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A Visit with Santa
For children in grades K-4, Santa is videoconferencing with kindergartners and first, second, third, and fourth graders connected to the Virtual School on December 9th.
Participating students are strongly encouraged to write letters to Santa and mail to the Virtual School. This venture will encourage the students to develop writing skills while celebrating the joy of childhood at Christmas.
The students will each write a letter to Santa asking questions and making requests. During the videoconference, Santa will read some of the letters from schools in the videoconference and answer the students' questions. YOUR students' faces will light up, especially when Santa says their names.
MAIL the students’ letters to:
SANTA @ Vanderbilt Virtual School
2007 Terrace Place
Nashville, TN 37203
"How are the elves?" "How does Santa get down the chimneys?" and "How do reindeer fly?" are among the frequent questions often posed by excited students.
Santa Claus will talk about his preparations for his upcoming Christmas Eve deliveries and about his life as well as answer some of the students’ questions.
ACTIVITIES
1) Students are strongly encouraged to write letters to Santa with their questions. Here are some possible questions, but I know that your students will think of many more questions.
MAIL the students’ letters to:
SANTA @ Vanderbilt Virtual School
2007 Terrace Place
Nashville, TN 37203
"How are the elves?" "How does Santa get down the chimneys?" and "How do reindeer fly?" are among the frequent questions often posed by excited students.
Santa Claus will talk about his preparations for his upcoming Christmas Eve deliveries and about his life as well as answer some of the students’ questions.
Possible questions:
1. What if there is no chimney?
2. What if we move?
3. What if there is no snow?
4. How will Santa find me if we are visiting and not at our home on Christmas Eve?
5. How do the reindeer fly?
6. How does Santa understand all the different languages of the world?
7. What's Santa's favorite food?
8. Is there any food Santa doesn't eat?
9. How much does Santa weigh?
10. What are the elves' jobs?
11. What is Santa's favorite Christmas Eve snack?
12. How does Santa visit the whole world in one night?
13. How does Santa get all the toys into the sleigh at one time?
14. How does Santa get up and down my chimney?
15. What if there is a fire burning in the fireplace?
16. Does Santa have any children?
17. Will Santa always bring what I ask for?
18. Where does Santa get his red suit?
19. Does bad weather make it hard for Santa to drive his sleigh?
20. Does Santa have any hobbies?
21. Why is Santa's suit red?
22. Is there really a Santa Claus?
23. How did the reindeer get their names?
24. Why does Santa live at the Northpole?
25. Is Santa ever sad?
26. Which is Santa's favorite elf?
27. How many elves are there?
28. What is Santa's favorite kind of music?
29. What kind of treats do the reindeer like?
30. Does Santa really read the letters he gets?
2) If you’re looking for Christmas pictures to use for making Christmas cards or Calendars or just to decorate a handout, here are some sites worth visiting –
http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/
http://www.freegraphics.com/03_Holiday/Christmas/
http://www.christmas-graphics.com/
http://www.christmasfreebies.com/christmasgraphics.html
http://www.internetfamilyfun.com/christmasclipart.htm
3) Christmas Cookies for Santa
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cups butter
1 T. vanilla
1 egg
4 teaspoons milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream together sugar, nutmeg, butter and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Next, add egg and milk to creamed mixture. Sift flour, baking powder and salt and then
blend the sifted ingredients with the creamed mixture. Divide dough in half and chill for 1 hour or overnight.
On a clean, flat, lightly floured surface, roll out sections of dough to about 1/8 inch.
Cut into cookies with shaped Christmas cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 6 to 9 minutes. Decorating can be done either before (for sprinkles, colored sugar) or after (for icing, frosting, piping) baking. Makes 3-4 dozen cookies.
Website Questions/Comments
Contact Virtual School Webmaster, Michael Majett
Email: michael.majett@Vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-1018 IP:129.59.139.23
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