German Christmas
Frohe Weihnachten
 Stories:
The Christmas Rose
There is a flower in Germany called "Christmas Rose."
The Spiders Surprise
A German Folktale
*Art
Gingerbread houses are a huge tradition in Germany.
Graham Cracker House
Need: Packages of graham crackers, frosting, trims (raisins, nuts,
candies, small marshmallows, red hots), 1/2 pint sized milt
containers(size that comes with child's school lunch). Styrofoam
plates or heavy paper plates.
Glue the milk carton onto the Styrofoam plate. Use the milk carton as
the base, the frosting as glue, and graham crackers as the walls and top.
Have children place frosting on the sides and top of the milk carton.
Stick graham crackers to the sides of the milk carton for walls.
Place two graham crackers on top for the roof.
Frost the crackers on the milk carton and decorate with trims.
It is best to put all glue bottles away as some children may use them
to glue the candy trim onto the graham cracker house.
Can add a frosting sidewalk(outline with candy
trims) on the plates.
Glitter Envelopes
Children write letters to Christkind telling Him what they want for
Christmas. The letters are left on their windowsills for Christkind,
a winged figure dressed in white robes and a golden crown who
distributes gifts. Sometimes the letters are decorated with glue and
sprinkled with sugar to make them sparkle.
Let the children draw pictures or cut pictures from magazines of what
they want from Santa. Place the letters in envelopes. Then have the
children brush glue onto the envelopes and sprinkler with glitter.
Tinsel Tree
After reading "The Spiders Surprise."
Make cone-shaped Christmas trees from green construction paper. Let
the children decorate the trees by gluing on strands of tinsel.
*Math/Science
Pine Cone Christmas Tree
Place pine cones in water. Then roll them in potting soil and
sprinkle with grass seed. Place in a sunny window and water lightly
regularly, then watch as your pine cone turns into a mini Chrstmas tree.
A Visit from St. Nicholas
With the children sitting in a circle place 5 to 6 toys in the center
of the circle. Then place the toys in a box. Choose one child to be
St. Nicholas. Have the children cover their eyes. While their eyes
are covered have the St. Nicholas place one of the toys from the box
into a pillowcase.
Have the children open their eyes. St. Nicholas walks around the
circle and lets each child try to guess what is in the pillowcase by
feeling it. Each child has 2 guesss'. The child that guesss'
correctly becomes the new St. Nicholas.
*Things To Do-Other Sites
Advent Wreath Paper Craft
A popular tradition that seems to have begun in Germany is lighting the candles of an Advent wreath.
German Paper Stars - “Froebel Sterne” (hard for younger children)
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