Definition:

 Someone who is grateful is thankful for people, nature, and things. Stewardship means taking good care of what we’ve been given.

In short:

Thankful for every blessing, big or small. 

Summary:

In the northern regions of our world, many cultures celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, because this signifies the beginning of longer days, more sunlight, and warmer weather. All over the world, for thousands of years, people have shown their gratitude for the winter solstice in many different ways. Readers will learn about the reasons for these celebrations and what people do to show their appreciation. 

Lesson Objectives:

1. Students show awareness of the winter solstice, and why people have shown gratitude for this special time of year over thousands of years. 
2. This story can be a prompt for a science unit on astronomy, in particular the earth’s revolution around the sun, its rotation on its axis, and its effect on climate.  

Guiding Questions: 

1. What is the winter solstice and when is it?  
2. Describe what winter is like in the northern regions of our world.
3. When is the longest day in the year? 
4. Explain why the days differ in length. 
5. How did early astronomers use the setting sun’s rays to determine the shortest day? 
6. How did people use shadows to determine the shortest and longest days? 
7. What did evergreens symbolize for the Romans and what did they do with them? 
8. Can you think of a way you’d like to celebrate the winter solstice? (even if you don’t live in a climate where it’s cold during the winter)
9. Choose your favorite season and give three reasons why you like it. 
10. This book is about how people express their gratitude for the winter solstice. Share about special times of the year when you and your family celebrate because you feel grateful.