It's Tu B'Shevat

Word wonders: When you’ve finished reading the story, ask the children if they heard any words they liked or hadn’t known before (sturdy, blessing, sown); these can then be talked about and written on leaves to stick on an image reflecting the story, such as a tree sapling.

Planting seeds: A simple but effective way of connecting to the story is to plant some seeds of your own!

Making menus: Learn the seven fruits – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates – bringing real examples in for the children to touch, smell and hold (and, once you’ve checked allergies) even taste! Have a go at creating different meal ideas together that contain these foods; the children can then draw/ paint their chosen ideas onto paper plates.

Weather dances: The book talks about the planted tree growing throughout the year, so get some movement involved by discussing the different seasons of the year and the weather associated. You can then try out different movements with the children to portray those weathers – rain, wind, snow, sunshine, for example.

Throw a birthday party: As Tu B’Shevat is also known as the birthday of trees, have a birthday celebration in your setting – discuss the sorts of things you have at parties, how you might change the celebration for trees (i.e. being outside, watering the tree, or planting flowers/seeds around its base), and then throw your own birthday celebration!