christmas elf 2010

little_evo

Nenen wrote: »

Thank you Yummy-Mummy-Amy and everyone who has contributed to this thread. I stumbled across it and am now hooked! I teach a Year 3 class and was a bit worried they were rather cynical about Christmas and may be starting to doubt the existence of a certain jolly man in red. I needn't have worried as, when I explained to them last Friday that Santa had written to me asking if they could help train one of his elves, they were more excited than I have ever seen a group of children in school become! I was bombarded with questions and had to think on my feet with the speed of lightning. Thanks to you lovely people, many of the answers had already been provided for me on here.

There was a bit of panic when one of the children asked if the elf would be like one of the angels in Dr Who, which apparently pretended to be toys and then come alive with laser beams in their eyes to kill people! I explained that Santa would never send us anyone like that, he only has loveable, kind elf friends who help him make toys and the elves are only cheeky and mischievous not wicked!

I explained that we would have to get the classroom ready and write a letter to Santa to say we would like to help and I have never seen a group of children so keen not only to write a letter but to do it in their very best handwriting. I had to chuckle when one little boy (who finds writing very laborious and usually does the bare minimum) wrote a long letter which ended with, "Please could you send us the most naughtiest, most cheekiest and most mischieviest elf you have please Santa?" I think he is hoping such a naughty elf will make him look like an angel in comparison! :rotfl:

I have had a lovely weekend getting my elf ready - much nicer than the usual paperwork I spend time on. My teaching assistant is also in her element and we plan to spend Tuesday evening after school transforming the classroom into a winter wonderland for our elf.

We've named our elf Fizzy Tumbleflump Merrycracker. The Tumbleflump and Merrycracker came from an online elf name generator but the Fizzy was the name I came up with as the children were fizzing with excitement!
Thanks again.:beer:

PS If there are any other teachers out there with elves coming perhaps we could swap ideas for educational activities. So far I plan to do the following:

1) Maths- Make six pointed snowflakes (both on computer and traditional paper/scissors method) to decorate the classroom to teach line and rotational symmetry
2) Maths- Use elf ages to teach addition and subtraction of Hundreds, tens and units (I've told the class elves live to be over a thousand and have to be 135 years old before they can go out on training missions)
3) Lots of Literacy activities including, writing reports to Santa on our elf, keeping a journal of what the elf has done (recounts), leaving letters for the elf, using non-fiction books to find out about snow, reading the elf's reports to Santa and letters to us, writing elf stories.
4) Science - we are studying 'Materials' so will do experiments to find the best material to keep an elf warm/cold/dry and/or experiements to find the most absorbent materials for clearning up puddles left by melting snow.
5) D&T we are making picture frames which will hold a picture of our elf and will make Christmas cards which involve an elf moving.
6) PHSCE - empathising/thinking of others - Santa has to think of what each individual child wants/needs in his/her stocking so will get the children to imagine they could give a stocking full of presents to someone they know. I will provide stocking templates for children to make a red stocking with white 'fur' on toes, heels and top. Then children draw, write and/or cut out pictures from magazines of things they would put in a stocking for their person and stick these on the stocking. They look lovely hung up in the classroom.
7) Art - observational drawing of our elf getting up to one of his tricks!

Obviously, teachers can only have an elf to stay if every child in the class celebrates Christmas and gets gifts from Santa (which they often do even if they are not Christians). Fortunately, all my class celebrate Christmas so I'm thrilled!

Just wanted to say I think it's fantastic you are doing this for your children and as I have a son in Year 3 right now I know what you meant by thinking about them being a bit cynical about it all as I was worried about my own as he currently questions me on everything!;) But both of my children are talking about our elf coming and my daughter's Year 2 class are super excited as she has been sharing the letters and Christmas card the elf has sent and the teacher is already asking if he can come in for a day.

yummy-mummy-amy

jevvers - tesco have a xmas doll called emily - she is part of their "chilly toy" range. i think they are about £5 etc. not seen this years but she is usually in some sort of winter clothes and cute.

Nenen

Hi again!

I've just finished making Fizzy's bed/sleeping bag out of an old novelty slipper I got for Christmas years ago but never really wore. It was a red fluffy bootee type so I cut the top off and blanket stitched round - instant bed. I will tell the children is one of Santa's old slippers he can sleep in so Fizzy doesn't feel homesick at night. I'm sure lots of old slippers could be used/adapted like this for no cost.

I'm not sure how to add a photo here but this is the URL for the photo on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...9&l=16828fd660

yummy-mummy-amy

Nenen wrote: »

Hi again!

I've just finished making Fizzy's bed/sleeping bag out of an old novelty slipper I got for Christmas years ago but never really wore. It was a red fluffy bootee type so I cut the top off and blanket stitched round - instant bed. I will tell the children is one of Santa's old slippers he can sleep in so Fizzy doesn't feel homesick at night. I'm sure lots of old slippers could be used/adapted like this for no cost.

I'm not sure how to add a photo here but this is the URL for the photo on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=106212916119031&set=a.106212776119045.10755.100001909703879&ref=nf

cant view the photo - page unavailable.

Nenen

yummy-mummy-amy wrote: »

cant view the photo - page unavailable.

Eeek- sorry. I think I had my Facebook photos set to only friends can see. I've changed it now so please can you try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10755&id=100001909703879&l=16828fd660

If that still doesn't work can anyone give me step by step instructions on how to post a photo on MSE please?

yummy-mummy-amy

Nenen wrote: »

Eeek- sorry. I think I had my Facebook photos set to only friends can see. I've changed it now so please can you try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10755&id=100001909703879&l=16828fd660

If that still doesn't work can anyone give me step by step instructions on how to post a photo on MSE please?

can see it now. will get my 3 elves to add him as friends once my boys are in bed!

hhad a thought, would the elf mask i made be of any use to you for your class?

little_evo

Nenen wrote: »

Eeek- sorry. I think I had my Facebook photos set to only friends can see. I've changed it now so please can you try this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10755&id=100001909703879&l=16828fd660

If that still doesn't work can anyone give me step by step instructions on how to post a photo on MSE please?

Good idea for a bed and like the look of your elf! Our elf is kinda big, I prefer to call him chunky and no slipper any size is good for him so he has to sleep in a snowman sack each night under the tree when he arrives.:D

littlenicsmummy

yummy-mummy-amy wrote: »

was it from vistaprint? if so they are self nking when you press it down.

ok thanks hun na tired it oot yet, will have a go later

Nenen

yummy-mummy-amy wrote: »

can see it now. will get my 3 elves to add him as friends once my boys are in bed!

hhad a thought, would the elf mask i made be of any use to you for your class?

Not sure what your mask is but sounds fun so I'd love a copy please.

PetuliaGristle

Hi amy, glad to hear your dog returned. dp texted Santa today to ask if an elf could visit our house. we've told dd Santa won't text back until tomorrow .