Free Lesson Plans: The Attic Christmas

Title: The Attic Christmas
Author: B.G. Hennessy
Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
Ages: 4 – 8
Description (from Amazon): When Angel, Mr. Macaroni, Silver Bell, Skier, Special Delivery, Santa, and Camel find themselves stuck in the attic one year, they realize something is wrong. Lily always hangs them on the tree for her grandchildren, but now her house seems empty. The ornaments try to cobble together the things they already possess so they can have their own Christmas. But it’s not until they hear footsteps that they know Christmas has finally arrived. It’s Jack, Lily’s son, coming to find them for his kids and to continue the tradition his mother put into place so many years before. The popular family tradition of collecting treasured Christmas ornaments is celebrated as never before in a heartwarming story with jewel-like illustrations.

Discussion Points:

Ask your student the following questions:

• Do you have any favorite ornaments?
• This book refers to Christmas traditions, what traditions does your family have?
• Explain that giving life to inanimate objects is called “personification.”  What would your ornaments say if they could talk?

Additional Resources:

• Learn more about personification
• Free Christmas Coloring pages
• Printable Christmas Writing Paper
  • Your child could write:
    • A list of his or her favorite ornaments
    • A story about an ornament
    • Your family’s Christmas traditions

Craft:

As you and your child work on this craft together, discuss the questions above.

Cinnamon Ornaments

You will need:

• 1 cup of cinnamon
  • Plus a little extra (a 4.25oz jar from the Dollar Tree worked for this craft)
• 3/4 cup of applesauce
• 2 tablespoons of white glue
• 1 tablespoon of ground cloves (optional)
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Cookie sheet
• Puffy paint (optional)

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the cinnamon, glue, applesauce & cloves. Mix together until it is the consistency of play dough. (add more cinnamon, if needed)*
2. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on the counter and roll the dough to 1/8″ thickness.
3. Using the cookie cutters, cut out ornament shapes.
4. Poke a hole in the shape for stringing later (we used the handle of a wooden spoon)
5. Transfer to a cookie sheet and let dry for about a day or bake in a 200 degree oven for about an hour.
6. Once dry, decorate with puffy paint, if you want.  String ribbon through the hole for hanging on the tree.

*Note: The cinnamon is very powdery.  Be careful and stir slowly!