The Night Before Christmas

 

 The Night Before Christmas

Written by Clement Clarke Moore

(This is sometimes disputed.  It may have been written 

by Henry Livingston Jr.)

Illustrated by Jan Brett

Published in 1823

Grade Level: 3rd grade

Synopsis: The Night Before Christmas, also called A Visit From Saint Nicholas, has been around for nearly two hundred years.  Many people have heard the opening line, which says, "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there."  Clement C. Moore was able to incorporate descriptive similes and rhymes that flowed seamlessly together to create a poem about the night before Christmas as it might occur for all those who believe in Santa Claus.  

Theme/Skill: As children, many of us believe in Santa Claus.  We believe that he and his elves make presents at his shop at the North Pole.  We believe that he travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer and we believe that he travels around the world giving gifts to all who are deserving.  Eventually the time comes when we lose our innocence and stop believing in Santa Claus.  The Night Before Christmas is about fondly remembering childhood.  It is likely that the father in the poem no longer believes in Santa Claus, yet Santa Claus allows the father to see him.  He most likely does this on purpose to reawaken the child in the father.  Once skill that could be worked on during the reading of this book is the older vocabulary.  There are words in it such as, kerchief, coursers, and luster, that the students may not know.  Vocabulary instruction prior to reading the poem would help their understanding. 

Pre-reading activity: Because it is likely that this poem would be read and taught during the holiday season it would be appropriate to introduce a variety of traditions and cultures to students.  The teacher could introduce two celebrations, such as Hanukkah and Kwanza, each week leading up to Christmas.  Students could learn about the food, tradition, and beliefs of each celebration along with the region in which it is most commonly acknowledged/practiced.  It would broaden students' cultural awareness.

Post-reading activity: Students will have learned from the pre-reading activities what a culture and tradition is.  This knowledge will allow them to better identify their own family traditions.  Students could write about their favorite family memories and compare them to what their parents did as children (this would require an interview).  Students would be given a brief lesson about interviews and the goal of the assignment. 

Assessment: Throughout the unit on various cultural celebrations students will keep a journal.  They will write freely about what they learned, what they found most interesting, what they would like to learn more about/curiosities.  Journals will not be formally graded, but will be reviewed by the teacher in order to assess that all students are taking something from the lessons.  The teacher should also note the strengths and weaknesses of each student's writing.  These can be addressed in conferences, writing workshops, and mini-lessons.   

Reflection: This was one of my favorite poems as a child because it reminded me so much of the Christmas' that I spent with my family at my grandparents' house in Maine.  At night my cousins and I would leave cookies and milk for Santa Claus before we went up to bed.  I would try with all my might to fall asleep right away, but the excitement of his arrival kept me awake.  At the first sign of sunlight I would jump out of bed and tip toe to the top of the stairs.  My parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were downstairs talking in the kitchen.  I remember the smells of breakfast and the sounds of silverware clinking, but most of all I remember the soft humming of voices as they made their way up the stairs to my bedroom.  I would walk down the stairs and look to my left at all the new presents left under the tree before I went in to the kitchen.  Believe it or not, I was able to restrain my urge to open gifts long enough to eat breakfast.  Then we would all go in together, my mother with the camera, my aunt with her coffee, my father in his slippers, and my grandmother in her nightgown.
     Waking up on Christmas morning as a child is something that I will never forget and something that I will always slightly yearn for.  If Clement Clarke Moore's The Night Before Christmas can awaken such memories in me then it will in you too.