Teaching Toolbox:

By Larissa Juliano

Originally published in StoryMonsters Ink Magazine

www.storymonsters.com

There are so many different activities that I love during during this snowy holiday season in upstate New York. Readers of my column might remember that I adore my gingerbread stories and doing some comparing and contrasting with all the different versions out there. Working together through some STEAM related activities centered around holiday hoopla is always a favorite (in fact, I wrote a non-fiction STEAM book for Sourcebooks Jabberwocky all about catching sneaky little elves!).  

Each year, I also love searching for project ideas that really show the thinking and artistic abilities of my students. Projects with their own twist and fingerprint on them. Watercolor paintings of our families, decorating stones and ornaments, creating holiday cards in our own handwriting…just a quick Pinterest or Internet search will produce loads of ideas for children of all ages. 

Of course, I have to mention some beautiful literature that is a must share in our classroom as we have a few weeks off from our traditional curriculum and can really dive into some book studies. Be sure to seek out some gorgeous multicultural holiday stories that talk about family traditions and celebrations of all kinds. Simply Kinder (www.simplykinder.com) has a beautiful listing of multicultural holiday books that I look forward to diving into this year and years ahead. 

Author extraordinaire Patricia Polacco has an exceptional collection of books that explore traditions of different cultures and faiths that will have children begging for more of her timeless tales. This is an author study that I plan on getting in much more depth with and look forward to sharing about it in a future column. 

What about some hands-on projects that benefit your heart and others? This winter season, talk to your children and students about acts of giving and what it means to have a kind and caring heart for others. I love doing some activities that are two-fold….projects and gifts created for those close to us (family and friends) and then gifts and cards for others in need in our community. Some beautiful ideas that can be easily incorporated into your room/home/church/daycare are:

A mitten tree:

Have children bring in a pair of mittens or hats and hang on a tree in your classroom or home. Share these with your local community charity/recreation centers as the weather gets colder.

Toiletry Boxes:

Older students especially love this service project. Collect all the travel size/hotel soaps, shampoos, and conditioners and pack them into a shoebox. Collect wrapping paper (or make your own from construction paper and lots of fun ‘bling!’) and wrap these together as a classroom family. Serve hot cocoa and play holiday music during this festive, giving, experience. Social workers in your school or local churches will have plenty of ideas for people and places that will love these sweet smelling gift boxes. Note: The wrapping is just as fun as the collecting! 

Books:

Many teachers love doing this book giving bash in their classroom pre holidays. Children bring in one wrapped softcover book for their classmates to take home on the eve of holiday break. An additional piece of this project is adding a card from the child explaining why they chose this book to give to their friends. Based on your classroom community, you may want to have some paperbacks for children to choose from and wrap for their peers. Scholastic Book Clubs have so many wonderful opportunities for teachers and parents to stock up on quality literature at really inexpensive prices. 

Stuffed Socks: 

Send home a family letter (see example) and have children bring in a pair of wrapped socks stuffed with some favorite candy. Children open these on the last few days of school before their holiday break and wear them for a fun party. This is a treasured tradition in my family! 

Cards with a Twist:

A favorite tool among my budding little artists (children and students) are special markers and pens. I love finding a variety of pens- glitter, gel, scented, and my latest find- marker pens. Stock up on some black cardstock or construction paper and have a mini guided drawing lesson on your classroom chart paper or whiteboard. Note: I love showing my students how I like to draw and create pictures so it gives them ideas…it is not intended for them to copy (although some, of course, do) but to demonstrate how I put together lines and swirls, curves and swoops to create pictures. We can sometimes forget that our littlest ones are still discovering how to hold their writing and art materials, and giving them guidance in this can really allow them to take off with their artistic expression and confidence.

Some ideas for simple guided drawing can be: 

• Mittens attached together by a string
• Collection of hearts
• Evergreen trees
• Stockings
• Gingerbread Men

In addition, this can be a fantastic opportunity to talk about our PURPOSE of writing and whom the cards are intended for! Soldiers serving our country? Grandparents? Children and families stricken by poverty? Our principal? Have this be a week-long activity and bring out different materials each day. This will hopefully set a real love of card making and handwriting messages that can be a lifelong pleasure (I love writing, and shopping, for cards!) 

Please share with us your holiday gift giving traditions with families and classes! What are some charities or organizations that you enjoy donating to? Members of your own community? Veterans? What about some tried and true projects that make parents hearts melt?

Stuffed Socks Letter Draft 

(copy, share, and make it your own!) 

Dear Families, 

We have become such a close classroom community this year and I would love to have the children share in the spirit of giving with their peers. Please have your child pick out a pair of fun holiday socks (many options at the Target Dollar Spot!) and stuff them with their favorite candy. Please wrap these and bring to school by ______________ . 

We will open our gifts and wear our snuggly footwear during our holiday party. Stay tuned for an adorable photo. 

Please let me know if you will not be able to send in socks and I will be sure to have a few extra!

Thank you so much. 

Teacher Name 

Larissa Juliano is an elementary teacher in upstate New York where she lives with her husband and three young children. Her passions include reading and writing, and she hopes to spread this love of literature to readers of all ages. 

You can check out books written by Larissa at www.larissajuliano.com and contact her about school visits and writing workshops! 

Follow Larissa at

@larissajulianoauthor