Assemble A Paper Shoebox Nativity

       The stories about the birth of Jesus are most important to present to the children at Christmas time. We suggest, therefore, that the events which occurred at the time of the birth of God's Son be visualized in every possible way. (first publisher was by Standard) The assembly of these scenes as a handwork project is not only enjoyable, but also profitable, because 90% of our lessons are learned by "doing" them. Encourage and help your children to prepare this Nativity scene. This scene may be set up on the mantel-piece, under the tree, or on a table in the classroom. If handled with care, it can be put away with the tree ornaments from year to year. One package of dark-blue crepe paper is more than enough for the background. Attach it to the wall with blue thumbtacks or scotch tape. Paste the big star and the angels to the background. Note the one angel speaking to the shepherds on the left of the host of angels in the heavens. The whole story is presented here regardless of time. The shepherds and the Wise-men did not visit the baby Jesus upon the same night, but we can imagine them far away. Set the Wisemen as far to the right as space allows. 

       To build a stable for the paper printables below, start with a shoe box and lid. Cut two side edges horizontal of each other as shown on the right in figure 1. Paste "A" to "B," positioning the lid to hang over the front opening. Use tacky glue between the layers of cardboard and cover the sides and roof using brown paper bags or brown construction paper. Make sure to cover the open triangle shapes at either end with the layers of paper to make the stable stronger. Support the roof with two twigs, hot glue these in place with the help of an adult. (shown in figure 2.) Make a pattern for the roof a little larger than the roof. There should be about an inch more paper to hang off the roof; cut the additional paper into a fringe as seen in figure 3. Cut more paper, yellow, into shreds to include piled up about the stable for cushion; this is the straw for the animals. Figure 4. is the assembled stable.

More Nativity Crafts for Kids:

• "The Old, Old Story" Silhouettes - from Color The Bible
• Children can model their own Nativity scene! - using oven-bake clay or Sculpey
• Print color and cut a Nativity Diorama using paper creche figures from our Belznickle Blog here

The baby Jesus printable. Cut the manger from heavy brown construction
paper. Fold and paste, as directed. Cut the yellow hay on all solid lines, to
make a fringe. Fold the fringe so that it will not lie evenly; paste this to the
manger. Cut the baby from flesh colored paper. Draw his face and fold his
arms up. Paste white clothes to the baby for warmth. Lay him in the
manger, but do not paste him down if you want to lay him in his
mother's arms later.

Mary and Joseph printable. Fold on the dotted lines, cut on the solid lines.
Layer on with glue the headdress and veil for each figure. Mary is seated
Joseph is standing next to her.

The donkey and sheep printable. Cut two donkey shapes and paste these 
back-to-back; fold under the tab between the two sides so that the donkey
may be displayed in a standing position, inside of the stable. Paste two 
ears on either side of the donkey. Follow these same steps for the sheep.

The star and rays printable. Use yellow except for the center star, which is 
tin foil or perhaps white paper with glitter on top. The rays may be as long
as you wish. Paste all of these onto a piece of large blue construction paper
or poster board for the backdrop of your shoebox nativity.

The shepherd and angels printable. Bend, cut and paste according to
the directions above.

More shepherds and sheep printable. Bend and but the figure
as shown on dotted lines. Layer the pieces together. Treat the
sheep as before.

Palm tree and camel printable. Print it three times. Cut two camel shapes and
paste these back-to-back; fold under the tab between the two sides so that the
 camel may be displayed in a standing position, inside of the stable. Cut the 
solid lines of the blanket into a fringe; do the same for the palm tree leaves.

Three wise men printable. Print it three times. Layer on his 
clothing as it is illustrated on the same pattern sheet above.

The Spose Brigade

 The Spose Brigade Illustrated
by Eda Bowers Robinson

Illustration with very cute drawings.

S'pose a foot and a foot make two feet.

Does a boot and a boot make two beet?

S'pose a tooth and a tooth make two teeth.

Should a booth and a booth make two beeth?

S'ose a deer and a deer make two deer.

Could a seer and a seer make two seer?

S'pose a sheep and a sheep make two sheep.

Can a peep and a peep make two peep?

S'pose a wife and a wife make two wives.

Will a fife and a fife make tow fives?

S'pose a child and his friend find more s'poses

To add to his rhyme, 'fore it closes.

The Owl and The Bobolink

 The Owl and The Bobolink

A Bobolink trilled a roundelay.
"Halloo!" cried an owl. "That's fine!
I'd like to learn your song--if I may;
It is worth a dozen of mine!

"Folks say that my singing makes them blue;
But I practice the livelong night,
And I can't get a note beyond 'Tu-whoo,'
Though I try with all my might."

"Ha! ha!" laughed the bobolink. "Bob-o-bo-lee!
Men call me a frivolous bird;
But you are pictured from sea to sea
As wondrously wise, I've heard."

Then the bobolink laughed and laughed again,
Till his feathers shook with mirth.
"Such curious, comical creatures are men!
They're the funniest things on earth!

The Elephant Poem

The Elephant

The Elephant is very large,
And I am very small;
Though he looks down on you and me,
He is not proud at all.
You'd think a beast as big as he
Would want a monstrous chunk
Of anything to eat, but he
Eats peanuts with his trunk.
Yes, Nature is most wonderful!
Small things are vain and naughty,
When big ones love a peanut and 
Are too big to be haughty.

Lincoln Poem

 

Lincoln
I Thought I heard his voice to-day
Speak kind and low
To every one;

I thought I heard him gently say,

"With malice toward none."

I thought I heard his voice to-day

Speak kind and low

To great and small;

I thought I heard him gently say,

"With clarity for all."

This was his maxim, I am told,

His law of life,

His golden rule,

For warring states and nations bold,

Also for home and school.

by Frances Higgins.

Fire Flies

Fire Flies

by Grace Wilson Copeland

I like to chase the fire flies,

Chase them to and fro;

I like to watch them dart about,

Their little lamps aglow.

 

In the evening's twilight dim

I follow them about;

I often think I have one caught,

And then his light goes out.

 

I cannot tell just where he is

Until he winks, you see,

Then far away I see his light,

He's played a joke on me.

Turkey Patterns for The Teacher's Classroom

        Teachers and students sometimes may need a little help drawing Thanksgiving turkeys for their murals, art projects or any crafts they would like to include a friendly turkey in. Here are three restored for your imaginations!

One large turkey pattern for classroom decorations.

Two large gobblers for your classroom farmyard...

Thanksgiving by Mary Charlotte Billings

 Thanksgiving

Three centuries ago there came
Unto a strange, new land
Pilgrims journeying from afar,
A grave, God-fearing band.
Crossing an unknown ocean
That their children might be free,
They made their home where forests grim
Shadowed a lonely sea.
And down the years the story comes
Of men and women brave,
Who knelt in thankful worship
Beside an alien wave,
No gold had they, or silver,
No cities rich and fair,
But grateful hearts gave thanks to God,
Whose guidance brought them there.
So now when dark November comes
And winds grow bleak and cold,
When all the land is rich with food,
And grain is bright as gold,
With simple words we thank our God,
and at firesides we pray,
When homefolk gather from afar,
To keep Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving by Susie M. Best

 Thanksgiving 

I am thankful for my parents
And my relatives and friends,
I am thankful for the blessings
That my Heavenly Father sends.

I am thankful for the harvest
That was plentiful and fine,
I am thankful for the banner
Floating o'er this land of mine.

I am thankful for Thanksgiving
And its very splendid dinner-
I am certain when I eat it
I will not be any thinner.

November's Way by Alice E. Allen

 November's Way

November has
Not time to weep, 
Because the summer's
Gone to sleep.

With driving wind
The leaves she sweeps,
And piles them into
Fragrant heaps.

The morning air
With smoke she fills
From bonfires kindled
On the hills.

Gray days and rain
She too must bring,
For these help make the
Far-off spring.

Then indoor fires
She sets ablaze,
And sings beside them
Songs of praise.

Owl Themed Bookplates for Students

        Does your child love owls? These are some of our family's favorite birds to watch in our neighborhood. Here I have included a printable of "owl" themed bookplates for every owl lover, young or old, to label their books with. These are free for students to use, however, this version is not intended for resale and shouldn't be uploaded to any other alternative web page or blog.

Black and white ''owl'' bookplates for students. Printable for home use or classroom only.

A Flowering Triangle Pattern Block Design

Questions/Activities for the flowering triangle design:

1. If you remove all of the trapezoids from this puzzle how many octagons are left over?
2. How many octagons does it take to make a complete flower in this design, including it's center?
3. How many triangles to you see in the overall design?

A Trapped Trapezoid Pattern Block Design

Questions/Activities for this trapped trapezoid design:

• Count the number of trapezoids found in the puzzle.
• Count the number of trapped trapezoids in the design.
• How many diamond shapes are in this puzzle?

A Big Fish Pattern Block Design

Questions/Activities for this big fish design:

• How many diamonds are hidden in this design?
• Count the number of triangles inside of the fish.
• Can you change the fish gills to green?

The Kangaroos

Kangaroo grazing peacefully in Australia.

Kangaroo baby in pouch.

       The  Kangaroo  lives  in  Australia. It  is  usually  found  in  small companies,  and  always  in  charge  by a  leader.  The first European to see  a  kangaroo  was  Captain  Cook,  in  New South  Wales,  in  1770,  and  it  is  said that  when  the  sailors  asked  the  natives the  name  of  the  strange  animal they  replied,  "Kangaroo,"  which,  as  a matter  of  fact,  meant  in  their  language, "What  do  you  say?"  However, this  name  has  remained  unchanged ever  since.
       The  skin  of  the  kangaroo  made a very  fine  leather,  and  its  flesh  was  good to  eat when it was hunted long ago. The  native  Australians  said that  it  afforded the  best  hunting  on the continent.
       Perhaps  the  most  wonderful  part  of  the  kangaroo  is  the  pouch  in  which  it carries  its young.  The  baby  kangaroo,  when  first  born,  is  not  much  over  an inch  or  two  in  length,  and  for  about  eight  months  it  lives  in  this  pouch,  until  it is  strong  enough  to  hop  about  beside  its  mother.  The  doe  kangaroo  is  very watchful  of  her  young,  for  at  the  least  suspicion  of  danger,  the  youngster scrambles  into  the  pouch,  and  away  goes  the  mother  in  gigantic  leaps.  The kangaroo  thrives  well  in other places.  Quite  a  number  have  been  brought  from Australia, to other countries and  are  now  to  be  seen  in  a variety of zoos and  parks,  hopping  about  quite comfortably.  They  breed  freely,  too,  and  appear  to  tolerate alternative damp  climate very  well. When  Captain  Cook  first  discovered  the  kangaroo,  they  roamed everywhere  in  great  numbers  from little  ones,  the  size  of  a  rabbit,  to the  old  fellows,  as  tall  as  a  man ; but  now  they  are  becoming  very rare,  and  it  looks  as  though  many species  might  become  extinct.
       At  present  the  kangaroo  is  limited to  the  less  frequented  bush lands,  far  from  the  towns in Australia.
       The  kangaroo  can  be  taught  to box  with  boxing-gloves.  This  was sometimes  seen  in circuses,  but the show was  always  attended  with  some little  danger,  for  the  instant  the  kangaroo thinks  it  is  getting  the  worst of  it,  it  will  kick,  and  a  kick  from a  full-grown  kangaroo  meant great injury,  if  not  death  outright to a man.

Kangaroos in danger of hitting trees.

Description of a Kangaroo Hunt, Right. 

 

       The    men    ride   on horse-back,    while   a   pack    of   large, fierce    hounds   follow    the   kangaroo, which   goes    over    the   ground    at   a curious  gait,  consisting  of  a  series  of  immense  leaps.     Its  hind  legs  are  of great  size  and  strength,  and  when  brought  to  bay  the  creature  defends  itself with  kicks. The  front  legs  are  very  small,  and  do  not  seem  to  be  of  much  use except  to  convey  food  to  the  mouth. When  a  kangaroo  is  chased  by  hunters, it  has  an  odd  habit  of  looking  back  over  its  shoulder,  and  instances  have  been known  where  it  has  collided  with  a  tree,  and  thus  brought  itself  to  an  untimely end. 

• Learn About Kangaroos With Ozzie
• What Kangaroos eat for breakfast at the zoo? 
• Feeding baby kangaroos with Chris 'Brolga' Barns
  

The Singing Mice

 The Singing Mice
by Elizabeth A. Davis

A Little family of mice
Lived in a hold as snug and nice
As ever mice could wish to live.
They'd plenty, and a grain to give
To any poorer little mouse
That chanced to come about the house.
But one day - 'twas the strangest thing -
They fancied they must learn to sing;
Then such a racket as begun!
From early morn till set of sun
The mother mouse grew wild with dread;
She said such actions turned her head,
That mice were never made to sing,
And surely 'twould a trouble bring.
At this the mousies only laughed
They thought their mother merely chaffed;
But still they sung, and sung, and sung,
Till every beam and rafter rung,
And good old farmer Brown declared
He'd have to have his house repaired:
''It's old and shaky, and the wind
Comes searching every crack to find.''
''Not so,'' then Mistress Brown replied;
''It's rats and mice that sneak and hide,
And keep up such a frightful din
You'd think the house had tumbled in;
But I've a remedy for that, -
I'll get a good and faithful cat.''
Next morning came, and Mistress Brown
An early journey took to town,
Returning with her friend, the cat,
An animal so sleek and fat
She looked as though she'd fed on mice,
Or something else as sweet and nice,
Her whole life long. And, oh! her eyes
So green, so sleepy, and so wise!
She crept along the kitchen floor,
And sniffed at every closet door,
Across the hall, and through the house, -
'Twas evident she smelt a mouse;
At length she disappeared from view -
What follows now is strictly true -
Beneath the crazy garret floor
She found the mice - they numbered four -
All in their hole, and quite content,
Unthinking of the punishment
Their mother said would find them out
When they began to sing and shout.
So, little children, give an ear
When wise ones counsel danger near.

Tear and paste a candy corn picture for preschool...

Candy corn filled with torn construction paper.

       This simple, craft for early learners is perfect for the sharing of sweets at Halloween because every child can taste one piece of candy corn without it costing too much or spoiling their appetites. It is a project that also is a great opportunity to discuss the idea of layers, or of order or the number 3, of course. 
       The action involved with tearing paper helps to develop the young students small motor skills. These skills will be needed desperately when students begin to write their letters and numbers! Projects like the following are likened to ''exercise'' for the fingers. The more young students ''exercise'' their hands, the better prepared they will be when writing with other tools.

 Supply List:

• 8 x11 standard sheet of black construction paper
• white school glue
• white pencil
• orange, white and yellow construction paper for tearing
• candy corn pattern (below)

Use white pencil to draw candy corn.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. The teacher will first need to draw a candy corn pattern similar to the one shown in the example here.
2. Cut out the pattern and trace around it on top of a piece of black construction paper. The teach will probably need to prepare this step as well and possibly step three. It is really up to the instructor to decide if his or her students can accomplish these first three steps.
3. Draw the three divisions using two lines where the colors of candy corn are to be pasted. 
4. Young students should tear small pieces of white paper and glue these on to the first or top layer of candy corn drawn on the black background paper.
5. In the center, youngsters should paste a layer of ripped orange paper.
6. And third, at the bottom of the candy corn, is where students should fill in the space with the ripped yellow paper.
7. Take the time to talk with the preschool students about what else is white, orange and yellow during the Fall. They may respond with ''ghosts'' being white, ''pumpkins'' being orange and ''leaves'' being yellow. 
8. Take care to also discuss that candy corn has three distinct layers in a particular order. Use vocabulary like: top, middle and bottom and first, second and third or one, two and three. 

''Chicken feed'' or ''candy corn'' was 

invented by George Renninger.

The Camel

The animal called, "ship of the desert.''

       The  Camel  has  been  called  the  "ship  of  the  desert,"  and  for  a  very  good reason.  The  mighty  sandy  wastes  of  Africa  and  Asia  would  be  untraveled but  for  this  useful  creature.
       Its  stomach,  upon  which  the  life  of  the  camel  depends  during  its  long journeys,  is  constructed  in  a  wonderful  fashion.  It  contains  a  number  of  cells which  carry  a  great  quantity  of  water.  When  drinking,  the  camel  takes  in  sufficient to  fill  all  these  cells,  which  is  enough  for  a  six  or  seven  days'  journey, and  when  the  camel  gets  thirsty  it  draws  upon  this  supply.  It  is  thus  able  to live  a  week  while  crossing  the  blinding,  sandy  wastes  without  stopping  for water.  Some  naturalists  have  claimed  that  the  camel  has  never  been  wild,  for as  far  back  as  history  can  trace  it  has  always  been  in  the  service  of  man.
       In  parts  of  Arabia,  on  the  great  steppes  of  Russia,  and  the  plateau  of Central  Asia,  camels  are  sometimes  seen  in  a  wild  state,  but  they  have  probably escaped  from  some  of  the  tame herds.  An  attempt  was  once  made  to introduce  the  camel  into  the  United  States.  The  animals  were  taken  out  to Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  The  plan  was  a  failure  and  the  herd  rapidly diminished  by  decease.  A  few  of  the  beasts  escaped  and  for  years  afterward were  seen  from  time  to  time  in  various  parts  of  Arizona.
       The  Arabian  camel  has  a  single  hump,  while  the  Bactrian,  or  camel  of Asia,  has  two  humps.  These  humps  are  formed  of  fat.  The  Arabs  can  tell the  condition  of  a  camel  by  its  hump.  After  a  long  journey  it  becomes  flabby and  sometimes  disappears  altogether,  while  the  hump  of  a  camel  in  good health  should  be  firm  and  solid.  The  feet  of  the  camel  are splendidly  built for  the  work  it  has  to  do,  as  most  of  its  journeys  are  over  small,  loose  rocks and  shifting  sand.  Its  toes  are  wide  apart  and  well  padded  beneath,  so  that  it has  a  firm  foot-hold.  It  has  always  been  the  custom  to  load  the  camel  kneeling, hence  it  has  developed  a  hard,  leathery  surface  over  its  knees,  which serve  as  a  protection  against  sore  places  being  formed.  The  camel  has  been credited  with  greater  speed  than  it  really  has.  There  is  one  species  called the  "heirie,"  which  can  trot  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an  hour  and  keep  it  up from  sunrise  to  sunset,  but  the  common  camel's  stride  is  seven  feet,  and taking  them  on  the  average  of  thirty-six  to  the minute  makes  its  speed  about three  miles  an  hour.
       It  would  be  hard  to  find  a  creature  with  a  more  morose  and  ugly  disposition. It  is  great  fun  to  watch  a  camel  being  loaded,  for  its  temper is worst at this  time.  The  Arab  comes  in front  of  his  beast,  taking  care  to  keep  out  of  the way  of  its  teeth,  and  coaxes  and  begs  the  animal  to  get  down  on  its  knees.  If this  has  no  effect,  he  gets  a  big  stick  and  whacks  and  pokes  it  until  it  obeys. He  must  tie  it  down  by  the  muzzle  or  it  will  rise  the  minute  his  back  is turned.  Then  the  patient  Arab  piles  his  boxes  on  top  of  a  saddle  and  straps them  there,  while  the  camel  keeps  up  a  gurgling  and  grunting,  all  the  time trying  to  bite  its  master's  legs.  When  the  loading  is  finished,  the  camel  rises to  its  feet.     If  it  is  in  an  extra  bad  temper,  it  will  buck  the  load  off  its  back.
       The  camel  lives  to  a  great  age,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  world  is  held  in great  veneration.  Sometimes  a  white  camel  is  born.  These  animals  are  always very  highly  prized.  The  dervish  warrior,  the  Madhi  of  the  Soudan,  rode  upon a  white  camel.  The  beast  is  said  to  have  been  a  magnificent  specimen,  being larger  than  any  of  the  commoner  species.  It  was  afterward  killed  in  battle. In  the  deserts  they  take  the  place  of  regular  cavalry.

More About Camels:

• Adorable baby camel at Idaho News
• Baby camel born at Whipsnade Zoo
• Camel facts by Animal Fact Files
• Many camel coloring sheets here

The Giraffe

The giraffe is the tallest animal on Earth.

       The  Giraffe  is  the  tallest  of  all  animals,  not  excepting  the  elephant.This  is  chiefly  due  to  its  wonderful  neck.  A  full-grown  giraffe often  exceeds twenty  feet.  On  the  top  of  its head  are  two  curious  bones.  They  are  an  out- growth from  the  skull  and  not  horns,  as  you  might  think.  Also,  farther  down on  its  forehead  is  another  bone  growth,  somewhat  like  the  small  horn  of  the unicorn.  Its  white  skin  is  oddly  marked  with  brown  patches,  which  really serve  as  a  protection,  for  when  standing  near a  tree-trunk  the  colors  match  so well  that  it  is  hard  to  see  a  giraffe.  The  skin  is  also  very  thick,  and  tough enough  to  turn  a  rifle-bullet,  unless  it  is  well  aimed.  The  Zulus  used to make  their war-shields  from  the  hide  of  the  giraffe.  The tongue  is  long  and  thin,  and  as its  owner  feeds  upon  leaves  it  is  of  the  greatest use  to  pick  out  just  those  that it  wants.  Its  eye  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  and  is  mild  and pleasing.  The giraffe,  like  the  kangaroo,  is silent,  never  uttering  a  sound,  even  after  it  has been  badly  wounded.  In  spite  of  its  long  legs  it  is  not  a  swift  runner,  but  at the  same  time  it  defends  itself  and  keeps  off  the  hyena,  jackal,  and  other  small animals  by  kicking  all  around  with  lightning  speed.  When  one  thinks  of  the range  of  a  giraffe's  heels,  it  is  clear  that  they  might  become  formidable.
       A  hunter  on  one  occasion  watched  a  lion  creeping  toward  a  fine  old  bull giraffe,  but  just  as  it  was  about  to  spring  its  victim  must  have  caught  sight  of it,  and  like  a  flash  the  giraffe  sprang  round  and  kicked  furiously.  One  blow caught  the  lion  full  in  the  chest,  and  to  the hunter's  surprise,  the  "king  of  beasts "  beat  a  hasty  retreat.  This  giraffe  had  a  fearful  wound  in  its  flank, where  the  claws  of  the  lion  had  struck  it,  but,  on  the  whole,  it  seemed  well pleased  with  its  work.
       On  another  occasion  three  lions  were  seen  to  steal  toward  a  small  herd of  giraffes,  and  singling  out  one  bull,  they  all  attacked  it  together.  One  lion sprang  on  its  flank  and  was  immediately  kicked  off,  but  before  the  giraffe  could gain  any  advantage  another  lion  sprang  on  its  back.  The  giraffe  made  a frantic  struggle  to  reach  the  forest,  but  before  it  could  get  far  the  third  lion sprang  upon  its  neck,  and  the  first  lion,  which  had  been  kicked  off,  hung  on its  flank  again.  By  their  combined  weight  they  managed  to  pull  their  victim down.  Few  animals  could  have  withstood  the  attack  of  three  lions  for  such a  length  of  time.
       The  giraffe  causes  much  fun  in  the  zoological  gardens  by  stealing  the artificial  flowers  from  the  tops  of  the  ladies'  hats.  The  visitors  stand  near  the enclosure  thinking  they  are  safe,  but  forget  that  the  creature's  long  neck enables  it  to  reach  clean  over  the  railings.  The  giraffe  is  good-tempered,  and soon  gets  to  know  its  keepers.

More About Giraffes:

• Baby giraffe makes new friends...
• New baby giraffe at Houston Zoo
• Study finds there are four kinds of giraffes

The Spring Bucks

        The  American  Spring-buck  is  an  antelope  which  is  found  on  the  prairies of  the  Western  States.  They  move  about  in  great  herds,  which  are  sometimes seen  in  one  district,  then  they  vanish  and  appear  in  an  entirely  new  locality.
       The  African  Springbok  is  still  found  in  great  numbers  throughout  the Transvaal  and  Orange  Free  State.  As  late  as  1891  the  springboks  made  a migration  north  toward  the  Zambesi  River.  They  took  several  days  to  pass  an up-country  station,  and  the  sheep-herders,  who  are  accustomed  to  accurately guess  the  numbers  of  herds  of  animals,  estimated  that  there  must  have  been over  half  a  million  springboks  on  the  move.  These  migrations  are  not  regular, but  generally  take  place  when  the  food  in  the  plains  gives  out.

Spring bucks resting and grazing in the fields.

More About Spring Bucks:

• 5 fascinating facts about springboks
• springy baby springbok - second animal covered in this video