Activities & Resources for Outdoor Education

Learn about the winter solstice

Curriculum | Grades 3 & up

Thanks for learning about the winter solstice with us! This curriculum has been developed to celebrate a significant seasonal event observed every year: the winter solstice. This time of year reminds us of the interconnection between the Sun, the Earth and the web of life.

This curriculum is intended to support learners in understanding the impact of the winter solstice from cultural and scientific perspectives. Inside, you’ll find seasonal activities, stories, and teachings to support your students’ connection with the natural world.

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What to expect

This resource contains 4 lessons about:

Sun Stand Still: The Physical Science of the Winter Solstice
Hibernal Stories: Exploring Culture through Story and Tradition
Rhythms and Patterns: Animals, Humans, Plants and Earth Cycles
Sustainability & Celebration of Learning

Explore related media resources

Lesson 1

First Peoples Principles of Learning: https://www.fnesc.ca/first-peoples-principles-of-learning/
W̱SÁNEĆ 13 Moons Curriculum: https://racerocks.ca/13-moons-acknowledgement/
Newgrange Winter Solstice: https://www.newgrange.com/winter_solstice.htm
Time Lapse in Fairbanks Alaska: https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/a-winter-solstice-time-lapse-in-fairbanks-alaska
Equinox and Solstice Demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-J2kue2ca8&ab_channel=StarWalk
Equinox Quiz: https://starwalk.space/en/quiz/equinox-solstice

Lesson 2

How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun: https://www.plt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/PLTPreK-8_Activity-18_Tale-of-the-Sun_Student-Page_How-Grandmother-Spider-Stole-the-Sun.pdf
Mouse Celebrates Winter Solstice: A Lesson Plan from SD 71: https://www.comoxvalleyschools.ca/indigenous-education/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/05/Mouse-Celebrates-the-Winter-Solstice-Lesson-Plan.pdf
Ant & Grasshopper: Aesop’s Fable: https://www.longlongtimeago.com/once-upon-a-time/fables/from-aesop/the-ant-and-the-grasshopper
What does Solstice mean to you? Ask an Elder: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/ask-an-elder-cbc-indigenous-1.4459582
W̱SÁNEĆ 13 Moons Curriculum: https://racerocks.ca/13-moons-acknowledgement/

Lesson 3

How Canadian Wildlife Survives Winter: https://naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/land-wildlife/how-canadian-wildlife-survives-winter/
How do Animals Survive Winter in Canada?: https://blog.cwf-fcf.org/index.php/en/how-do-animals-survive-the-winter-in-canada/
Why carrots taste sweeter in winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8isLHTZN-Q
A Forest Year (Timelapse Video): https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/a-forest-year
Nature’s Signals: https://www.fnesc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1-4-BLM-Science-5-9.pdf
How do Trees Survive the Winter?: https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/how-do-trees-survive-the-winter

Lesson 4

Iran – Yalda: https://www.tappersia.com/yalda-night/
Zuni and Hopi of United States – Soyal: http://dev.ueat.utoronto.ca/12-days-of-celebrations-soyal/
Peru – Inti Raymi: https://www.spanish.academy/blog/what-is-inti-raymi-in-peru-and-why-was-it-banned/
China – Dongzhi: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/dongzhi-festival.htm
Vancouver – Lantern Festival: https://www.secretlantern.org/about
Guide to a Waste-less Holiday Season: https://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/WASTE-LESS-HOLIDAYS-Nov-2020.pdf
Embracing Green Celebrations – Regional Recycling: https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/how-do-trees-survive-the-winter

Acknowledgements

We wanted to express our sincere gratitude to all of the hands, minds, and hearts whose publicly shared knowledge, teachings and contributions were a part of this learning resource.
We always love to hear from you! Please send your creations to education@sierraclub.bc.ca
We invite you to start with one thing, just one action to help build a brighter future for the lands, waters and all who call them home.