Our little homeschool cooperative has expanded to 12 little ones, and still meets weekly on Friday mornings. In addition, we are gathering on Monday evenings to celebrate Advent with a beautiful spiral, singing, a short ritual, and a shared meal. It’s very sweet, and I hope to take and share some photos in the coming weeks. Today, I will share our December circle time, which is a combination of nature-based, Christmas, and Advent songs, fingerplays, and movement.
This month we have enjoyed listening to stories about St. Nicholas, The Christmas Rose, and the wonderful children’s book, Holly and Ivy.
Some of my favorite resources for creating our circle are the lovely CD Come Follow Me, the Kindergarten With Your 3-6 Year Old and Joyful Movement book from Christopherus, and the Winter curriculum from Lavender’s Blue Homeschool. I also get much inspiration online from the many other homeschooling bloggers who generously share their beautiful circles.
December and Advent Circle
Opening Song:
Good morning dear Earth (pat ground)
Good morning dear Sun (arms up)
Good morning dear Stones, and the plants every one. (fists walk for stones, plants grow)
Good morning dear animals, and the birds in the trees. (stroke “fur”, flutter hands)
Good morning to you, and good morning to me! (extend hands out, then to heart)
Five Tall Candles (fingerplay)
Five Tall Candles stand in a row (hold up five fingers)
Burn so bright till the wind starts to blow,
Then WHOOSH goes the wind (blow on finger)
And out one will go (lower one finger)
(Repeat with 4,3,2, and 1)
Autumn Goodbye
Autumn Goodbye
Autumn Goodbye
You may no longer stay,
Winter is on its way.
Autumn Goodbye
Autumn Goodbye!
March of the Gnomes
Ho, ho, ho, we gnomes all walk in a row (march in a circle)
Ho, ho, ho, we gnomes all walk in a row
We hammer and knock the stone and the rock (use arms to hammer)
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho!
We hammer and knock the stone and the rock
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho!
Peace Like a River
I got peace like a river, (wave hands like a flowing river)
I got peace like a river,
I got peace like a river
In my soul (x2)
I got joy like a fountain (clap hands together and up like a fountain)
I got joy like a fountain
I got joy like a fountain
In my soul (x2)
I got love like an ocean (interlace hands and roll like ocean waves)
I got love like an ocean
I got love like an ocean
In my soul (x2)
Christmas is Coming
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat.
Please to put a penny in the old man’s hat.
If you haven’t got a penny, then a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then god bless you!
Advent Verse:
The first Light of Advent It is the Light of stones:
The Light that shines in seashells In crystals and our bones.
The second Light of Advent It is the Light of plants:
Plants that reach up to the sun And in the breezes dance.
The third Light of Advent, It is the light of beasts:
The Light of faith that we may see In greatest and in least.
The fourth Light of Advent It is the Light of humankind:
The Light of hope, of thoughts and deeds,
The Light of hand, heart and mind.
Source: http://waldorflondon.co.uk/2011/01/advent-verse/
The Friendly Beasts
Old English Christmas Carol
Written By: Unknown, Copyright Unknown
Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town.”
“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
“I,” said the cow, all white and red
”
I gave Him my manger for a bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.”
“I,” said the cow, all white and red.
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn,
“I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn.”
“I,” said the sheep with curly horn.
“I,” said the dove from the rafters high,
“Cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I.”
“I,” said the dove from the rafters high.
“I,” said the camel, yellow and black,
“Over the desert, upon my back,
I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men’s pack.”
“I,” said the camel, yellow and black.
Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.
Advent Song:
Light the Advent Candle one
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day
Chorus:
Candle, candle, burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle, burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas Light
Light the Advent Candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night
Chorus
Light the Advent Candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing “Peace on Earth”
At the Blessed Saviour’s birth
Chorus
Light the Advent Candle four
Think of joy forever more
Christ child in a stable born
Gift of love that Chrismas morn
Chorus
[…] in between each child’s walk through the spiral, and it was quite beautiful. This post has a complete list of all of our favorite December/Advent […]