LETTER M and Merry Christmas (and Advent)
This week we are learning the letter M, and our theme is Merry Christmas (also the Season of Advent in some churches)—a season filled with light, joy, sharing, and wonder. Children feel the excitement of this time of year in so many ways: twinkling lights, special music, family traditions, nativity scenes, and acts of kindness that fill our community. Christmas invites us to slow down and notice beauty, generosity, and hope.
​
We explore the letter M alongside these moments of celebration and remind children that this season is ultimately about love coming close—something we can see and feel in how we treat one another.
​
Letter Sounds and Our Zoo-Phonics Friend
Our Zoo-Phonics friend this week is Missy Mouse. Children bring their hands to their mouths like a mouse
nibbling on cheese and make the humming /m/ sound: “mmm.”
​
We listen for M in words like Merry, music, manger, magic, Mary, mitten, moon, and make—all words that
help us celebrate this season. A child-friendly M phonics song can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiUu04gO0xY
​
How We Form the Letter M
Uppercase M begins with “big line down, big line up, big line down, big line up.” Lowercase m is “little line down, little bump, little bump.”
Children love forming M because the repeating motions feel rhythmic and satisfying—like the up-and-down shape of mountains or the folds of a festive ribbon.
​
We practice writing M through painting, playdough, sand trays, and vertical surfaces like easels or chalkboards.
​
Theme Connection: Merry Christmas
In the classroom, we explore the story and spirit of Christmas through songs, stories, and simple traditions. We may read books such as The Christmas Story by Patricia Pingry or Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson—stories that highlight love, giving, and community.
Children often enjoy:
-
decorating a classroom Christmas tree with handmade ornaments
-
engaging in dramatic play with nativity figurines
-
making cards for caregivers, teachers, or neighbors
-
creating “Merry Christmas” artwork using glitter, ribbon, and recycled materials
Because our preschool welcomes families with diverse beliefs and traditions, we talk about Christmas in a way that highlights joy, generosity, and love—values that everyone can celebrate, whether Christmas is part of their own family’s practices or not. We frame the season as a time of kindness and hope, grounded in our Christian identity while remaining honoring and inclusive, while also hearing the story of Jesus' birth.
​
If you’d like more child-friendly Christmas crafts, The Imagination Tree has beautiful ideas: https://theimaginationtree.com/christmas-activities/
​
Kindergarten Readiness Skill: Patterning (WaKIDS/GOLD Objective 11)
Christmas is filled with natural patterns—lights that blink in sequences, songs with repeating rhythms, ornaments arranged in rows, and wrapping paper full of shapes that repeat. Pattern recognition strengthens early math skills, helps children make predictions, and supports memory and sequencing.
In the classroom, we might create pattern chains, bead ornaments with repeating colors, or clapping patterns to familiar Christmas songs.
At home, children may enjoy:
-
making paper chains in red–green–red–green patterns
-
noticing patterns on gift wrap
-
arranging cookies or decorations in sequences
For extra ideas, The Measured Mom offers accessible patterning activities:
https://www.themeasuredmom.com/pattern-activities/
​
Continuing the Learning at Home
The letter M appears all throughout Christmas: music, merry, mistletoe, mitten, manger, magic. Children might enjoy searching for M on holiday cards, in picture books, or on decorations.
You could take a walk to admire Christmas lights, bake something together, read a seasonal story, or talk about small ways your family shares love and kindness during this time of year.
Christmas reminds children—and all of us—that the world is full of light, goodness, and generous hearts. And learning the letter M becomes part of the joyful celebration.
