Welcome to Our Cozy Countdown!

Who’s counting the days?  With just a week or two to go before winter break, it’s a whirlwind of excitement!  Between squeezing in standards, crafting thoughtful gifts with the kids, and maybe even hosting a parent program, it’s safe to say we’ve all got our hands full. That’s why I like to keep things meaningful yet manageable during this busy season.  

This year, instead of the traditional Gingerbread Man theme, I found inspiration in the charming book  A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman. This delightful story sparked the idea of focusing on Homes and Families, which feels just right for December. After all, a home isn’t just a place—it’s a feeling of belonging, connection, and comfort, especially during the holidays.  

The concept of home is deeply personal and meaningful. For me, it’s especially poignant because of my own experience teaching far away from my roots. Many of our students share similar stories. With relocation and mobility being such common parts of their lives, our kids often find themselves adapting to new homes, new friends, and new cultures. Exploring the idea of home helps children reflect on their own experiences while building empathy and understanding for others.  

Throughout the week, your learning can center around homes and families. Here are a few ways to bring the theme of homes to life:  

- Reading & Writing: Read *A House is a House for Me* and brainstorm all the creative homes in the world. Students then can write about what makes their own homes special. 

- Arts & Crafts: Each child can create a “dream home” using craft supplies. In past projects, we saw everything from castles to cozy igloos!  

- Math: They can explore patterns by designing wallpapers for homes and use counting activities to "build" houses brick by brick.  

- Social Studies: You can discuss homes around the world, learning about how different cultures create spaces to live, work, and celebrate.  

  

At its heart, this theme is about connection—to our homes, our families, and each other. It’s a chance to celebrate the diversity in our classroom while reminding kids (and ourselves!) of the shared warmth and love that make a house truly a home.  

So if you're looking for something fresh to wrap up the semester, why not try a "Home" theme? It’s a cozy, meaningful way to engage kids while reinforcing important skills—and best of all, it reminds us of the magic of this season.  

Here’s to homes, families, and a countdown filled with love and learning! 

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Seasonal Fun for All: Creative Classroom Ideas When Christmas Isn’t the Focus

Many schools do not celebrate Christmas, but there are other engaging topics to keep your students learning and, perhaps most importantly, having fun during this time of the year. Remember to always be mindful and teach your students to respect all students’ beliefs and traditions. 



Winter-themes activities related to snowmen, hot chocolate, and animals in snow are perfect topics during this time of the year that students who do not celebrate Christmas will enjoy.  Gingerbread is traditionally a holiday treat, but several stories are not holiday-related. Use gingerbread as a theme for creative writing, math problems involving baking and measuring ingredients, and an engaging design activity where students build a gingerbread house. Furthermore, you can add themes such as the Nutcracker, candy canes and poinsettias to your December classroom. 



Nutcracker dolls are often shaped like toy soldiers. In Germany, nutcrackers are believed to bring good luck, and they are often placed around the home during winter to protect the home from evil spirits. Today, these decorations are common, especially at traditional Christmas markets.  Traditionally, nutcrackers were often used to help with cracking nuts, such as hazelnut and pecans!

People began to collect the wooden toy soldiers, and makers began designing nutcrackers that could be used solely as decoration. You can also link the Nutcracker to a project about the popular Nutcracker ballet, which is a wonderful opportunity to explore music, dance and the story behind the ballet. 



Poinsettias are plants that originated in Mexico and Guatemala. This is a great way to add some interesting books and stories about the origins of this stunning plant and its link to the Christmas season. The Aztecs and Mayans valued the poinsettia for the red bracts, which were used to make a dye for clothing and cosmetics. The milky white sap wax was used to make medicine for fevers. This is a great opportunity to add geography, botanical significance, history, cultural significance, and medicine to your poinsettia theme.

If you have used Fact Booklets during Fall, your students will be familiar with the concept. Short paragraphs, pages for filling in their own research about the topic, space  for drawing and decorating, and last but not least fun craftivities. Reindeers are amazing creatures and this topic can be paired with holiday activities. But you can also use the booklets without focusing on the Christmas and the holiday season.

Candy canes with iconic red and white stripes are a loved Christmas tradition,  often used to decorate Christmas trees and cards. But beyond their festive appeal lies a fascinating history of the candy's interesting shape. Is it a shepherd staff or not, and why would someone shape a candy so strangely?  The story behind the candy is fascinating and can ignite interesting conversations about the sweet treats families enjoy during the holiday, making it a perfect topic for the December classroom.  

Several themes are available for your students who do not celebrate Christmas, and they are also great for students who do. Get ready for an amazing December in the Classroom! 

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December 2024 Products

Make December in your classroom special and memorable for every child by including various learning activities.  This is the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be a trying time in the classroom.  Students can be distracted from learning, so it is important to provide interesting activities. If you only know about Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's Eve, there are other special days that you can introduce your students to, from Rosa Parks Day and Cheetah Day to Poinsettia Day and Candy Cane Day. 



Striking a balance between fun and learning is important, and hands-on learning activities are a great opportunity to keep your students engaged. Start the month by celebrating Rosa Parks Day. This remarkable and brave women have two special days. The first is to celebrate her birth on February 4th, and the second is to observe the anniversary of her quiet rebellion and arrest. On the first of December, Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montogomery, Alabama, on the way back from her work as a seamstress. She took her seat in the colored section, and as the bus began to full, the bus driver asked Rosa to give up her seat. She refused, and the police arrested her. My Fact Booklet about Rosa Parks is a great way to start learning in December. 

On the 4th of December, your animal lovers will enjoy learning about nature’s sprinters.  Counting the number of spots on photos of cheetahs is a great activity to start Cheetah Day. These members of the cat family can accelerate faster than a Ferrari and are the fastest land animals. International Cheetah Day aims to highlight the superpowers of these stunning creatures while raising awareness about Africa’s most endangered feline. Climate change, hunting, and loss of their natural environment make them vulnerable in the wild.



The Poinsettia plant has been linked to the Christmas season since the 16th century in Mexico. According to legend, a poor girl wanted to celebrate Jesus’s birthday, and an angel told her to give a gift with love. So she picked what she thought were weeds, and they bloomed with beautiful red bracts. Today, poinsettias are given around Christmas to represent community spirit and goodwill. They are a great topic for discussion about kindness and the art of gift-giving.



Celebrate the beauty of horses on National Horse Day on December 13th. This is a great way to raise awareness about horses' impact on history, culture, and the economy. Horses help to plough fields, move food into rural areas, and provide equine therapy to promote physical and emotional well-being.

Candy canes have a special day - the 26th of December. These red and white striped canes are often added to hot cocoa and used to decorate trees and stockings. The story behind the tradition of bending a stick is somewhat unclear. One popular story is that a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, gave children sugar sticks bent into the shape of a shepherd's staff to keep them quiet during the long Christmas service. Plenty of interesting facts exist about the origins of its first celebration and the tradition of hanging candy canes on Christmas trees, which started as early as 1882. December is the perfect time to spend extra time on the arts, and candy canes are amazing inspirations for art and craft projects.



Have a wonderfilled December! Products are found in my store:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher 

Importance of Transportation Past, Present, Future

Transportation is a vital part of our daily lives, connecting us to places, people, and services. Whether it’s delivering goods to grocery stores, helping people commute to work, or even enabling us to travel across continents, transportation plays a crucial role in the functioning of modern society. It’s fascinating to see how transportation has evolved over time and continues to innovate, bringing us closer together and creating new possibilities for the future.

The movement of goods and services is a vital part of any economy. Whether it's a small package delivered to your doorstep or cargo shipped overseas, the process involves multiple forms of transportation. A key concept is the integration of  land, water, and air transportation, which ensures that services and products reach their destinations quickly and efficiently. For instance, goods might be transported by truck to a port, shipped by boat to another country, and then flown by plane to the final destination.

The advancements in transportation also bring exciting developments like the futuristic driverless car. As the world looks for sustainable, efficient, and safe transportation solutions, these cars show great promise in reducing congestion and emissions while making transportation more accessible for all.

Transportation is not just about the vehicles we see on the roads or in the sky. It's also about how we engage with the concept of movement and travel from a young age. A picture that perfectly illustrates this is that of a 5-year-old child building a car from cardboard. In this imaginative process, the child is not just playing but also honing skills like problem-solving, creativity, and even engineering, by constructing a vehicle using simple materials.

This young engineer’s work reminds us that transportation is more than just a means to an end—it can inspire innovation and creativity. Whether it’s making a driverless car of the future or a cardboard car built by a child, transportation continues to evolve through creative ideas.

As we look forward to the future of transportation, we celebrate both the history and the new innovations. From classic cable cars to driverless vehicles, the world of transportation is always changing, offering new ways for people and goods to travel.

Children, like the 5-year-old creating a car out of cardboard, are already contributing to this future with their curiosity and inventiveness. Who knows? Perhaps the vehicles they imagine today will inspire the transportation systems of tomorrow.  

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Day of the Dead Holiday

Let’s dive into the rich and colorful world of  El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), a special Mexican holiday celebrated right after Halloween, on November 1st and 2nd. While many people think of it as a spooky time because of the skulls and skeletons often associated with it, Día de los Muertos is actually a joyous celebration of life! It honors the memories of our ancestors and loved ones who have passed away, filling the days with love, laughter, and reflection.

This special day is a Celebration of Life, Not Death!  Many assume that this holiday celebrates death, but it’s quite the opposite. Día de los Muertos is all about celebrating the lives of those who are no longer with us. Families come together to remember their loved ones, sharing stories, music, and food to keep their spirits alive in their hearts. It’s a time for celebrating life, not mourning loss.

The traditions are full of color and meaning!  It  is steeped in beautiful traditions that have been passed down through generations. Here are some of the most important:

  Altars (Ofrendas)  - Families create colorful altars in their homes to honor their deceased loved ones. These altars are decorated with photos, candles, marigolds and favorite foods or belongings of the departed.

  

 Visiting Gravesites - Families visit the graves of their loved ones, bringing along food, drinks, and gifts to share. Some even spend the whole day (and night!) at the cemetery, reminiscing, singing, and celebrating.

 Pan de Muerto -  This delicious bread, known as "Bread of the Dead," is a staple of the holiday. It’s baked in the weeks leading up to the celebration and is often placed on altars as an offering.

 Music and Dance -  Traditional music and dance play a huge part in  Día de los Muertos, especially during parades and celebrations in towns and cities across Mexico. These vibrant performances are a way to honor the dead while celebrating life.

 Bringing Día de los Muertos to the Classroom In schools,  can be a wonderful opportunity for students to explore Mexican culture through art, storytelling, and creativity. Children often make beautiful, symbolic artwork such as paper marigolds, papel picado (cut-paper banners), and decorative sugar skulls (calaveras). These activities help students connect with the traditions and meanings behind the holiday in a fun, hands-on way.

If you’re looking for ways to bring this celebration into your classroom, I have some exciting resources that will make learning about Día de los Muertos engaging and fun for your students:

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Thankful for these Products!

Welcome, November! As we embrace the chill in the air and the excitement of the upcoming holidays, I am thrilled to share some of my favorite November resources to help you kick off the busy season in the classroom. This is a time of gratitude, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the educators who have supported my products. Your enthusiasm and dedication inspire me, and I hope these resources continue to bring value to your students!

Cultural Exploration: Día de los Muertos

One of my favorite resources for early November is all about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This Mexican holiday offers a rich cultural experience, and your students will love discovering its traditions. My Día de los Muertos Fact Booklet is the perfect tool for diving into the fascinating customs and meanings behind this vibrant celebration. Whether you're discussing the colorful altars or the significance of honoring loved ones, this resource sparks engaging discussions and meaningful learning moments.

Understanding the Importance of Election Day

With November being an election season, it’s the perfect time to introduce students to the basic concepts of voting. My Election Day Fact Booklet simplifies the process, explaining key terms like "ballot," "candidate," and "election" in a kid-friendly way. This resource is designed to help students understand why elections matter and how the process works, making it a great addition to your civics lessons. 

Veteran's Day: Honoring Our Heroes

Another significant November event is Veterans Day.  It's an excellent opportunity to teach students about the brave men and women who have served in the military. My Veteran’s Day Fact Booklet helps students reflect on the importance of service, with opportunities to read, write, and even draw their understanding of what this day means. It's a powerful way to foster respect and gratitude among young learners.

Stone Soup with a Mexican Twist!

Looking for a fun and unique storybook companion? My Cactus or Stone Soup Storybook Companion gives a Mexican twist to the classic "Stone Soup" tale. This is a fantastic opportunity for your students to compare different versions of the same story while also learning about Mexican culture. With crafts, story comparisons, and Mexican food traditions, this resource is a fun and engaging way to broaden students’ cultural awareness, and perhaps even inspire a festive classroom cooking project!

Transition to the Holidays: Christmas Traditions in Mexico

As the holidays approach, why not continue exploring Mexican culture with a focus on Christmas traditions? Mexico has some unique and beautiful customs, such as the use of poinsettias and piñatas during Christmas celebrations, which begin on December 12th. This is a wonderful way to bridge cultures, transitioning from Mexican to American holiday traditions while making comparisons in the classroom.

Comparing Then and Now: Sparking Curiosity  If you're looking to dive into history and ignite curiosity in your students, the Then and Now Fact Booklet is a must-have. Comparing life in the past to modern times often leads to fascinating conversations, and this resource provides a structured way for students to explore changes over time. Sending a copy home encourages family involvement, making it a meaningful, multi-generational learning experience.

Thanksgiving Day: A Time for Reflection and Sharing

Thanksgiving is a special time for reflection, and my Thanksgiving Fact Booklet is designed to help students understand the origins and significance of this cherished holiday. Whether they are sharing stories, drawings, or writings with their families during the holiday season.

Thank You for Your Support!

As we head into the holidayresource promotes independent learning and creativity. It’s the perfect tool to inspire gratitude holiday season, I am deeply thankful for the support of educators like you. I hope these November resources bring joy and learning to your classroom, and that they help you navigate the busy days ahead with ease and creativity.

Wishing you a peaceful and productive November! 

All these resources can be found in my store! 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher