Secular Christmas Week in a Glance - M is 33 months, R is 13 months

We had a really great week as far as school goes.  My husband is a teacher and is home for winter break, so I was really able to get a lot done with M while he was watching R.  We also had a week off from my moms group so we had plenty of extra time on our hands!

Preschool Skills
M worked on these Alphabet Trees - she had to stamp each of the letters using dot markers based on the color key.

M matched these candycanes based on patterns and colors.

M graphed reindeer using this unit.  The spinner I made wasn't working very well, so we had a sort of complicated set up.  I had M roll a dice, then move the spinner that number of spaces.  Whatever color the spinner landed on was marked on the reindeer graph.

M sorted ornaments onto this Christmas tree sorting mat based on color and pattern.

M worked on this Christmas tree color by number (and the candy cane size sort from the same site, I just didn't get a picture).

Art
Both kids made handprint Christmas trees.

M used some paint with water books with her cousins on Christmas (our way of keeping them busy so us adults could play Monopoly!)

I also had M and her cousins make Christmas trees using triangles of green construction paper and foam stickers.  Then we cut slits in a toilet paper roll and put the paper in to use as a tree trunk.  I don't have a picture of her working on it, but here is my adorable nephew showing his off!

Life
M started using her first scrapbook.

We set up our Christmas Tree and the kids put their own ornaments on. (Every year they choose their own - M's was a Cinderella one and R had a little yarn lion).

M helped me make eggs one morning by helping me whisk.

Early in the week we were invited to a friends house for a playdate and she had the kids make chocolate spoons.  She basically melted chocolate chips and we dipped plastic spoons in them.  After placing them on wax paper, the kids sprinkled w/ crushed peppermint, nuts, sprinkles, and marshmallows.  It was such a fantastic idea that later in the week we decided to copy her and M made chocolate coffee spoons as gifts for family.

M practiced using her new tricycle from Santa.  She did ok, but I have a feeling she'll need alot more practice in order to have the coordination down to ride it!

What a busy week!  One of the great things about being Catholic is that we still have plenty of Christmas left!  The next two weeks we will be working on Religious Christmas activities, so if you are still celebrating Christmas like us, or are just saving ideas for next year, stay tuned!

We'll be linking up to Preschool Corner as well as Tot School.  Visit their websites to find some more great learning activities!