Virtual Holiday Activities
Benny Holiday Tree Design Contest
Benny is feeling festive and wants to spread some holiday cheer, but even with actor blocks stacked he just can't seem to reach his tree to decorate it. Can you help? Now through December 21st you can help Benny get festive by decorating a tree and submitting a picture of it via e-mail to [email protected] (you get to keep the original to decorate your house). Benny will choose one winner from K-3rd grade and one from 4th-6th grade to receive a FREE TICKET to Elf: The Musical coming to CTL July 2021! So, get out your favorite art materials and join the fun for a chance to win! Blank Benny trees can be printed from the activities page or picked up in our theatre lobby during box office hours only. Please note, we will not be accepting entries in person. You must submit a picture of your entry via email to [email protected] by December 21st.
Three Things Story Building Game - Winter Holiday Edition
A little twist on the classic Improv game Three Words, Three Things - Winter Holiday Edition is a rapid-fire storytelling game that has the players on their toes to come up with a clever story using a specific set of words. Players can play just for fun or play the timed version for a challenge and see who is the super storyteller in the group. This is the perfect game to create fun conversation at dinner time, or unwind with for some screen free time together in the evening. Print out your copy below and let the tall winter tales begin!
Winter Three Things (Words) Game (2).pdf
Dreidel Game
The dreidel game is a Hanukkah tradition that celebrates the rich history of the holiday. Enjoyed by children and adults alike, this exciting game of chance is sure to liven up your celebration. Two or more players, ages three and up, gather tokens or ante to use as game pieces. Players spin the top once to see who goes first and the player with the highest spin starts the game (nun is the highest, then gimel, hey, and shin). The game begins and each player takes their turn spinning to see if they give or take the ante! Below you will find a print out for basic dreidel game rules and a make-your-own dreidel hands-on activity. For the make-your-own dreidel, tape can be used instead of glue. Good Luck and Happy Hanukkah!
Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat!
On this last day of Hanukkah, we would like to share a special story with you and a recipe for a traditional Hanukkah treat. Latkes! The story we would like to share is called Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat by Naomi Howland. It is the story of a girl named Sadie who has been put in charge of her younger brothers during Chanukah while her Mother was away helping Aunt Rose with her new baby. The family was very poor and the children were starving. Sadie went out into the cold to collect firewood, but after doing a kind deed for an elderly woman, Sadie was given a magical frying pan that made Latkes whenever she needed them. She just needed to say the magical words "Latkes, latkes good to eat. Cook me up a Chanukah treat!". The frying pan provided magical food that kept their bellies full, but their house was still freezing. On the last night of Chanukah, Sadie went out into the snow in search of firewood. Her brothers were mischievous and could not resist trying the pan, but they did not know how to make it stop! Will the latkes fill the house, the village, the world!! Find out in the full story of Latkes, Latkes Good to Eat. The video reading created by Mrs. Clark's Reading Corner. After the story try making latkes at home with a recipe by the author Naomi Howland. There is also a link below to print out the recipe to keep. Enjoy and Happy Hanukkah!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktn4tnGvLeY&ab_channel=SesameStreet
Sadie’s Latkes
If you have a magic frying pan in your house, making latkes is easy, just say the magic words, “Latkes, latkes good to eat. Cook me up a Chanukah treat!”
But watch out! You need to know the words to stop your frying pan, too. Say, “A great miracle happened here!” And the frying pan will stop cooking, just…like…that!
You don’t have a magic frying pan at home? Neither do I. This is how you can make latkes. It’s easy, too.
This recipe makes about a dozen 3 ½" pancakes. You can double the recipe and have twice as many delicious latkes to eat. Be sure to have an adult help you.
3 large baking potatoes (about a pound)
2 eggs
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 T. finely chopped parsley
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
3 T. flour
Vegetable oil
Peel the potatoes and rinse them under cold water. Grate very fine. Place the potatoes in a colander and run cold water over them. (This will keep them from turning dark.) Using your hands, squeeze out all the water.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and flour. Stir. Add the grated potato and mix well.
Heat a small amount of oil to sizzling in a large frying pan. Scoop up a soupspoon full of pancake mixture and drop it into the oil and flatten slightly. Make 5 or 6 pancakes but do not crowd the pan. Cook the pancakes until they are brown on one side then turn them over and cook on the other side until browned.
To keep your latkes warm, set your oven to 300. Place the pancakes on a cookie sheet in the oven.
Eat while tender but crisp! Latkes are traditionally served with applesauce and/or sour cream. Yum!
Winter Solstice Celebration
December 21st, 2020 marks the beginning of the winter season and is the Winter Solstice. The December Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is an ancient holiday that celebrates renewal, joy, peace, and togetherness. Ancient cultures, just as people who celebrate Solstice today, would gather and feast, exchange gifts of goodwill and merriment, light fires to warm their night, and some would bring evergreens into their home to symbolize life in the coldest and darkest months of the year. A few theatre activities we can do to celebrate the Winter Solstice are:
Freeze Dance - Turn on your favorite dancing tunes and show off you best moves. Every so often someone pauses the music and everyone has to freeze into a dance pose. When the music starts again keep going with your fanciest footwork!
Winter Actions - Gather your family and take turns acting out your favorite winter activities. See if you can guess the actions and find out what your family loves to do in the coldest months.
Connecting Circle - Sit in a circle and take turns talking about your favorite winter or winter holiday memories and your hopes and wishes for the new year ahead.
Winter Solstice Yoga - Every theatre day starts with a good stretch. Meditate on the longest night of the year and then greet the returning sun the next day with these fun and simple poses shown above.
Pete the Cat in Pete's 12 Groovy Days of Christmas
Pete turns The Twelve Days of Christmas into a groovy and hip holiday song that will have everyone singing along. He has special gifts for all his friends and is planning a fun holiday trip too! Our K-3 grade teacher, Sarah Pulver, has made a very special episode of her CTL Virtual Studio show Tuesday Tunes with Sarah featuring Pete and his 12 groovy gift. Join us to sing along with Sarah by clicking the YouTube link below. You can also print out and color a 12 Groovy Days coloring page, plus more activities from petethecatbooks.com
Pete's 12 Days Coloring Page.pdf
PeteSavesXmas_EK_FINAL_Part6.pdf
PeteSavesXmas_EK_FINAL_Part3.pdf
PeteSavesXmas_EK_FINAL_Part4.pdf
Happy Kwanzaa
December 26th - January 1st
Kwanzaa is an African-American and pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Dr. Karenga is a professor of Africana Studies and created the holiday to provide African-Americans with a special time of celebration and reflection that focuses on their traditions and cultures. The name Kwanzaa was derived from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza or first fruits. For Kwanzaa families and communities who celebrate base their celebrations on The Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles are: Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work & Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba), and Faith (Imani). Each day of Kwanzaa represents one of The Seven Principles and the day is marked by lighting a seven-branched candelabra called a kinara. Kwanzaa is a joyous time for African-American families and celebrations include music, dancing, storytelling, community gatherings, feasts, and family togetherness. The end of the holiday is dedicated to reflecting and recommitting to The Seven Principles.
For the first day of Kwanzaa, we would like to celebrate Unity by highlighted one of the most important theaters in our country, The Apollo Theater located in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. For almost ninety years, The Apollo Theater has brought communities together and introduced the world to some of the most talented and influential performing artists of our time. It is a beacon of creativity for our country and most poignantly celebrates the rich and awe-inspiring talents of African-American artists. This year, The Apollo Theater is hosting a free Virtual Kwanzaa Event on Sunday, December 27th. Check out their website at the link below and join the celebration of culture and community!
https://www.apollotheater.org/event/kwanzaa-celebration-2020/
Free Family Improv Night!
Looking for a fun way to spend time at home with your family? How about Virtual Family Improv Night! CTL's Education Department is hosting a FREE Virtual Family Improv Night on Friday, January 8th from 7-8:30 PM with CTL instructor Lydia Culp. Families will Zoom their way into laughter and discover some fun games to play together at home. There are six family spots available and games will be appropriate for Pre K- Adult. To register and hold your spot, email our Education Coordinator, Brianne Tupper, at [email protected] by January 7th. Don't forget to check out the Programs Tab on www.ctlshows.com often for more educational programming such as after-school classes!
