Mountain Meadows School

Moorpark, CA

In honor of the Winter Holidays, our school had a Singing Program for the parents. They sang about Christmas and Hanukkah. In the classroom we "studied" both of these winter holidays and Las Posadas which is a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's procession to Bethlehem when she was nearly ready to have the baby Jesus.

Las Posadas

The celebration of the Christmas "Posadas" began many years ago in Mexico and other Latin American countries. It is the way in which the people remember the birth of the Christ Child. On the evenings, from December 16th through December 23rd, a group of people representing the pilgrims Joseph and Mary (who is riding a burro and about ready to give birth) go door to door looking for lodging in the "Inn."

The Posadas go like this:

Pilgrims knock on the door of a house and say: In the name of heaven, we beg lodging, my beloved wife is weary.

From inside people answer: This is no Inn. Go Away! We are not open. We are afraid of thieves.

The Pilgrims sing: We are so tired. We have come from Nazareth. Please open. My beloved wife is weary.

From inside people answer: Please go away and stop bothering us, or the master may come and drive you out with sticks.

The Pilgrims say: My beloved wife is Mary, Queen of Heaven. She will be the mother of the Holy Child.

The Door opens and the everyone enjoys the traditional food of Buñuelos and drink the chocolate drink Atole.

This happens at a different home each of the nights December 16th through December 23rd. On the last night of Las Posadas (December 24th at midnight),the script is the same, but when the door is opened at the end...

...the people inside open the door and sing: Come in, Holy Pilgrims. Come into our humble dwellings. Come into our hearts. The night is one of joy, of joy. For here beneath our roof we shelter the Mother of God.

Everyone then feasts on the traditional foods of Pozole, Buñuelos, Tamales and Champurrado and the children break a piñata. Countries that celebrate Las Posadas are: Mexico, Columbia, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Many Latinos in the Southwestern United States also celebrate Las Posadas.

We made Buñuelos to celebrate this Winter Holiday.

Buñuelos

Mix well the flour, baking powder and sugar. Add the egg and shortening and mix until both are absorbed by the flour. Add water a little at a time until it becomes a dough consistency (like tortillas). Roll small balls of the dough (about 1/2 the size of your hand) into pancake-like shapes. Let them sit for awhile so they can dry a bit. This way they won't absorb too much oil when you fry them. Deep fry the buñuelos and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. They should be nice and crisp.

Here's an easier classroom recipe: Buy the flattened packaged Wonton in a Chinese store and deep fry it. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and they are similar to real buñuelos.

Christmas Tree Piñata

1. Make the form from manilla tagboard shaped into a cone about 2 feet tall. Leave a small opening in the top so you can fill it with candy.

2. Attach tagboard to the bottom of the cylinder with tape making sure it's strong and secure enough to hold candy.

3. Make long two inch wide strips of green crepe paper and cut to make fringe. Wrap this fringe around the cone to create the tree.

4. Make paper ornaments to hang off the ruffles.

5. After it is dried, fill up the piñata with candy and cover the top opening. Attach a wire through the top so it can be hung.

Blind-folded, the children take turns "batting" at the piñata with a stick. When it breaks, the candy comes out and the children eagerly collect the candy from the ground.

Atole

Brown the flour (without oil). Add water to flour and put mixture through strainer in saucepan (you only use what strains through or else you'll have a starchy mixture). To that, add the milk and cinnamon stick. Simmer and add chocolate. Atole is ready when chocolate had dissolved and slightly thickened. Add sugar to taste.

Ma'ema'e Elementary School

Hawaii

Aloha Week in Hawaii is celebrated in September with festivities that include a parade and presentation of the Aloha Week king and queen. My first-grade students celebrate in class as well with some of the following integrated activities:

We are fortunate in Hawaii to have a variety of exotic fruits available in our backyards. The parents readily volunteer to send fruits to our classroom for the Aloha fruit tasting party, especially since we are encouraging their children to make wise food choices (fruit snacks instead of candy). In the past we have sampled starfruit, papaya, guava, lychee, and mango along with the fruits found in our supermarkets. The students discover that these snacks are delicious as well as nutritious, providing vitamins nutrients, and fiber to keep them healthy. There is usually such an abundance of donated fruit that we make them into frozen treats to be enjoyed at a later time.

My students learned about giving clear directions in the process of creating and sharing these recipes:

FRUIT CUPS

1. Gather the ingredients:

2. Put the fruits you like into the cup.

3. Pour in the fruit juice..

4. Freeze until hard.

 

"COUSIN IT" BANANA POPS

 

1. Gather the ingredients to make 20 banana pops:

2. Poke a stick into the cut end of each banana. Freeze until hard.

3. Put the peanut butter, peanut butter chips, and vegetable oil in a pot and melt over low heat. Stir often.

4. Pour this into a tall, narrow jar and cool slightly.

5. Dip each frozen banana into the peanut butter mixture.

6. Press two Froot Loops onto the banana to make eyes. Then roll in the crushed cereal.

7. Keep in the freezer until ready to eat.

Enjoy with Aloha from Hawaii!

Ms. Sharon Chun and the First Graders of Ma'ema'e Elementary School

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