Night Tree by Eve Bunting is a charming and unique Christmas picture book. Published in 1994, it evokes the nostalgia of Christmases past and the classic comfort of a wondrous holiday story.
The main character, along with his mother, father, and sister, has a remarkable tradition of going into the forest every winter. They do this to decorate a Christmas tree for the animals. The family is laden with a box of edible and homemade ornaments, along with everything needed for a calm and quiet night of stargazing and hot cocoa drinking. Together, they enjoy a family activity that also helps preserve nature.
Night Tree uniquely merges an awe-inspiring story with the beautiful lesson of helping nature and giving back during the Christmas season. It contains cozy illustrations and deep messages of kindness, tradition, and caring for nature, Night Tree by Eve Bunting is sure to become an annual read in your classroom or home.
In this blog, you’ll find five engaging classroom activities that help students explore themes of generosity, community, and environmental responsibility. These activities deepen comprehension and creativity during the Christmas season.
#1 Helping Tree Writing Activity for Night Tree
(Generosity & Community Focus)
First, discuss with students the wonderful lesson of how the family generously gives back to nature by taking care of the animals during the winter season, and how their conscious decision to be environmentally responsible can inspire us all. Task students with pondering how they would decorate an outdoor Christmas tree in their schoolyard, backyard, community, or neighborhood to help the world around them. Whether they would choose to decorate the tree with berries and nuts for the squirrels, birdseed molds for our flying friends, or place gloves and winter hats on the tree for their community, students think of and draw the items they would place on an outdoor Christmas tree template.
Then, students describe their Christmas tree and why they chose the various items they placed on it in a writing piece. Students explain their decision and how it would impact nature or their community in a positive way. This activity combines literacy, writing, social studies, and/or science.
Interested in everything you need for this writing craft? Grab it in our Night Tree Book.
#2 Eco-Friendly STEM Ornament Activity Inspired by Night Tree
In the book, the family chooses carefully what to place on their outdoor tree, spending thoughtful time making homemade, edible decorations. “For weeks, we’ve been making balls of sunflower seeds and pressed millet and honey.”
They’ve even thought about the specific animals that will visit their tree, making sure to take care of even the smallest ones. “We scatter shelled nuts and breadcrumbs and pieces of apple underneath for the little creatures who can’t climb very well.”
Students can complete a STEM activity in which they research what sorts of animals would visit a tree in their region or area. Next, students research what these animals typically eat, and they use this information to craft an eco-friendly, edible ornament. From crafting dried orange garland to carrot stick bundles, from Cheerio balls to apple slices and cranberry creations, students can utilize their creativity and research to make perfect edible, eco-friendly ornaments.
Students delve into whether the animal can reach the tree for their ornaments, and even test if their ornament can withstand winter weather. Students finish this STEM activity by reflecting on how their ornament can impact the forest and its animals.
Interested in this full STEM activity? Grab it in ourNight TreeBook Companion!
#3 Exploring Author’s Craft in Night Tree
(Figurative Language & Imagery)
Night Tree is rich with wonderful examples of author’s craft. Filled with vivid imagery, figurative language, and cozy sensory details, this story makes the perfect mentor text for exploring how authors create mood and meaning. Students can identify types of figurative language throughout the text, choose their favorite example, and illustrate the image it creates in their minds. Through this activity, students see how an author’s craft brings words to life, shapes illustrations, and inspires their own creative writing.
Love this literacy/writing idea? It’s in our Night Tree Book Companion.
#4 Concrete Poetry Writing Activity Using Night Tree
Winter makes a wondrous backdrop for writing poetry. Night Tree is just the book to inspire it, specifically, concrete poetry. A shape poem, or concrete poetry, is when a poem is written inside a picture, or the verses conform to an image. Students can use a Christmas tree as the image as they write a concrete poem about the story. Students can become inspired to write a poem about the story in a variety of shapes. Such shapes can be the winter moon depicted in many of the illustrations, or in the image of one of the forest animals.
Want to explore even more winter poetry? Grab our Winter Poetry Workbook.
#5 Winter Animals Science & Literacy Study Inspired by Night Tree
At the end of the book, the main character lies in his bed at night, imagining the animals gathering around the Night Tree, partaking in a Christmas feast, while “singing their own Christmas songs.”
The illustrations show bears, foxes, skunks, rabbits, porcupines, and more forest creatures. These animals defy the odds of the predator/prey relationship to enjoy the generosity of the Night Tree. This image inspired the Winter Animals Study Activity.
This activity merges science and literacy. Students will pick a location, such as the woods behind their school or home, to observe the various winter animals. They will spend a week recording the various animals they observe. The students will collect evidence such as footprints or food each animal leaves behind. In addition, they will gather information about the animals’ actions and the weather at the time. Students draw sketches of each animal they see and even go on to create a bar graph from their findings. Finally, students reflect on their observations. They will connect their findings and propose something they could add to the environment to support it.
Through this activity, students build a deeper understanding of local wildlife while developing observation, data collection, and reflection skills. Just like the Night Tree brought animals together, this activity helps them see how small acts of care can make a big difference in the natural world.
Grab this full Winter Animals Study in our Night Tree Book Companion.
Night Tree Book Companion
Our Night Tree book companion is packed with meaningful, cross-curricular learning experiences that bring the story to life. Students deepen comprehension through targeted questions. They will explore the author’s craft with analysis and illustration, and map out story elements to strengthen understanding.
Creative writing shines as they decorate and describe their own Helping Tree. They will write a concrete poem inspired by the book. Plus, they will even retell the story from an animal’s point of view. Collaborative projects, like a Holiday Traditions class book, build classroom community. Plus, hands-on STEM challenges, such as designing an eco-friendly ornament, connect literacy to real-world problem-solving. Science is woven throughout with studies of Christmas tree types, forest ecosystems, and winter animals. In addition, it is capped off by a diorama project and a rubric. This encourages students to showcase their understanding in an engaging, visual way.
Conclusion:
Night Tree beautifully captures the magic of giving, family traditions, and caring for the natural world. It makes a perfect addition to your winter read-alouds. These five classroom activities turn that message into meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that blend literacy, science, and creativity. By exploring generosity, community, and environmental responsibility, students not only deepen their understanding of the story. Plus, they will also discover how their own small actions can make a lasting impact on their classrooms, their communities, and the world around them.
