NAME __________________________________ CLASS _______________
2015 Activity Guide- Preparing for your visit
Invent your own tree! In the boxes below, list three items found in your classroom right
now. Imagine how those three items could be put together to make a Christmas tree. You could
stack books in a tree shape, and decorate it with sticky notes and paper clips chains.
Materials: 1) ______________________________
Materials: 1) ______________________________
2) _________________________________
2) _________________________________
3) ______________________________
3) ______________________________
Draw your tree below:
Draw your tree below:
Explain how you used each material to build a tree.
Explain how you used each material to build a tree.
Now that you’ve worked with trees made from materials in your classroom, think about how you
would make a tree out of objects found in the rest of your school, like jump ropes, musical
instruments, or art supplies.
Materials: 1) ______________________________
2) _________________________________
3) ______________________________
Explain how you used each material to build a tree.
Draw your tree below:
NAME __________________________________ CLASS _______________
WORD SCRAMBLE
Use the clues to find the country of origin for each International Santa. If you need help, visit
www.whychristmas.com/cultures/ for details about Christmas traditions around the world.
1.
This European country flies a red flag with a white cross. For Christmas Eve, they serve ham, cheesy
scalloped potatoes, and Christmas cookies for dessert, and a melted cheese dish called fondue.
awzreiltnsd
2.
__________________________________________
This northern European country enjoys a julbord, a buffet eaten at lunchtime on Christmas Eve.
People here also celebrate St. Lucia’s Day on Dec. 13.
dsneew
3.
__________________________________________
This European country is known for its tulips. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas,
which is used in this country.
lasehndenrt
4.
__________________________________________
This European country is known for its pizza and pasta. One way of celebrating Christmas is the
Nativity crib scene. A lot of families have a Nativity crib in their homes.
tliay
5.
__________________________________________
This European country calls Santa Claus “Pere Noel”. One custom here is to burn a yule log made out
of cherry wood. The yule log and candles are left burning all night on Christmas Eve.
fnraec
6.
__________________________________________
This European country is part of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first made
Christmas trees popular in the 1840s. They also decorate with holly, ivy, and mistletoe.
egdnanl
7.
__________________________________________
This country is the largest country in the world. Here, some people fast on Christmas Eve, until the
first star has appeared in the sky. People then eat “sochivo” or “kutia,” a wheat or rice porridge.
ssaiur
8.
__________________________________________
It gets dark very in most parts of this northern European country around Christmas. People here
believe that Santa Claus or Father Christmas lives in the north part of the country called Lapland.
landifn
9.
__________________________________________
In this North American country, children call at the houses of friends and neighbors and sing a song
at each home. One game that is often played at holiday parties is piñata.
Ioxecm
10.
__________________________________________
This European country flies a flag with three horizontal stripes in black, red, and gold. Its Christmas
Markets that sells all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations, including glass ornaments.
gymaenr
__________________________________________
NAME __________________________________ CLASS _______________
2015 Activity Guide- Enjoy your visit!
Date __________________________________
Ornament scavenger hunt
During your visit to the 2015 Festival of Trees, you’ll notice many kinds of decoration on the
Christmas trees. As you walk around RiverCenter’s Great Hall to see the trees, keep track of the
different types of materials that were used to decorate the trees. Make sure to also write down
which tree you found the material on.
□
paper
□
ribbon
□
metal
□
feathers
□
fabric
□
wood
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
□
glass
□
I found this material on tree # _________________________.
flowers or
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
leaves
This tree is called __________________________________________________________________
NAME __________________________________ CLASS _______________
Story behind the door
Several attractions at the 2015 Festival of Trees look so real, it’s like someone really lives there!
The Gingerbread Village, the Designer Doors, Hearth & Homes, and the Rooms are all based on
a whole house or parts of a house. People live in houses, so who do you imagine would live in a
house shown at Festival of Trees?
DIRECTIONS: Visit the Gingerbread Village, the Designer Doors, Hearth & Homes, and the
Rooms displays. Choose ONE design to write about. Answer these questions to brainstorm details
about the person you imagine living behind that door.
•
•
•
What is his or her name?
How old is this person?
Describe what this person looks like. What clothes is he or she wearing?
•
Who else lives in this house? Does this person live alone? Does he or she have a pet?
•
•
•
•
What does the rest of the house look like?
What is this person’s job?
What does this person do for fun?
What are some of his or her favorite things? Favorite colors? Favorite foods?
•
What does this person do to celebrate Christmas?
Now, write your story on the lines below, adding details from your imagination!
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