Method 1. Push your wire coat hanger out with your thumbs

to make it into a circle shape. 2. Start with the longest branches and wrap them

round your coat hanger, weaving over and under, around the frame.

3. Next wrap your medium branches in the same way, securing the ends under other branches.

4. Tie a few double knots of green string around you reef to ensure it all stays in place.

5. Lastly, take the smallest branches and secure then underneath other branches to hide your string knots and to bulk out your reef.

6. Hang outside for a festive decoration!

Curriculum Links

EYFS

PSED: Chooses they resources they need for activities. C&L: Can follow instructions involving several ideas or actions. PD: Handles tools and equipment effectively. UW: Talks about features of their immediate environment. EAD: Safely uses and explores a variety of materials and techniques.

National Curriculum

Design & Technology: (KS1) Select from and use a wide range of materials and components, according to their characteristics; Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks. (KS2) Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, according to their functional properties; Select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks

accurately.

Christmas Evergreen Reef

You will need… • Approx. 5 long (30cm), 5 medium (20cm) & 5 shorter

(10cm) branches of evergreen with leaves. • Wire coat hanger •Green twine

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Session Objectives Children will know about evergreen and deciduous trees. Children will be able to create an evergreen reef. Tips & Notes • You may need to to snip some evergreen

branches with leaves beforehand. • Holly is traditionally used for reefs at

Christmas but it is very spiky to work with. Some species of holly doesn’t have prickles, or there are plenty of other evergreen species you could use.

• Remember to only take from trees and bushes which are plentiful.

• Remember to check if a species is safe to handle.

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FESTIVALS &

CELEBRATIONSSPECIALIST

THEMES

Evergreen &

Deciduous

Christmas Evergreen Reef

FESTIVALS &

CELEBRATIONSSPECIALIST

THEMES

Learn about Evergreen trees and use them to create your own festive

reef for your front door!

The science bit A tree’s leaves help the plant to make energy for growth through a process called photosynthesis. The leaves take in carbon dioxide from the air and together with sunlight and water taken in by the roots, they help to provide food for the plant. A chemical called chlorophyll aids this process. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour. In winter, the days are colder and there is little sunlight for effective photosynthesis.

Can you spot any Evergreen and

Deciduous trees outside?

Evergreen Trees In contrast, evergreen trees keep most of their leaves during the winter. They have special leaves, usually like long needles, or with tough waxy surfaces, which are more resistant to cold and moisture loss. Evergreens may continue to photosynthesise and grow slowly during the winter as long

as they get enough water. Evergreens do lose their leaves, but this is more gradual throughout the whole year, rather than in one go during the Winter.

Deciduous Trees As the days get colder and darker in the Winter, deciduous trees rest and the green chlorophyll disappears from leaves, which causes them to change colour. The deciduous trees shed their leaves and remain dormant until spring. (A little bit like tree-hibernation!).