Yule Log

LESSON 3

Children explore Yule traditions, and engage in hands-on activities like baking a Yule Log, and expressing creativity through art.

  • The book, “Lights of Winter,” by Heather Conrad

  • The book, “The Shortest Day,” by Susan Cooper

  • Ingredients for Yule Log recipe of choice.

  • Construction paper in the colors cream, black, gray or purple, orange or pink, and yellow.

  • Chalk pastels or crayons

Materials

  • Gather materials and ingredients for Yule Log recipe of choice.

  • Cut out construction paper into shapes resembling the cover of the book, “The Shortest Day,” by Susan Cooper.

Preparations

  • Guide children in predicting the story's content by facilitating a picture walk through the cover and initial illustrations of "The Shortest Day."

  • Facilitate understanding of Yule as a winter festival and introduce various traditions associated with it.

  • Provide historical context and facilitate children's comprehension of the significance of the Yule Log in bringing warmth and joy to families during the winter holiday.

  • Support children's engagement in age-appropriate baking tasks, promoting hands-on learning and collaboration to create a Yule Log.

  • Encourage and assist children in expressing creativity through a Yule-inspired art project.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children engage in a picture walk, exploring the cover and initial illustrations of "The Shortest Day," making predictions about the story's content.

  • Children understand that Yule is a winter festival celebrated on the shortest day of the year, discovering various traditions associated with Yule.

  • Children comprehend the historical significance of the Yule Log, understanding how it brought warmth and joy to families during the winter holiday.

  • Children engage in age-appropriate baking tasks, fostering hands-on learning.

  • Children express creativity by crafting a Yule-inspired art project.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

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

November Comes, and November Goes

November comes,

And November goes.

With the last red berries,

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket,

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn,

And the Kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest,

Until next spring.

-Elizabeth Coatsworth

Activity Flow

  1. Start the activity by finding a comfortable spot to read the story "The Shortest Day." Share the story's name with your child and then take a picture walk, exploring the illustrations on the cover and the first few pages. Encourage your child to make predictions about the story based on what they see. You can also share your predictions before reading the story.

  2. After reading the story, ask your child what they think Yule is. Help them understand that Yule was a winter festival celebrated on the shortest day of the year. Today, some people celebrate it on the shortest day, and others refer to Yule as Christmas, which is celebrated a few days after the winter solstice. There are many traditions connected to Yule, so let's go back through the story and see if we can find some of those traditions. Here is what we noted:

  • Dancing

  • Singing

  • Candle light and fires

  • Pine trees or Christmas trees

  • Adorning homes with evergreen

  • Watching the sunrise

  • Stringing lights on houses

  • Decorating homes

  • Bake treats

  • Enjoy a feast

  • Sing carols

  • Celebrate

3. These are all fun traditions surrounding Yule, and we'll learn more about them this month. Today, let's focus on one special tradition called a Yule Log. Turn to the page where the people are holding hands and gathered around the fire. Explain to your child that a Yule log is a special piece of wood. A long time ago, people brought this log into their homes during the holiday called Yule. They'd put the log in the fireplace and light it up. The flames kept them warm and happy during the cold night.

The Yule log brought light and good feelings. Families would gather around it, tell stories, sing songs, and enjoy being together. It made their homes feel warm and full of love. Having a Yule log became a tradition, something special they did every year to celebrate the holidays and share happiness with each other.

4. Today, some people honor this tradition by baking a Yule Log. It's a yummy cake that looks like a piece of wood. So, we're going to bake our own Yule log today to enjoy with our family. Follow the recipe you chose to bake a Yule log with your child.

Tips on baking with children:

  • Choose age-appropriate tasks for your child. Younger children can help with tasks like stirring, pouring ingredients, or placing cupcake liners, while older children may handle more complex activities like cracking eggs or measuring ingredients.

  • Take the time to explain each step of the recipe in simple terms. Help your child understand the importance of each ingredient and how they contribute to the overall dish. This enhances their understanding of the cooking process.

  • Allow your child to be creative within the recipe. For example, if you're going to add decorations to your yule log, allow them to assemble the decorations how they like. This fosters a sense of ownership and excitement about the final product.

  • Prioritize safety in the kitchen. Teach your child how to properly use utensils, handle hot items, and wash their hands. Supervise closely, especially when dealing with the oven or stovetop. These lessons instill good kitchen habits from an early age.

  • Remember, the goal is to make the baking experience enjoyable and educational. Be patient, have fun, and savor the special moments shared with your child in the kitchen.

5. While your Yule log bakes, consider a Yule art project. Use the story's cover as inspiration. Cut construction paper pieces resembling the cover's illustrations. Work with your child to assemble and glue the paper, then add details with chalk pastels or crayons.

6. Once your Yule log is finished baking, let it cool and enjoy eating it together!