Winter solstice is upon us! Is it something you celebrate or give recognition to in your classroom? If you don’t, you should start! It’s a great time to teach kids a little more science, culture, and history. Here are a few videos you can use in your classroom to give some background context on what winter solstice is.
To bring culture into the equation, here’s a cool video put out by CBS on Ask An Elder.
Overall, the celebration of the winter solstice is based on an appreciation for the winter season. This means lighting Yule logs, sipping on hot cocoa or cider, and enjoying a candlelit evening during the darkest night of the year.
These are all activities you can incorporate in your classroom, or even in your home! A simple (battery-operated) candlelit lunch in the classroom is an easy, doable activity that can make a big impact on your students.
A Yule log craft can also be a great conversation starter.
You can bring Stonehenge into play as well by diving deep into how it relates to the winter solstice and maybe even work as a class or in small groups to build a replica.
A simple walk outside to take in the winter air and point out things everyone appreciates about winter can teach them the importance of winter solstice as well.
Winter solstice celebrations focus so much on light because it’s the darkest day of the year. Creating paper lanterns, making or sharing candles, or putting together candle crafts is a great way to celebrate.
You can also find our book list for winter solstice here.
What do you do to celebrate the winter solstice in your classroom?
Cover photo by Death to the Stock Photo
