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‘Windows: Looking out, Looking in’
VSA arts and the US Department of Education present “Windows: Looking out, Looking in,” an international children’s art exhibition on display at the Department of Education Lyndon Baines Johnson Education Building through the month of December. The exhibit is open to the public. The artwork selected for the exhibit was created by students from around the world who participated in ArtLink, VSA arts’ international classroom exchange program. Students were asked to think about a view through a window and illustrate what a person would see. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Education Building is located at 400 Maryland Ave. SW. For more information about the exhibition, please call 202-628-2800 or visit http://iew.state.gov.

Motown Memories Holiday Ice Show at FDIA
Kids On Ice presents “Motown Memories Holiday Ice Show,” Dec. 13, 1-3 p.m., at Fort Dupont Ice Arena, and the public is invited to this annual holiday skating exhibition that will feature performances by top Washington-area figure skaters, including regional and national competitors; the DC EDGE Synchronized Skating Teams; and Kids On Ice Learn To Skate students. Skaters are available afterwards for photos and autographs. Public skate follows the show, so please plan to stay for the afternoon. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person; all proceeds benefit the Kids On Ice program. Public skate will be held from 3-4 p.m. Cost to skate is $4/ages 12 and under and senior citizens; $5/ages 13 and over; $3/skate rental. 3779 Ely Place SE. 202-584-5007, www.fdia.org.

Capitol Christmas Tree
The lights on the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit during a ceremony held Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. on the West Lawn of the US Capitol. This year's tree is an 85-foot blue spruce from the White Mountains of Arizona – this is the first time Arizona has given the annual Christmas tree to the US Capitol. Arizonans handcrafted over 10,000 ornaments to adorn both the Capitol Christmas Tree and the 80 smaller companion trees that the state is providing for Federal agencies in the nation’s capital. Many of those ornaments were made by students, whose names were then entered into a drawing for a trip to Washington, DC, to help light the tree. The tree is lit daily from dusk to 11 p.m., through Jan. 1. Free, no tickets required. www.capitolchristmastree2009.org.

Fourth Annual Holiday Concert and Sing
Join the Capital City Symphony, American Youth Chorus and the Congressional Chorus for the Atlas Performing Arts Center's Annual Holiday Sing on Dec. 13 – an H Street holiday tradition! Performances are at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Note: a certain jolly old elf will make an appearance at the 3:30 p.m. performance.) Tickets are free but must be reserved. Please call the box office to reserve seats. 202-399-7993. 1333 H St. NE. www.atlasarts.org.

'Whiz Kids' Documentary Screening
“Whiz Kids,” a coming-of-age documentary about three 16-year-old scientists who vie to compete in the nation's oldest, most prestigious science competition, the Intel Science Talent Search, will be screened Dec. 9, 7 p.m., at the National Academy of Sciences. The students featured in the film – Ana Cisneros, a first-generation Ecuadorian-American; Kelydra Welcker, daughter of a former DuPont chemist from West Virginia; and Pakistani-born Harmain Khan – will be at the screening. Free, but registration and a photo ID are required for admittance. 2100 C St. NW. For more information, visit www.nasonline.org.

Developmental Screening for Children
As a program of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Early Stages identifies possible developmental delays in children ages 3-5 years old and recommends appropriate services to address those delays. Early Stages' services are available free of charge, whether the child goes to public school, private school or has not yet entered the school system. Early Stages' outreach team is also available to appear before groups to discuss early intervention and developmental delays. For more information, visit the Early Stages website at www.earlystagesdc.org or call Early Stages at 202-698-8037.

A Christmas Carol
Visit Ford's Theatre and begin an annual holiday tradition with a Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” now through Jan. 3. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. This production is appropriate for ages 5 and up. $30-$62. 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833, www.fords.org.

Gingerbread House Workshop
In this special hands-on children’s workshop, children become history detectives as they tour the historic mansion to explore the architecture of Tudor Place and how the holidays were celebrated in Washington. After the tour, children will design and build their own edible (gingerbread) house to take home. Advance registration is required. Dec. 5, 22, 23, 29, 30 & 31; 10:30-noon or 1:30-3 p.m. For ages 6 and up. Adult chaperones free; children $10-$12. 1644 31st St. NW. 202-965-0400, www.tudorplace.org.

ZooLights Shine at the Zoo
ZooLights, the National Zoo’s annual winter celebration, shines with thousands of environmentally friendly lights and animated exhibits through Dec. 13 (Friday through Sunday nights) and Dec. 18-Jan. 2 (every night except Dec. 24, 25 and 31), 6-8:30 p.m. These larger-than-life displays feature many of the zoo’s most popular animals; fun activities and live entertainment will entertain the whole family. Tickets, $5-$8. 202-397-7328, www.fonz.org.

Nutcracker Performances
Catch performances of “The Nutcracker,” Dec. 10-27 at the Warner Theatre. The Washington Ballet presents Septime Webre’s version of the Christmas classic, starring George Washington as the Nutcracker and England’s King George III as the Rat King. Tickets start at $27. 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 202-783-4000, www.warnertheatre.com.

Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker – 10th Anniversary
An annual Capitol Hill tradition since 2000, Momentum Dance Theatre’s Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker brings its lively mix of holiday sparkle, Latin rhythms, jazz and hip hop to local stages. More than 25 area children join Momentum’s professional company in a contemporary retelling of the Nutcracker story. Public performances: Dec. 12, 3 & 8 p.m. and Dec. 13, 3 p.m., at Stuart Hobson Middle School 410 E St. NE. $18/adults in advance; $20/adults at the door; $15/youth (10 years & over), seniors (65 & over), students (with ID); $10/children (under 10). Dec. 19, 3 & 8 p.m.; Dec. 20, 3 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, Md. Tickets and information for all shows: 202-785-0035, www.momentumdancetheatre.com.

39th Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
Over 100 Scottish clans, pipe and drum bands, Scottish dancers, re-enactment groups, Scottie dog groups, dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus will march through the streets of Old Town Alexandria, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., beginning at the corner of Wilkes and South Saint Asaph streets and ending at King and Royal streets. The festivities are not limited to the parade – other events throughout the weekend include a holiday market Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; children’s gingerbread tea Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-noon; and a heather and greens sale Dec. 5, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 703-548-0111, or visit  www.scottishchristmaswalk.com for more information.

Seasons of Light
Learn the history and customs of Ramadan, Devali, Hanukkah, Sankta Lucia, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas/Christmas, and a First Nations tradition of Winter Solstice during Discovery Theater's most popular performance of the year – Seasons of Light – through Dec. 22, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. (1 p.m. shows on Dec. 9, 11, 16 & 18; noon on Dec. 12) at the Ripley Center. The Dec. 12 show is a family special show with holiday cookie tasting following the performance. Purchase tickets in advance. $4-$10. 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 202-357-3030 www.discoverytheater.org.

Children’s Programs at NCM
The National Children’s Museum will host the following activities for children in December at the National Harbor’s Launch Zone (unless otherwise noted).

• Wee Wonders' Winter Wonderland: Dec. 8 & 15; 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Children (ages 2-3) discover what happens in winter including winter weather, ice and snow, and how different animals adapt to the changing season. Parents and caregivers can explore winter alongside their child with activities that typically include stories, games, art, music, experiments, drama, and movement. $10/child. Pre-registration and advance payment required by the Friday prior to the event. Call 202-675-4120 or e-mail RSVP@ncm.museum to register.
• 'Tis the Season: Saturdays through December, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Children can participate in a variety of holiday arts and crafts, which will include assorted decoration and card making. Activities will vary each week and some may be repeated. Free. 
• Cryogenics Science Show: Dec. 5, 12, 19; 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. Children will explore really cold temperatures in a 30-minute  demonstration and learn about the properties of dry ice and liquid nitrogen and watch as these super-cold substances transform everyday objects. Free. Takes place in the Gaylord National Resort Atrium, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.
• Gingerbread House Making Workshop. Dec. 6, 13 & 20; 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Join the National Children’s Museum at Gaylord National Resort where children can make gingerbread houses to take home. Transform pieces of golden gingerbread, creamy icing, and colorful candies into a magical, holiday cottage. $25/hotel guests; $30/local residents. Space is limited, but there is no preregistration for the workshop. The workshop takes place at Gaylord National Resort, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.