Format: 45-minutevideoconferences includes 30-minute storytelling or reading aloud of Christmas stories followed by a 15-20 minute interactive Q & A with students in grades K-4
Cost: $75 per site
Registration:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool/registration.htmQuestions: Chandra Allison, (615) 322-6511 or email Chandra at handra.allison@vanderbilt.edu
VANDERBILT VIRTUAL SCHOOL presents three "CHRISTMAS STORIES" videoconferences for students in grades K-4. Few people, even those who don't participate in the religious ceremonies of Christmas or Hanukkah, can resist participating in the spirit of love, generosity, community, and joy that pervade the holiday season. Each of the books and stories featured in our "CHRISTMAS STORIES" videoconferences will help bring that spirit to your classroom.
We present a special Christmas storyteller on December 7. Some color illustrations of her stories will be shown "full screen" to enhance a couple of the storyteller's tales on December 7 as she weaves her stories and captivates young listeners' attention. The gifts of storytelling are many, including moments filled with the wonder and excitement of stories, universal truths and morals to remember and use throughout life, and the special bond that connects the storyteller and the listener.
Two children's librarians will be reading Christmas stories aloud in the Virtual School on December 11 and 14. Full-color illustrations of each page of each book will be presented "full screen" for your students' enjoyment on December 11 and 14 as the children's librarians read aloud these holiday stories to your mesmerized students. Reading aloud to students helps them develop and improve literacy skills such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Since students listen on a higher level than they read, listening stimulates growth and understanding of vocabulary and language patterns.
Videoconferences: THREE "CHRISTMAS STORIES" - for students in grades K-4
Presenter # 1: Storyteller, Mrs. Jane (Jane Marshall) - for students in grades K-4
Date: FRIDAY, December 7, 2007
Time: 9:00 and 10:00 AM (CENTRAL time zone)
1) The Christmas Tree That Cried - a true story from Ms. Jane's childhood Storyteller Jane G. Marshall recalls a Christmas she'll never forget. In her neighborhood of Hilton Village, Newport News, Virginia, families gathered around a very large Christmas tree in front of their elementary school to sing Christmas songs. One year when Ms. Marshall was about eight years old something terrible happened to the tree. On Christmas morning the tree cried. What happened? Was the tree every happy again?
2) The Little Fir Tree - by Margaret Wise Brown with Pictures by Jim Lamarche Have you ever been lonely? A fir tree once was. He wished to be part of a forest - or part of anything at all. Then, a man takes the little fir tree away. Much to the surprise of the fir tree it becomes the center of a little boy's very special celebration. What was this celebration about?
3) Christmas Trolls - by Jan Brett
The magic of Christmas is revealed through the world of trolls. A young girl Treva loves Christmas. She and her family make presents for one another. One Christmas strange things happened - gifts disappeared.
Who could have taken the gifts? Treva discovers trolls who don't understand Christmas. How would you explain the meaning of gifts?
to trolls?
4) Little Elephant's Christmas - by Heluiz Washburne and illustrated by Jean McConnell Storyteller Jane G. Marshall treasures a book her Aunt Virginia gave her when she was four years old. Little Elephant's Christmas made Jane think about animals, like elephants, being part of a family.
Every Christmas Ms. Marshall reads again the story of an elephant family celebrating Christmas with a tree to decorate, meals to prepare, gifts to wrap, and games to play.
A book given as a gift to Jane when she was a child many years ago is a Christmas treasure.
Presenter # 2: Children's Librarian, Ms. Terri (Terri Thomas) - for students in grades K-4
Date: TUESDAY, December 11, 2007
Time: 9:00 and 10:00 AM (CENTRAL time zone)
1) How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky.
If you think Santa Claus came into the world sporting a red suit and a white beard, think again. Santa tried his hand at all sorts of different jobs before he was lucky enough to find his true calling.
2) How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky Santa has the best job he can think of - bringing presents to children all around the world but there are always a few unexpected delays to make things a little hectic. Muckle, one of Santa's elves, thinking he can come up with a more efficient way of delivering the toys - without Santa!
3) A Creature Was Stirring: One Boy's Night Before Christmas by Carter Goodrich 'Twas the night before Christmas, and in this great house the creature who was stirring was a boy, not a mouse. As the family lives out the famous poem by Clement Moore, a young boy is unable to sleep and, in his excitement, performs several deeds bound to place him on the Naughty List, and one deed that just might save him.
Presenter # 3: Children's Librarian, Ms. Tori (Tori Ross) - for students in grades K-4
Date: FRIDAY, December 14, 2007
Time: 12:00 and 1:00 AM (CENTRAL time zone) - NOTICE this LATER time!!
1) The Polar Express / by Chris Van Allsburg The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy on Christmas Eve who is hoping for belief in the true spirit of Christmas. After falling asleep, a magical train called the Polar Express pulls up in front of his house and he is invited to journey to the North Pole. After reaching the North Pole, the boy is handpicked by Santa Claus to receive the first present of Christmas. He chooses a bright silver bell from Santa's sleigh which makes a beautiful sound. As the years go by, people around him notice that they can no longer hear the beautiful sound, even his parents and sister. But there are those who still can, those who still truly believe.
2) The Night Before Christmas / by Clement Moore, illustrated by Ted Rand Clement Moore's poem, The Night Before Christmas, has been illustrated by many talented illustrators. This one has big beautiful paintings by Ted Rand. Though in the poem Santa was called St. Nick, "'Twas the night before Christmas" is credited for creating our modern day vision of Santa Claus.
In the poem, 'Twas the night before Christmas, Moore describes events of Christmas Eve referring to stockings, visions of sugarplums, Santa, his sleigh and his reindeer. He says that St. Nick whistled and called the reindeer by name and introduces the names of Santa's eight reindeer (excluding Rudolph).
3) "King John's Christmas", from Now We Are Six: The Color Edition / by A. A. Milne "King John's Christmas" is a poem by the author of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin fame, A. A. Milne.
Tori remembers her mother often quoting this line from the poem :
"And, oh! Father Christmas, if you love me at all,
Bring me a big, red, India-rubber ball!"
4) The Three Bear's Christmas / by Kathy Duval and Paul Meisel
You may know the story of the Three Bears, and what happened to their porridge, but wait until you hear about what happened to their gingerbread on Christmas Eve. It wasn't Goldilocks who visited them that night!
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Videotaping of Virtual School videoconferences is NOT allowed due to legal issues such as informed consent, jurisdiction, confidentiality, standards of practice, and supervision. We currently do not offer On Demand, Video Recordings, DVD's, Web Streaming, or Podcasting of our video conferences.
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Patsy Partin, M.Ed
Director, Virtual School
Vanderbilt University
2007 Terrace Place
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 322-6384
Email: patsy.partin@vanderbilt.edu
Web: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/virtualschool
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