Night Tree

LESSON 6

Children cultivate a sense of holiday spirit by reading a story, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and expressing creativity through drying fruits to hang in their own night tree. 

  • Fruit for drying:

  • Pears

  • Apples

  • Oranges

  • A sharp knife (for adult use)

  • A cutting board

  • Baking sheet, or dehydrator

Materials

  • Gather materials

Preparations

  • Facilitate engaging discussions by posing open-ended questions and guiding children through observations and reflections on the story.

  • Adapt the discussion based on children's responses, encouraging flexibility and responsiveness to their thoughts and insights.

  • Provide instructions for the hands-on activity, ensuring children understand the steps involved in drying fruit for ornaments.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children make predictions about story characters and their actions based on cover illustrations, fostering inference skills.

  • Children engage in a discussion about the story's Christmas Eve tradition, fostering communication skills and the ability to express thoughts.

  • Children engage in sensory exploration with the textures, smells, and visual aspects of the fruits while creating their own decorations.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Practice saying the poem with the actions you came up with.

Cold

Cold fingers,

Cold toes,

Pink sky,

Pink nose.

Hard ground,

Bare trees,

Branches crack,

Puddles freeze.

Frost white,

Sun red,

Warm room,

Warm bed. 

Activity Flow

  • What animals do you see on the cover?

  • Who might be the characters in the story?

  • Why do you think they are standing by a tree?

    Turn to the next page and ask:

  • What do you notice in this picture?

  • What time of year do you think it is?

  • Where do you think they are going in their truck?

  1. Begin today's lesson by finding a cozy spot to read "Night Tree," by Eve Bunting. Take a moment to explore the cover illustrations and the title page. Engage your child with questions:

2. Read the story together, discovering the answers as you go.

3. After the story, initiate a discussion about this family's Christmas Eve tradition. Here are some questions you might ask:

4. Transition to the hands-on activity by telling your child that you'll be creating your own ornaments and garlands over the next few days to hang on your very own Night Tree. We plan to celebrate this new tradition on the Winter Solstice. You can choose a day that works best for you and your family. Our focus was creating ornaments and garlands to share with animals, as well as spend quality time together as a family. To begin preparing, today's task is drying fruits to decorate your tree.

5. Work together to create your own dried fruit following the steps below.

How to Dry Fruit:

  • Where were they headed in the truck?

  • What did they bring with them?

  • Why do you think they do this every year?

  • What makes it special?

  • Who do they hang the garlands and ornaments for?

  • What was your favorite part of this tradition?

  1. Choose a variety of fruits for drying, such as oranges, apples, lemons, or berries. Wash the fruits thoroughly to remove any dirt or residues.

  2. Slice the fruits into thin, uniform slices. A thickness of around 1/4 to 1/8 inch works well. Use a sharp knife and a cutting board for even slices. This should be done by an adult.

  3. Preheat your oven to the lowest setting, typically around 170°F (77°C). If using a dehydrator, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the fruit slices in a single layer on the parchment paper, ensuring they do not overlap.

  5. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven or dehydrator. Bake or dehydrate the fruit slices for several hours, turning them occasionally to ensure even drying. The exact time will depend on the thickness of the slices and the type of fruit. Check in periodically to prevent burning.

  6. Allow the dried fruit slices to cool completely on the baking sheet. They will continue to firm up as they cool.

  7. Once the fruit slices are completely cooled, you can string them together using twine or ribbon to create garlands or create individual ornaments from each one. Save and set aside in a box to take with you in a few days to visit a night tree of your own.