANK YOU for this great resource!!!
ReplyDeleteYaayy! I love causing carts full of books. ;) I am so glad it was helpful!
DeleteWow! This is amazing! which book would be good if you are studying the American Revolution?
ReplyDelete