Twas the Night Before Christmas... Our Way
December 2006
Re-Tellings Written by Mrs. Dingman's 5th Grade
This project aligned with the following Pennsylvania Academic Standards:
1.1.5 Learning to Read Independently
1.4.5 Types of Writing
1.5.5 Quality of Writing
3.7.5 Technological Devices
Twas the Day Before the Swim Meet
Twas the day before the swim meet
And all the swimmers were packing their bags
Their goggles, their caps, their suits, and their towels
They then checked to see if their suits were new and not rags
They went downstairs to get some breakfast
The swimmers didn’t have much to eat
They hoped it would last until lunch
Though the swimmers would definitely have a big breakfast on the day of the meet
They went upstairs to think about what they would swim
They went over the rules again and again
Two hand touch on breast and fly
Do the flip turn just when…
They were cut off by a loud call “ LUNCH TIME”
They ran very fast downstairs
Because they were very hungry since they had very little before
They then ate their sandwiches and sliced pears
When they were all done they jumped on the couch
They couldn’t wait until the swim meet
They felt lucky the couch was by the fireplace
They loved how it gave of lots and lots of heat
They played some games until it was time for dinner
They played Yatzee, Scrabble, cards, and Monopoly
The swimmers thought what could be for dinner
They hoped they weren’t having broccoli
It was time for dinner so the swimmers walked to the kitchen sink
They turned it on and got washed up and ready
They then ran to the kitchen table and sat down
They were surprised to see that in front of then were bowls filled with yummy spaghetti
Now it was time to go to sleep
The swimmers lay down to rest under their blankets’ heat
They went to sleep very fast for a good night’s sleep
For tomorrow was the day of the swim meet
Twas 30 minutes before April Fool’s Day
And all through the school
Students were reading
Especially the fools
The fools were reading
Silly joke books
When they would get in trouble
In no time (by the looks)
Then the bell rang
The kids ran out and did a cheer
For something was about to happen
A contest was near
The contest would be fun, silly and great
The contest would be a joke contest
Everybody hoped
That nobody would protest
Me and Luke the final battle
That went on for hours and hours
Then I won
Cheers went on and people threw flowers
I got a prize
I had gotten a book
The book was great
It was about a man with a hook
Everybody wondered
Who would win next year
And they also wondered
If the funniest greatest joke would appear
Then next year came
It wasn’t a surprise
To see me and Luke
To tell some jokes and look each other in the eyes
Twas the Night Before Christmas for Kids
T’was the night before Christmas
And all through my room
Nothing was moving
But then a big BOOM
I woke in a glimmer
I heard someone laughing
There was no one there
They must have been passing
But then in an instant
I heard a loud clatter
It shook my whole house
So I went to see what was the matter
In my living room
Just right there
He was wearing red and white
And sitting in my chair
He did not see me
But he knew I was there
He put some toys under the tree
But for me doves a pair
Then he rubbed his tummy
When he was done
He ate the cookies and milk
Then he took out a picture it must had been his son
I woke ma and pa
They said I was crazy
My sister woke up and said…
Maybe just lazy
Then I knew it was Santa
I hope there was no fright
So to all a good Yule
And to all a good night
Twas the Night Before the War for Alien and Predator
Twas the Night Before the War for Alien and Predator
And all through the spaceship there was not a sound
Then something fell from the ceiling
About a pound
They found what it was
It was an alien egg
Out came a creature
And one of the predators poked it with a peg
The creature sat there for a moment
Then it latched on to a predator’s face
An elder predator spoke
He said it was from another part of space
All of the predators gasped
They had it planned for the creature to be killed
The executioner came in
He had armor on that had a pattern that looked like a field that was tilled
The executioner went into the room with the creature
He tried to kill it with his wrist blades
But the creature disappeared mysteriously
Like the UFOs in the Cascades
The creature arrived back on its home planet
It was the larva stage for a species of alien
The adult aliens welcomed their visitor
The species was not mammalian
The aliens brought the larva to the queen
They thought the predators were unaware of their presence
But the predators were training for battle
The aliens snickered and thought they were playing tennis
The aliens blew up one of the predator’s ships
The battle was done
They fought back and bombed the alien’s planet
The war between Alien and Predator had begun
Twas the Snow Day Before My Birthday
Twas the snow day before my birthday
and my parents were shopping
and the cake was cooking
and the popcorn was popping
I was dreaming
My parents were snoring
My brother was leaving
I was soaring
I was wrapping
My brother was in the house
My parents were home
I was watching a mouse
I am working
My parents are reading
My grandma is sewing
I am weeding
I am unwrapping
Paper is flying
I am laughing
And dishes are drying
I got a Nintendo 360
I was really happy
I read the card
It was sappy
I opened a gift
It was a Ben Ten toy
It was cool
It was as light as soy
I got a Danny Phantom toy
It was neat
It is my favorite toy
I was like… what a treat!
Nicholas
Twas the Night Before Halloween
Twas the night before Halloween
and all through the town
everyone was walking
I was wearing my crown
It was getting dark
everyone went out
I saw a group of friends
and they began to shout
One was wearing a mask
one was wearing a wig
one was wearing a makeup
and one looked like a pig
I started to laugh
like oh what a sight
I showed him my costume
and gave him a fright
I was wearing my crown
and it looked very funny
my friends laughed
because I looked like a bunny
Together we walked
we went down a street
we knocked on two doors
then we saw my friend Pete
So then I was hopping
down on the street
and then saw my parents
so they put me to sleep
At night while I was asleep
I decided to sneak out
And my parents did not hear me
And I yelled a shout
Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
I was running and playing
And so was my mouse
When we realized the time
We went to my room
Only to find
Saint Nick with a broom
He turned and looked at us
We turned and ran
We ran into the kitchen
And ran into pots and a pan
My parents woke up
Because they heard the clatter
They ran down the hall
To see what was the matter
They saw Saint Nick
Putting presents under the tree
My mom said she’d pay for the presents
But Santa said they were for free
My parents saw me
Playing with my train
Then saw my mouse
Looking at what he thought was rain
My parents told me to go
So I went to bed
I put my mouse in his cage
And he lay on his head
I woke at dawn
I ate an apple
Then opened my presents
Then I had a cold glass of Snapple
This was the best Christmas ever!!!!!
Twas the Night Before Hunting Season
Twas the night before hunting season
All through the forest
Was a big hunter
Who said he loves courses
The hunter got ready
For the next afternoon
He got ready with his wife
Named Maryboon
The hunter got his weapon
His wife got a net
To trap a beer or a deer
The wife said if you don’t catch nothing it is a bet
The hunter got ready
He threw the net
When he almost caught an animal
Maryboon said GET GET
Maryboon got the net
She caught the tree
The hunter said Maryboon
You got stung by a bee
Maryboon screamed
She went and got the net
She threw it
So it could get set
Maryboon covered the sting
She saw a deer
And got the weapon
But it was shaped like an ear
They got the deer and said
What a great night
The hunter laughed and said
Isn’t that right
Twas the Night Before Valentines Day
Twas the night before Valentines Day
And all through the town
Children were writing
Writing things like you make my frown turn upside down
Children were writing
With thoughts in their brains
Those children just love it inside all cozy and warm
They like it better than when it rains
And pouring outside it was all night
And while it was raining the children were about
All of them running and screaming all night
Most of the kids colliding and banging their snout
Finally all of them going to sleep
Mothers were tussling
Daddies were too
Everyone was hustling
After a while everything got quiet
Daddy went out in the blink of an eye
Children went out as light bulbs often do
Mother went out with a big, big, big, sigh
And in the hallway
Up on the wall
Hung all the valentines
I hope they don’t fall
Twas Valentines morning
And all through the house
Children were packing sweets and goodies
Hoping they wouldn’t get devoured by a mouse
And finally out the door they went
First the children, then daddy, and finally mother
Finally they got there they got to school
All of them waving and hugging each other
Those children they threw out their arms
In hopes of a hug
But were disappointed
When all they got was a tug
They were very gloomy
I’m sad to say
And they hoped
It would become a better day
And a better day it became
They started liking it a lot more
And why shouldn’t they
With cookies and sweets galore
This page was last updated: October 22, 2015
We recently listened to a number of versions of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, enjoying a variety of re-tellings of this well-loved poem. And then, we created our own. 
