The Japanese New Year, Oshogatsu is celebrated January 1-7. Adults
stay up for the watch night gong, which is sounded 108 times to rid
them; of the 108 human weaknesses described in Buddhist teachings.
Houses are scrubbed and families gather for a feast. Pine branches
and bamboo decorate the home in the hope they will bring the
inhabitants a long life. "Strong ties" are symbolized by
the hanging of a twisted rope decorated with oranges, which
symbolized "roundness and smoothness" in the coming year.
Read more about the Japanese New Year.
Nengajo-New Year Cards
Make New Year's Greeting Cards for family and friends.
During the New Year's holidays, people receive greeting cards, known
as nengajo, from relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Although
there are a few set phrases to be used for nengajo, designs and
layout can be made anyway one pleases.
Origami
Crane (School-Age)
Houses are decorated with origami cranes to bring peace and happiness
to the New Year.
Make origami cranes for room decoration.
New Year Games
Play Fuku Warai
(a bit like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey)
The object of the game is to place paper cutouts in the shape of the
eyes, nose, and mouth on the face while blindfolded.
The children spread out a piece of paper with the outline of a face
on it. Then one child is blindfolded with a cloth. The blindfolded
child tries to place cutouts of the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and nose
on the face, while the other children shout instructions--for
example, "Higher!" "To the left!"
"There!" After the child places the pieces, the blindfold
is removed so the child can view his or her handiwork. The face comes
out looking ridiculous, and the children can't keep from laughing.
For younger children use flannel facial features on a flannel face.
Play Battledore
(like badminton but uses no net)
Have at least two of the small wooden paddles (with a ball on elastic
band which is easily removed) and a shuttlecock. Allow children to
practice hitting the shuttlecock back and forth.
*Secret Pal Day
Have A Secret Pal Week
Group Activity: Have Children draw names so that each has a Secret
Pal in the class. Secret Pals send anonymous notes, cards, treats and
surprises for their special friends. See if classmates can identify
their pals. (Can do all week--On Friday see who can guess who their
secret pal is )
Rules:
I promise to make this a fun time for myself and my pal!
I promise to ask questions of the pal I am sending to AND answer
those of the pal sending to me!
*Stephen Foster Day
Stephen Foster's musical work is made up of 285 songs! Many of his
songs are still popular today, and some of them have passed into the
oral tradition of folk song
Some of S. Foster's songs: Oh! Susanna!, Swanee River, Camptown
Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Old Folks at Home, and Beautiful Dreamer.
Teach the children some of Stephen Foster's songs. Children are
amazed when told he wrote 285 songs in his lifetime.
*Other Sites
If you wish to learn more about Stephen Foster:
American Experience PBS-Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Center
for American Music Stephen Foster Page.
*A.A. Milne's Birthday
1882-1956 Winnie the Pooh author.
Winnie-the-Pooh
Character Guides
Poohsonality Test, icons, teacher section and more
*National Handwriting Day
John Hancock (information)
John Hancock's signature on the Declaration of Independence
National Handwriting Day Activity (pdf)
*Lewis Carroll's Birthday.
Words invented by L. Carroll: snark, jabberwok, jubjub bird, wabe,
baragroves, momrath, bandersnatch, and slithy toves.
Write on the chalkboard the list of words L. Carroll invented. Ask
children to paint a creature to go with each word and then make an
Exhibition of Lewis Carroll Word Creatures. Great bulletin board!
Other sites
1-Alice in Wonderland color pages
2-Alice in Wonderland color pages
Alice in Wonderland-An Interactive Adventure
Lots of fun games and puzzles.
Lewis Carroll Home page
Read the book "The Hunting of the Snark" online.
*Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Starfall's short presentaion on Mozart.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star's music was composed by Mozart.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star song
Twinkle,
twinkle, little star color page
Classics for Kids
Lesson Plans Mozart.
National Standards for music and Ohio Standards for music.
*National Kazoo Day
Sounds
Like Science-Kazoos from the U of M site. Will need toothed
combs and wax paper.
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