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THE SUGARPLUM TREE
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Children may add sugarplums to a styrofoam tree or to a pine cone after they listen to the story. Various kinds of manufactured gumdrop trees can be purchased in craft stores or on the Internet.
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Before telling the story, attach sugarplums on the thorns of a bush branch or glue them on a limb of a deciduous tree. Show the children a bare branch first and then when the tree is magically changed into a sugarplum tree, twirl around and show them the sugarplum branch.
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You may wish to have a bowl of sugarplums, popcorn, and small pieces of fruit hidden nearby. After telling the story, ask the children to close their eyes, make a wish, and then choose a sugarplum. If you’re speaking to a large group, you may want to put on a glove and give a treat to each child.
Some children may want to string the popcorn and gumdrops alternately on a piece of thread and then hang the garland on a real or artificial evergreen tree.
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Visit the website, www.Pinterest.com for directions. You will need 2 pipe cleaners, a petal from an artificial flower, yarn, and a wooden bead. You may find the materials at your house or visit a craft store to find them in different colors.
Most cities and many schools all over the world celebrate the winter holidays with a production of the “Nutcracker”. Clara has many adventures before she transforms into the Sugar Plum Fairy at the end of the ballet; shortly after the Mouse King has been defeated, she becomes the Sugar Plum Fairy for the lavish celebration that takes place in a magical garden.
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BUSTER THE BULLY
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Be a Soccer Star, NOT a Bully!
A. Change one letter each time, creating a new word until you reach a new, positive word.
Example: Hate–Love Hate, Have, Hove, Love
Hate, Have, Hive, Live, Love
1. Mean–Good 2. Bully–Happy 3. Lost–Find 4. Fear–Soar 5. Rude–Kind 6. Curt–Nice 7. Junk–Real 8. Fear–Hope
Opposite Rhymes
B. Find a positive word that rhymes with the negative word: Example: cruddy – buddy
1. brute 2. bad or mad 3. dope 4. drugs 5. gloom or doom
6. whine 7. unkind 8. frightful 9. spiteful 10. fool
C. Think of a slogan for helping to prevent bullying. Illustrate!
Bullies are full of lies!
I’m a BUDDY, not a bully!
Change bully to buddy by adding a vertical smile to each “l”.
I’m Happy to be an ABC, an Anti-Bullying Child.
D. Have the children correct the spelling mistakes, then color the picture above.