An American Girl Christmas - Day #4

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary for today.

Thursday - Molly 1944

Copywork

"They had their traditional Christmas Eve supper of scrambled eggs, bacon, hot chocolate, and cinnamon toast before they hung their stockings on the mantle. Mom read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" just as Dad read it every year."

Music Study

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Picture Study

Christmas Homecoming by Norman Rockwell 1948

Snack

Popcorn (made the old fashioned way on top of the stove - not in a microwave)

Movie

We watched "Molly- An American Girl on the Homefront"

We talked about what a big deal it was for a girl like Molly to go to the movies.

Although we didn't watch the whole movie, my goal was for the girls to see the Christmas section of the movie. They did get to see part of the movie, but we ran out of time.

An American Girl Christmas - Day #3

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Wednesday - Addy 1874

Copywork

"When it was time to go back for dessert, Addy ignored all the cakes and pies and headed straight for Momma's sweet-potato pudding in the shining black skillet. As she savored each smooth sweet bite, she thought about Poppa, Sam and Esther."

Picture Study

The Underground Railroad by Charles T Webber; 1893

Craft - Picture Quilt

We looked at picture a picture quilt made by Harriet Powers in 1886. We discussed who she was and tried to identify as many Bible stories as we could from her quilt. Then the girls designed a quilt block using construction paper. The older girls did a great job with this, but I think the younger girls had a hard time understanding what to do. I should have finished one myself so they could see what the assingment was.

Cooking activity

Addy's Mini Sweet Potato Pies

Taken from the American Girls Party Book

Music study
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

One of the advantages of homeschooling is that all ages can participate. My son who is 5 came into the room off and on to see what we were doing. Sometimes he would sit and do the activity with us. The nice part is that he was invited in - not by me, but by the girls who were participating. They pulled up a chair and asked him to be a part of what we were doing.

An American Girl Christmas - Day #2

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Tuesday - Josefina 1824

Copywork - "Christmas Eve was called "la Noche buena" - the good night. And this Christmas Eve felt like a very good night to Josefina. Nina was hers to love and care for at last."

Picture Study -Las Posadas 2000 by Carmen Lomas Garza

We discussed Las Posadas and what happens. This picture was especially nice because it is so colorful and is modern.

Craft

Decorated a hair comb with rinestone jewels. This idea came from Just Call Me Jammin. She has some great ideas of activities to do with the American Girls books.

Made a memory book as explained in the American Girls Club Handbook.

Music Study

We listened to the songs from Josefina's time from the American Girls Christmas CD.

Snack

Hot chocolate and cookies

An American Girl Christmas - Day #1

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Monday Feliticy - 1774

Copywork - "Felicity stood on a stool to lift the ark down from its high shelf. The ark was a special toy they brougnt down only at Christmastide. All three children loved to play with the wooden boat and the small painted animals that went inside. Now they sat at mother's feet, happily lining the animals up in pairs."

Picture Study

Sewing project - Pincusion (Found in Felicity's Craft Book)

This was a worthwhile project. It took a long time to finish, but the pincusions came out beautifully and the girls really enjoyed working on them.

Music Study

Deck the Halls

Snack

I made a pound cake ahead of time and called it a Twelfth Night Cake. I did bake a bean into it and we had a girl who was "Queen of the Day".

Resources for today: