Did you know…
The winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year and marks the first day of winter!
Activity: Make a luminary
Help light your way during the longest night of the year!
You will need…
- A clean plastic milk or water jug any size – see through works best
- Serrated kitchen knife – parental supervision suggested
- Scissors
- Black construction paper
- Glue
- Rice or sand (for use with a tealight with a flame)
- A tealight candle flame-lit or battery powered, or a glow stick
Optional items: Foam stickers with a winter or Christmas theme, stencils, paper punches
What to do…
- Starting from the bottom of the handle of your container, cut the top off with a scissor, or a serrated kitchen knife, and trim any jagged edges.
- Cut out winter related icons from black construction paper and glue them to the outside of a plastic jug, or put foam stickers around the container.
- Add your light source and turn out the lights or put the luminary outside.
Note: Put about an inch or two of sand or rice on the bottom of your container if you decide to use a flame-lit tealight candle and keep out of children’s reach. If your flame is not bright enough, pop small holes in discrete places around the edge of the rice/sand to give the flame oxygen.
Here are some ideas…
Winter icons
Snowmen, snowballs, sled, candle, pine tree, snowflake, sleigh, holly, ice skates, penguin, mittens, cup of hot cocoa, hat/cap, cardinal, wreath, pine cone, gingerbread cookies, a bare tree, yule log, stag, a cabin with smoke coming from the chimney
Christmas icons
Santa, present, candy canes, reindeer, poinsettia, star, tree, Christmas ball, stocking, angel, bell
Question of the day:
What is winter solstice?
Learn more:
The Winter Solstice
Explains the winter solstice
Sue Ellen’s Scrapbook: Solstice
Read Sue Ellen’s scrapbook to learn about solstice and the Yule celebration
Artists Helping Children: Winter Solstice
Crafts to celebrate the Winter Solstice
FranW.com 
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