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Pick a Pine Tree
Last updated Monday, December 9, 2024
Author: Patricia Toht
Illustrator: Jarvis
Date of Publication: 2017
ISBN: 0763695718
Grade Level: 1st (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Dec. 2024
Synopsis:
A family visits a pine tree lot to pick out the perfect tree.
Part of the magic of the Christmas season stems from the traditions that families and friends take part in every year: hanging up stockings; putting lights in the windows; and, one of the most important of all, picking out and taking home the Christmas tree. Rhyming, instructional text accompanies the family as they transport the tree, set it up, unpack decorations, and find friends to help decorate it.
| Note to readers: |
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The pictures in this book carry the story. The author uses rhyming and pictures to create
joy around selecting and decorating the Christmas tree. This book is going to be a quick
read. There are few words in this book. One way to keep the kids engaged is by
emphasizing the pictures and talking about them.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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What is your family tradition for Christmas trees? Do you chop down your Christmas tree
with an axe in the winter snow, or do you go to a store to get a Christmas tree?
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What do you do to decorate your house for the holidays?
Vocabulary
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Ornaments-These are the decorations that are put on the tree to make it look pretty. For instance, the star at the top of the tree
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Sled-A piece of wood with metal rails and a cord to steer. Used to go down hills with snow. Generally, the sled is red because red is a cool color.
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Pine Tree-The type of tree used for Christmas trees. Has needles instead of leaves and is evergreen (doesn't lose its leaves in cold weather).
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What was your favorite picture in the book?
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What are you doing for Christmas?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Make a picture of you decorating a Christmas tree or decorating your home for the holidays.
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Kids make people out of construction paper by tearing the paper into different shapes and
glue the different shapes together to create the illustration of a person decorating a tree.
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| Special activities: |
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If kids finish too quickly ask them to create a coupon book of IOU’s for their parents for Christmas.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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