An Introduction to Santa (Early Years Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1)

WelcometoaMagicalChristmasAdventure!

Thisteacher’ssupportpackisdesignedtohelpyourstudentsgainthemaximumbenefitfromtheirvisittoourChristmasproduction.

ThispackprovidesabriefbackgroundonthehistoryofSantaClaus,someofthekeyelementsintheshowandincludesclassroomactivitieswhicharefun

andinformativeaswellaseasyforteacherstoorganise.

ManyofthethingsweknowaboutSantaClauswererevealedinthepublicationofananonymouspoemin1823.‘TwastheNightBeforeChristmaswaslaterattributedtotheAmericanwriterClementClarkeMoore.

Asyoureadthepoemlistenoutfor,andunderline,theseclassicChristmasthemes:

Stockingsarehungbythechimney

Santaarrivesonhissleighwithhisreindeer

Santahasasleighfulloftoys

Hehasawhitebeard

Heisveryjolly

SantaClausToday

‘TwastheNightBeforeChristmas

'TwasthenightbeforeChristmas,whenallthroughthehouseNotacreaturewasstirring,notevenamouse;

Thestockingswerehungbythechimneywithcare,InhopesthatSt.Nicholassoonwouldbethere;

Thechildrenwerenestledallsnugintheirbeds;Whilevisionsofsugar-plumsdancedintheirheads;

Andmammainher'kerchief,andIinmycap,Hadjustsettledourbrainsforalongwinter'snap,

Whenoutonthelawntherearosesuchaclatter,Isprangfrommybedtoseewhatwasthematter.

Actthepoemoutasyoureaditaloud!

AwaytothewindowIflewlikeaflash,

Toreopentheshuttersandthrewupthesash.

Themoononthebreastofthenew-fallensnow,

Gavealustreofmiddaytoobjectsbelow,

Whenwhattomywonderingeyesdidappear,Butaminiaturesleighandeighttinyrein-deer,

Withalittleolddriversolivelyandquick,

IknewinamomenthemustbeSt.Nick.

Morerapidthaneagleshiscourserstheycame,

Andhewhistled,andshouted,andcalledthembyname:

"Now,Dasher!now,Dancer!nowPrancerandVixen!On,Comet!on,Cupid!on,DonnerandBlitzen!

Tothetopoftheporch!tothetopofthewall!Nowdashaway!dashaway!dashawayall!“

Asleavesthatbeforethewildhurricanefly,Whentheymeetwithanobstacle,mounttothesky;

SouptothehousetopthecourserstheyflewWiththesleighfulloftoys,andSt.Nicholastoo—

Andthen,inatwinkling,IheardontheroofTheprancingandpawingofeachlittlehoof.

AsIdrewinmyhead,andwasturningaround,DownthechimneySt.Nicholascamewithabound.

Hewasdressedallinfur,fromhisheadtohisfoot,Andhisclotheswerealltarnishedwithashesandsoot;

Abundleoftoyshehadflungonhisback,Andhelookedlikeapedlerjustopeninghispack.

Hiseyes—howtheytwinkled!hisdimples,howmerry!Hischeekswerelikeroses,hisnoselikeacherry!

Hisdrolllittlemouthwasdrawnuplikeabow,Andthebeardonhischinwasaswhiteasthesnow;

Thestumpofapipeheheldtightinhisteeth,Andthesmoke,itencircledhisheadlikeawreath;

HehadabroadfaceandalittleroundbellyThatshookwhenhelaughed,likeabowlfullofjelly.

Hewaschubbyandplump,arightjollyoldelf,AndIlaughedwhenIsawhim,inspiteofmyself;

AwinkofhiseyeandatwistofhisheadSoongavemetoknowIhadnothingtodread;

Hespokenotaword,butwentstraighttohiswork,Andfilledallthestockings;thenturnedwithajerk,

Andlayinghisfingerasideofhisnose,Andgivinganod,upthechimneyherose;

Hesprangtohissleigh,tohisteamgaveawhistle,Andawaytheyallflewlikethedownofathistle.

ButIheardhimexclaim,erehedroveoutofsight-“HappyChristmastoall,andtoallagoodnight!”

SantaClausWordSearch(KS1)

N S Q C R Z V A R C G R A T S

X O T K I V I S H C N U W D L

F R R N T F A R H A I D C T E

C A I T E H I D A F K G O C I

E H Q S H S M U X O C C U A G

U E I U T P E F G B O W F N H

Q Z C M I K O R R K T O E D I

C P A I N Y V L P E S I Z Y B

T S T M N E K M E N P S I C R

F G S P K B Y O O E P Y O A J

N A U G H T Y W C F M O T N L

R W V W Q U C N L F L T T E E

G P S I F Y I E M Z J B M C X

D N H T V M Z K Z M G N I M E

R E E D N I E R X X F G G D R

CANDYCANE ELF NICE REINDEER STAR

CHIMNEY MINCEPIE NORTHPOLE SLEIGH STOCKING

CHRISTMAS NAUGHTY PRESENTS SNOW TOYS

SantaClausWordSearch(EYFS)

Y V F R S I C E

G L K A W O N S

E S N T Q E H H

A T Y S T J Z R

A E K O C T T I

O Z O S T D H U

W L C G C F Q H

F Q Q V E C E R

Elf Santa StarIce Snow Toys

SantaClausAroundtheWorld

SantaClausisknownbymanydifferentnamestochildrenallaroundtheworld.Canyoumatchtherightflagtothenameandcountry?

UK-FatherChristmasUSA-SantaClausFrance-PereNoelTheNetherlands-SinterklaasRussia-DedMoroz(OldManFrost)Italy-BabboNataleChina-DunCheLaoRen(ChristmasOldMan)Hawaii-KanakalokaGerman-Weihnachtsmann(ChristmasMan)Spain-PapaNoelPoland-SwietyMikolaj(St.Nicholas)Japan-Hoteiosho(agodorpriestwhobearsgifts)

Santa’sReindeer

• CanyounameallofSanta’sReindeer?(Hint-8ofthemarelistedinthepoem‘TwastheNightBeforeChristmas)

• CanyounameSanta’sreindeerwiththered,shinynose?Singthesongandpointtoyournoseeverytimethefamousreindeer’snoseismentioned

RudolphtheRed-NosedReindeerRudolphthered-nosedreindeer

HadaveryshinynoseAndifyoueversawitYouwouldevensayitglows

AlloftheotherreindeerUsedtolaughandcallhimnamesTheyneverletpoorRudolph

Joininanyreindeergames

ThenonefoggyChristmaseve

Santacametosay,"Rudolphwithyournosesobright

Won’tyouguidemysleightonight?"ThenhowthereindeerlovedhimAstheyshoutedoutwithglee

Rudolphthered-nosedreindeerYou’llgodowninhistory

ReindeerSpellingGame

PutthemissinglettersintotheReindeers’names

L–H–M–E–A–D–X–U–E–N–L

RU_O_PHB_ITZENCO_ETDAS_ERPR_NC_RVI_ENC_PIDDO_NERDANC_R

Rudolph’sNoseGamePinthenoseonRudolph!PutaredstickeronRudolph’snose(KS1)–youcouldeventryitblindfolded!Orusefingerpainttocolourinhisnose(EYFS)

ElfName

Intheshowyou’llmeetSanta’sElves,CharlieandKara.

WhatwouldyourElfNamebe?

Taketheinitialofyourfirstandlastnametofindout!

WritethisonyourlettertoSanta!

FIRSTNAME SURNAMEA Apple All-StarB Buster Bright-ButtonsC Candy Cuddle-MonsterD Dazzle DaydreamE Elfie Egg-NogF Fizzy Frosty-FeetG Giggle Glitter-PantsH Honey Holly-BerryI Iggy IcicleJ Jingle Jelly-BottomK Kringle KissesL Lucky Lemon-CakeM Marshmallow McMittensN Nutcracker Nice-ListO Oodles O'HolidayP Peppermint PinetreeQ Queenie Quirky-PieR Rainbow Razzle-DazzleS Snowball SparkledustT Toffee TreaclePotU Ultra-Violet UnicornV Volleyball Vanilla-CookiesW Winnie WafflesX Xmas X-CellentY Yo-Yo Yellow-StarZ Zippy Zoom-Zoom

TheTwelveDaysofChristmas

WhataretheTwelveDaysofChristmas?

Traditionally,thesearethe12daysstartingon25thDecember-Christmasday(thedayJesuswasborn)untilthe6thJanuarywhenthe3WiseMenarrivedtogiveJesus3gifts.Canyounamethese3gifts?

• Sitinacircle–on5GoldRingseveryonehastoswapplaceswiththepersontotheirright(KS1)orclapyourhands(EYFS)

• Insmallgroups,eachpickacharacterfromthesongandperformamimefortheotherstoguesswhichcharacteryouare

• Drawyourfavouritecharacter–writethisonyourlettertoSanta!

ONTHEFIRSTDAYOFCHRISTMAS,

MYTRUELOVESENTTOME:

Day1:APartridgeinaPearTree

Day2:TwoTurtleDoves

Day3:ThreeFrenchHens

Day4:FourCallingBirds

Day5:FiveGoldRings

Day6:SixGeesea-Laying

Day7:SevenSwansa-Swimming

Day8:EightMaidsa-Milking

Day9:NineLadiesDancing

Day10:TenLordsa-Leaping

Day11:ElevenPipersPiping

Day12:TwelveDrummersDrumming

LettertoSanta

Youcoulddecorateyourletterwithstickers,glitteranddrawings!

BringitalongtogivetoSantaaftertheshow!

DearSanta,

Mynameis______________________________andIam______________yearsold.

MyElfNameis:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

MyFavouriteCharacterfromthe12DaysofChristmasis:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

ThisChristmasIwouldlike1presentforme:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

1presentforachildinanothercountrywithlesstoysthanme:

______________________________________________________________________________________________

ThankyouSanta!

MerryChristmas!

LotsofLovefrom,

________________________

SantaSoundscape

Create a Winter soundscape using tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Let yourimaginationrunawaytoaddtothestorybelowandtochooseyourinstruments!

It’sacoldwinter’snight….

YoucanheartheWindwhistling(youcouldusewindchimesorcreatethesoundwithyourmouth)

TheStarsaretwinkling(youcoulduseaxylophone)

TheSnowisfalling(youcoulduseashaker)

YouheartheBellsfromSanta’sSleigh(youcouldusebells)

YouheartheReindeers’hooves(youcoulduseclaves,blocksorscrapers)

YouhearthesoundofSanta’sfootstepsasheshakesoffthesnowfromhisboots(stampyourfeet)

YouhearSanta“Ho,Ho,Ho!”(alljoininwithyourloudestvoice!)

ChristmasSing-Song

HowmanyChristmassongscanyouname?Sitinacircle.GoroundthegroupandseehowmanyChristmassongsyoucannameandthensingthemasagroup.

TakethenameSantaClausforinspirationandtapoutarhythmontheGlockenspiel(dum-de-dum-san-ta-claus).Allrepeattherhythmbyclappingortakingitinturnstoplaytheinstrument.Eachchildcancreatetheirownrhythminturnfortheclasstocopy.

Playsomefestivemusicandsinganddancealong!

PHAPantomimes @phapantos

ANDFINALLY...

WehopethatourTeachers’SupportPackaddstotheenjoymentofyourpupils’

experienceoftheirvisittotheproductionandthattheycontinuetotalkabouttheshowlongafterthecurtainhasfallen.

www.santaclausonstage.com

APPENDIX

ThefollowingpagesareforTEACHERSONLYandcontainhistoricalcontextaboutthe‘real’SantaClaus.ThisisNOTINTENDEDTOBESHAREDWITHTHECHILDRENaswewishtokeepthemagicofSantaandChristmasaliveintheirimaginations!

ThefamiliarfigureofSantaClausthatweknowandlovetodayisactuallybasedonareal-lifepersoncalledNicholas.

ThestoryoftherealSantaClausbeginsover2,000yearsagoinasmalltowncalledMyrainwhatisnowmodern-dayTurkey.

Nicholas,orStNicholasasweknowhimnow,wasbornintoawealthyfamilybuthisparentsdiedwhenhewasveryyoung.

WhowastherealSantaClaus?

Instead of keeping the family fortune for himself,Nicholas gave away his money to the poor andthoseinneed.

Nicholas was made Bishop of Myra and becamefamous forhisgenerosity,kindnessandespeciallyfor his love of children. He was known to givesecret presents to those less fortunate thanhimself and this is where the tradition of SantaClaus giving gifts to children at Christmasoriginated.

BishopNicholaswasmadeaSaintforhiskindactsandisthePatronSaintofChildren.

SantaClausThroughouttheAges

InEnglandduringthereignofHenryVIII,wecametoknowStNicholasasFatherChristmas.Hewasknowntobringpeace, joyandgoodcheerandworegreenorscarletrobeslinedwithfur.

Christmas became very popular in Victorian England andmany believe that thecharacter of The Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens’ festive novelAChristmasCarolisbasedonFatherChristmas.