Christmas Trees L2 S01 Learning Intentions The children

Christmas Trees L-2 S-01

Learning Intentions The children will: 1) explain the tradition of the Christmas tree. 2) identify Christmas tree decorations which relate to the Christmas story. 3) name the New Zealand Christmas tree. Click the boxes to reveal text. L-2 S-02

Traditions are part of celebrating Christmas Traditions are things people keep doing at particular times or on special occasions. Some traditions are old and have been passed down through families. Some families make new traditions or adapt old ones to suit them now. Traditions help people remember special events and special people in their lives. Some traditions are associated with particular people, places, food, music, symbols or activities. Can you share some examples of traditions? Click on images to reveal text L-2 S-03

Families have lots of Christmas traditions Complete the sentences v v v v v In our family at Christmas we… On our Christmas dinner table we… We make… We open our presents… We invite… We always play… We go to… We remember… One thing I would like to say about family traditions is… Push the red button to move the arrow through the lines. L-2 S-04

How did Christmas trees become a tradition? When people to make their homes in other the For Over thousands the yearsleft of children years people persuaded in their northern parents hemisphere toparts bring of a tree had worldtheir theyhomes tookofthe with them to used into branches and fir tradition trees decorate to of decorate it. Christmas with fruit theirtrees and homes sweets during – this the placesbecame such toaasfamily America andthat Aotearoa. Nowand there are dark soon winter remind tradition. them Lights spring were added would come. the The tree Christmas trees all part overof the world in people’s homes and greenery was adapted helped to be the people the to have Christian hope celebrations – green is the with colour the outdoors in towns andofcities forbringing people light to gather around of lights hope. being a symbol Jesus into the worldand on singfeast carols. When electric Christmas tree lights were invented the of his birth. they tradition replacedof the. Christmas candles. trees began in Germany about 800 The years About ago. 180 years The tree agowas people placed in England outside picked in the village up the idea square of where having people Christmas sangtrees. and danced They cut around down itfirand trees performed becauseplays they in were front evergreen of it. It was trees decorated and decorated with apples themand with called lighted a Paradise candles Tree – which – can were you dangerous! remember. Why whowould lived they in thebegarden dangerous? of paradise and Theywhat made thethe paradise branches playof might the have trees been into wreaths about? and hung them on their doors to welcome people at Christmas. Push red button to move through the pages (there are 3 pages). Click the audio button to play stop ‘O Christmas Tree’ L-2 S-05

A few interesting facts about Christmas trees 1) The greatest number of electric lights on a Christmas tree at one time is 194, 672! 2) In 1885 candles on a Christmas tree in a hospital in Chicago started a fire that burned the hospital down 3) The first strips of tinsel were made from real silver. 4) One of the most famous Christmas trees is in Trafalgar Square in London and every year it is given to the people in England by the people of Norway as a ‘thank you’ present for helping them in World War II. 5) The tallest artificial Christmas tree was 52 m! It was called the ‘Peace Tree’ and was displayed in Moinhos de Vento Park, Porto Alegre, Brasil from 1 st December 2001 until 6 th January 2002. 6) Aotearoa New Zealand has it’s own Christmas tree. Can you name it and describe it for someone who has not seen it? You might like to do some research to find out more about the Pohutakawa tree and share it at school. Click the down-button to move the blind down. Click video button for video. L-2 S-06

Christmas decorations that tell about the Christmas story Christmas bells ring out to tell the world of the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. Stars shone in the sky on the first Christmas night lighting the way for the shepherds to follow to where Jesus was born. Christmas tree decorations remind people that Jesus is the reason for the season. The nativity scene of the first Christmas night when Jesus whose birth in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago changed the world forever. Click images to reveal text L-2 S-7 A

Christmas decorations that tell about the Christmas story The Christmas wreath reminds people that God is like the evergreen circle with no beginning and no end and green is the colour of hope. The candle is the symbol of Christ who brought light back into the world and helped people to be friends with God and with each other. The angels were God’s messengers who came to tell the shepherds the good news of Jesus’ birth. Christmas candy sticks remind us of the crooks that the shepherds carried as they made their way to the stable to see Jesus, the new born king. My favourite decoration is… I say that because… Click images to reveal text L-2 S-7 B

The Aotearoa New Zealand Christmas tree T C H R I S T M A S E T E O A T H B W E Y H U L L F E B A S L R E D L L L K K U T O E S E O O D A M H U K V O W E E T M G G A M N E T L U E I H S W R R H L H R R W I T H S A A O U B R I G H T T C P P We have our own Christmas tree called the Pohutakawa that blooms brightly with bright red flowers all through Summer. Click words in the sentence to display in the Word Find L-2 S-08

Check Up 1) Use your worksheet on slide 6 to explain the traditions of the Christmas tree. 2) Draw, name and explain three Christmas decorations that tell about the Christmas story. 3) Explain why you think the Pohutakawa was chosen to be the New Zealand Christmas tree. 4) Name three New Zealand Christmas traditions your family has. 5) Which activity do you think helped you to learn best in this lesson? 6) Questions I would like to ask about the topics in this lesson are… Click in each caption space to reveal text L-2 S-09

Time for Reflection Click the audio button to play stop Reflective Music L-2 S-14

Sharing our Learning about CHRISTMAS with family whānau Make a list of family Share Invite the people worksheets in your Christmas traditions withfrom your Create a visual history of Slide classand 6 the to with a younger asome choir with class Share Design a join Christmas Family Whānau family of the Christmas Explain toshare someone tree that atthe Make up your way to you teach and them practise singing how Christmas decoration Quiz forabout aown Christmas (on the of interesting facts you have shows how itskype developed Createor home anon artwork of how thefrom the showing and sharing what Teacher Christmas tree the in carols Aotearoa Resource trees you learned. came and page to 22 be, learned about Christmas trees the words of Christmas tree decorated carols tell New. Paradise Zealand Christmas tree, with Talk you have learned and or and research Ask onthem. invite other the how lesson questions classes itabout could home ifthe and you be page) frame with the Christmas apples it and to give a story, modern it your tosingday a Christmas traditions decidecome withabout whom you Report comments made. could Share back on and thishow Christmas share with they yourdid someone tree New with Zealand decorations for Christmas. carol for and them parents and grandparents had would like to share it. the and trees classthem. how ofand Introduce the much hang past you itand each on could your carol lights. and share Share what this it with means. other when they were children. teach present Christmas and say them. and something tree. what they you might classes. Record them share with be have likelearned in thetofuture. about it. your class. Click the red button to move through pages (there are 9) click back arrow to start again L-2 S-11