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Rediscovering Christmas

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While shopping for Halloween costumes, we had to walk through Christmas decorations. Isn't that the way things are now? It's all commercialism. Where is Jesus? Oh, yeah, he's on that plastic nativity set on Aisle 8. Lest you think I am judging others, know that we are guilty of it, too. Although we do not decorate our house until after Thanksgiving, the magic of Santa always seems to take the place of the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

Every year at about this time, I like to do a Christmas Book and Activity unit. This year, I am making it all about Jesus and the Nativity story. And it will be called Rediscovering Christmas.


How does Rediscovering Christmas work?

We will start our series on Friday, November 30th. Why a Friday? Each Friday we will list the book we are going to use for the following week and supplies you might need, in case you are doing the same books/activities as us.

Then the following Wednesday of the week, join us as we post our book and activity for the week. You can follow along with the books we are using or choose your own. This is your Rediscovering Christmas so make it a great one for your family! Each Wednesday we will also provide a Linky, so feel free to link up! 

The books and activities I am offering will be targeting ages 4-9. We will primarily be using the book The First Christmas by Francine M. O'Connor, as well as The One Year Children's Bible (but feel free to use any Bible you choose.)



We will also be reading the following books:

The Story of Christmas by Vivian French

First Christmas by Alastair MacDonald

The Shepherd Boy by Kim Lewis

The Christmas Star by Allia Zobel-Nolan

I am also encouraging moms to get involved in their own readings and devotionals that will correspond with what the kids will be reading and doing. We will use The Christmas Story by G.A. Myers.


Co-hosting with me on this Rediscovering Christmas journey is Shannon. She has a fantastic blog called Butterfly Wishes Wonderland Dreams. Although she is super busy with her two school-aged daughters and goes to college herself, she still finds time to teach her girls at home using literature, art, nature, and cooking. She always inspires me to provide more fun and deeper learning experiences for my kids, and I often copy off of her! You will be blessed with her approach to the Christmas season and her activities.

Shannon's girls are in catholic school and they spend all of the Advent season studying what Christmas is really about. But it is important to her to bring their learning home, too.  They will do their Rediscovering Christmas activities on each Sunday of Advent. She picked out some great books that will bless your time with your children this Christmas season.

They plan to use The Nativity Story by Geraldine McCauhrean and Sophy Williams, along with their Catholic Youth Study Bible as their main books with the following four as supplemental books to make this a literature-rich Christmas.

The Twelve Prayers of Christmas by Candy Chand
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
The Little Shepherd Girl: A Christmas Story by Juliann Henry (if you have boys, feel free to grab a book about a shepherd boy)
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell

Shannon is also doing her own study, and invites moms to join her. She will be using Carols: A Christmas Devotional. This plan is 25 days and she plans to start it on November 25th. She will also be exploring Christmas Carols in her study, and will have more information about that on her blog. (I actually wasn't planning on doing this, but after looking at it I have decided I have to fit it in!! It looks excellent!)

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities for you and your children to Rediscover Christmas with us. You can follow one or both of our plans, or you can develop your own. There are a couple of mom devotionals to choose from, as well. The point is: Bring Christ up front and center in your schooling and family. Join us!

See you on November 30th. In the meantime, enjoy a special Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
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Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 15, 2012 at 7:47 AM

    I totally agree with you. Now in the stores, Christmas goes up at the same time of Halloween decorations instead of waiting to afterwards. We don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving and every year we tend to decorate less and less. Probably because the children are getting older. I downloaded Journey to Bethlehem, A Simple Advent Journey for your Family from Bow of Bronze to use for the month of December. It has crafts, scripture, devotionals, advent candle lighting and so much more. Really looking forward to doing this.
    Blessings
    Diane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NicoleNovember 15, 2012 at 9:04 AM

      So glad you are joining us, Diane, and making your Rediscovering Christmas your own!!

      Delete
  2. LJS November 16, 2012 at 6:56 AM

    This is exactly what we need right now. My girls are 10 and 12 and at an age when they believe in the magic of this holiday but see other get caught up in Santa and they wonder how to reconcile Santa with our faith. It is a confusing time and I want to lead them through this with grace and beauty. I am going to look into these resources. We are frantically trying to tie up some loose ends so we can use our December to celebrate the season and the true reason for the season.

    Jessica

    ReplyDelete

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