Winter Solstice Homeschool Lesson Guide
This blog post will outline everything you need for a week-long secular homeschool lesson guide on winter solstice, you’ll find lots of ways to have some fun while you create some cool traditions.
If you’re interested in a full middle-grade winter solstice unit study, you can check out the 2023 version here:
Over the years I’ve grown to structure my “lessons”, projects and themed curriculum activities using a specific pattern. It helps me to pace everything in a less stressful way. I call this template a “lesson guide” and when we’re covering something like a solstice or equinox or other reoccurring/spiral review subject- it’s so easy to just build a bit each year, off of the previous year’s lesson.
This Lesson Guide can be completed over a few days time or even spread across a couple weeks- do it however it suits you and your learners best!
We never attempt all the elements of a Lesson Guide in a single day. The format we use most often is doing the first two parts one day, then 3 & 4 another day (usually around the Cold Moon )and finishing the lesson on (or very near) the solstice! We pack lots of art into the mix, because we hand make many of our winter holiday gifts so this is a great cadence for the lesson coupled with what ever else you have going on in your homeschool world at the time.
I recap the "quick overview/definition” part often and keep it written somewhere visible while we work through the lesson guide so it stays fresh for all of us!
It’s also a great time to visit some of your favorite resources for some winter themed math, reading & comprehension, writing, science etc!
Ask Questions, have a discussion, make a mind map
Start with a conversation and QUESTIONS. I always want to hear what they think something is or is about before I just start blabbing about what we’re covering. I always learn something this way too- it’s a great way to connect! I usually use a dry erase board and write the topic in the center- in this case WINTER SOLSTICE. Then we mind-map out their answers, input and ideas.
Here are some inspiration questions to get you started, but don’t let these limit you! Let the kids ask questions too! Do your very best to listen and write and say things like “we can investigate that” and “that sounds interesting, I’m excited to find out more!” instead of answering the questions, even when you know the answer.
What do you think winter solstice is?
What does the word solstice mean?
How do we know when the seasons change?
What are some things you think of when you hear/see the word Winter?
2. Give a brief introduction/overview of the topic
I always keep this introduction as brief and to the point as possible- highlight the basic definition of the topic and the most key facts. I do this in two parts.
First I just give the shortest possible overview, verbally. Second, I have it on paper/a worksheet or write it on the white board and we read it together, then I follow that with a VERY SHORT video that re-caps what I just said/what we just read.
This is a great time to use the dictionary or have them do a simple web search if that’s part of your Homeschool practice. I’ve got a 4th grader over here and we are having SO much fun with the giant dictionary we got this past summer for our grammar curriculum, well, at least I’ve been having fun with it.
“Winter solstice is a specific moment and it marks the official start of winter. It happens on the shortest day of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere (where we are) this happens around December 21-22 every year. This year it is on December 21st, at 1:47pm Pacific.”
I often quote or reference articles like this one from the Farmer’s Almanac and site my source so they understand the importance of sourcing accurate information “The term “solstice” comes from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sistere (to stand still) because, during the solstice, the angle between the Sun’s rays and the plane of the Earth’s equator (called declination) appears to stand still.”
Here are some videos to watch:
Nature Cat from PBS Kids We’ve seen this episode a zillion times and still love it and still watch this quick clip every YEAR!
The Shortest Day this is a read aloud of a book, you can also get the book and read it together! It is included in my book list below as well.
Fun Facts About Winter Solstice I love this super quick 2 minute video because it gives 5 quick facts and does some good work to de-center Christmas- a secular homeschool favorite!
This JPL video from 2020 has a variety of info, but if you start it at 2:22 seconds in it gives a very brief overview of Winter Solstice.
3. Hands on Activity
Once your learners have a good idea of what winter solstice, do a some art! With so many holidays approaching and December being a month we thank our teachers, family and friends by giving gifts- this is often a gift-making craft at our house. Other fun craft themes are making lanterns or lights, celebrating the longer days returning, a count down to solstice (you can find a “Salt Dough Spiral” activity in my free winter solstice activity book along with some journal & art prompts, a recipe, a word search and more!) Feel free to check out a few of our favorite gifts to make and crafts to do for winter solstice on my Pinterest Board.
After the craft we have a snack (which you can also theme if you’re motivated and creative like that!) and a body break to keep ourselves FRESH- it’s a good time for heading outside if you can.
4. Revisit Your Dry Erase Board
Go back to the discussion you had to start the lesson and review together.
What questions do we still have?
What did we discover?
Have our ideas, thoughts and opinions changed? What did we remember from last year?
What is our current perspective?
5. Read Together
Here is a book list for all ages! We usually gather a nice book stack when planning a specific lesson and sprinkle our read-aloud time through out the season or over the weeks we are covering the lesson. My kids are both readers now so we all take turns sitting in the big chair and reading the books aloud!
Return of the Light by Carolyn McVickar Edwards This one is our favorite and we usually start reading through it the last weekend in November, it has a great collection of stories we all love! Highly recommend!
The Solstice Badger by Robin McFadden is not about the science of the solstice but it’s a super fun story my kids love! A great tale full of magic and mystery!
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper is a DIFFERENT “The Shortest Day” than the video read-aloud linked above, we initially got this because I loved the artwork so much but it’s become a fun book we read every year as the solstice approaches. It’s a beautiful treasure!
The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson is a good one for the older kiddos- it’s a little word heavy for the wee ones, and some reviewers did not like that it mentions human sacrifice. My kids are 7 and 10 and we are all REAL history all day over here so that wasn’t a major feather-ruffler in this house, but a heads up if it may be in yours!
For a fantastic list- check out THIS POST by Boston Mamas.
6. Spend Time Outdoors
This will look wildly different depending on where you are located and what the weather is like, but as this holiday is all about the “sun standing still”, it’s a great time to get out and get as much of it as you can, when you can. We are in Southern California and it does get “nearly cold” here at this time of year, some years it even gets “actual cold”- but we don’t have snow or too much intense weather to deal with- so we do go to the beach and on hikes in December and if it’s not raining, we have lots of fires at night all month long!! Getting outside, even in small doses is so good at this time of year when we are inclined (and honestly NEED TO) hibernate a bit. Spending time in nature is a great way to re-charge your energy and connect with Mother Earth! We love to couple our outdoor adventuring with NATURE JOURNALING- we keep little books and after some outdoor time record a reflection using pencil & watercolor (you can use any medium!) and simply write the place and date! It’s so much fun!
7. Celebrate the Solstice
Now that you’ve learned all about the winter solstice, it’s time to celebrate! At our house that means a big fire, some feasting and lots of hot cocoa. We love reflecting on the year at this time too, sharing our favorite memories, looking through pictures and videos etc.
What does solstice celebration look like at your house? Is this the first year you’re celebrating?
We always love hearing about new books, and trying new crafts and ideas so please share yours on comments below or tag me on IG (@bethgriffin_co) so we can try some new fun stuff too!