Yule: Light in Darkness
In the darkest time, fairy tales of generosity and perseverance warm our hearts. The Star Money shows us the rewards of giving, while The Snow Queen teaches us that love conquers all.
UU Principle Focus
1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person
Every person carries inner light. We honor the light within ourselves and others, especially during dark times.
Learning Goals
Language Arts
- • Learn letters M, N, O, P, Q from stories
- • Understand opposites and compound words
- • Describe settings in stories
- • Write longer passages in Main Lesson Book
Math
- • Place value (tens and ones)
- • Numbers to 50
- • Counting by 5s and 10s
- • Doubles facts
Form Drawing
- • Star forms
- • Snowflake symmetry
- • Angular/crystalline shapes
- • Sun wheel designs
Social-Emotional
- • Practicing generosity
- • Finding hope in darkness
- • Perseverance through challenges
- • Valuing rest and quiet
Weekly Lessons
Week 1: The Star Money
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Darkness deepens. What light do we carry inside us?
📖 Language Arts
Letter M from picture - Money falling like stars. Generosity vocabulary
🔢 Math
Addition and subtraction review. Story problems about giving and receiving
🌿 Science & Nature
Stars and constellations - winter sky watching
✏️ Form Drawing
Star forms - five-pointed, six-pointed, radiating lines
🧶 Handwork
Star ornaments, beginning knitting (cast on)
📚 Story
The Star Money by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter M
- Star Money animated
Shows:
- Stars for Kids
Audiobooks:
- The Star Money
Week 2: The Elves and the Shoemaker (Revisited)
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Who helps us in secret? How can we help others?
📖 Language Arts
Letter N from picture - Night work of the elves. Compound words
🔢 Math
Doubles facts (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5). Pairs of shoes
🌿 Science & Nature
Nocturnal animals in winter - owls, mice, foxes
✏️ Form Drawing
Mirrored/symmetrical forms - like pairs of shoes
🧶 Handwork
Continue knitting, felt elf or shoe craft
📚 Story
The Elves and the Shoemaker (deeper version)
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter N
- Elves and Shoemaker
Shows:
- Wild Kratts: Nocturnal animals
Audiobooks:
- The Elves and the Shoemaker
Week 3: Mother Holle
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Hard work and kindness are rewarded. What work do we do with care?
📖 Language Arts
Letter O from picture - Opening the well, snow falling. Opposites (kind/unkind)
🔢 Math
Place value - tens and ones. 'Mother Holle shook 10 feathers, then 5 more...'
🌿 Science & Nature
Snow and weather - how snow forms, snowflake shapes
✏️ Form Drawing
Snowflake forms - six-fold symmetry
🧶 Handwork
Paper snowflakes, continue knitting project
📚 Story
Mother Holle by Brothers Grimm
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter O
- Mother Holle animated
Shows:
- How snowflakes form
Audiobooks:
- Mother Holle
Week 4: The Snow Queen (Part 1)
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Light a candle each day. The light returns soon!
📖 Language Arts
Letter P from picture - Palace of ice. Describing settings
🔢 Math
Numbers to 50. Counting by 5s and 10s
🌿 Science & Nature
Ice and freezing - experiments with water, ice, salt
✏️ Form Drawing
Angular, crystalline forms - like ice palaces
🧶 Handwork
Ice lanterns, frozen nature art
📚 Story
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen (Part 1)
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Sesame Street: Letter P
- Snow Queen animated
Shows:
- Ice formations
Audiobooks:
- The Snow Queen
Week 5: Yule - The Return of Light
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Yule ritual - Yule log, candle lighting, welcoming the returning sun
📖 Language Arts
Letter Q from picture - Quest for Kai (Snow Queen). Review M-Q
🔢 Math
Review place value, counting by 5s and 10s. Solstice math - shortest day
🌿 Science & Nature
Winter solstice - why days get longer now, sun's journey
✏️ Form Drawing
Sun wheel forms, spiral of light returning
🧶 Handwork
Yule log decoration, beeswax candle rolling
📚 Story
The Snow Queen (Part 2) - Gerda's journey
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Yule celebration videos
- Solstice for kids
Shows:
- Winter solstice traditions
Audiobooks:
- The Snow Queen continued
Week 6: Rest and Renewal
🕯️ Hearth Circle
Gentle daily candle lighting. Share one good thing from each day.
📖 Language Arts
Review M-Q. Read favorite stories. Write in Main Lesson Book
🔢 Math
Math games and review. Puzzles and patterns
🌿 Science & Nature
Winter nature walks - animal tracks, evergreens, ice
✏️ Form Drawing
Free drawing and review of forms
🧶 Handwork
Complete knitting project, handmade gifts
📚 Story
Family choice - favorite winter tales
📺 "Just Can't" Day Alternatives
Videos:
- Favorite holiday movies
- Cozy winter stories
Shows:
- Planet Earth: Winter
Audiobooks:
- Winter story collections
🕯️ Yule Celebration Ideas
- • Decorate and burn a Yule log (or decorate with candles)
- • Stay up to welcome the sunrise on solstice morning
- • Make evergreen wreaths and garlands
- • Create handmade gifts for family members
- • Do a spiral walk with candles
- • Leave offerings for wildlife - seeds, suet, water
- • Tell stories by candlelight
- • Ring bells at dawn to welcome the returning sun