The Christmas Tree

Hi class. I am feeling in the most festive spirits seeing all the great holiday themed activities popping up on the site! So with that said I am posting a lesson to keep with the festivities!!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

A Christmas tree is one of the most popular traditiond associated with the celebration of Chritmas. It is normally an evergreen coniferous tree that is brought into a home or used in the open, and is decorated with lights and colorful ornaments during the days around Christmas.

PART ONE-TREES

A. Besides the evergreen tree, please give me the names of three different trees that can be used as Christmas trees. (No artificial trees)

B. Of the three trees you choose, please give me the proper name as well as the generic name for them.

C. I would like a description of these trees and what locations they are native to as well as the climate they do best in. (150 words or more each)

PART TWO-DECORATIONS

Please give me a few examples of some things that you use to decorate your tree from tip top to bottom. I would like step by step directions on how you are decorating your tree.

PART THREE-O' CHRISTMAS TREE

Please post me a picture of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Have fun and have a very Happy Christmas!

Total Points: 100 points

Part 1: Trees

A-

1. Balsam Fir
   
2. Fraser Fir
   
3. Grand Fir
   

B-

1. Abies balsamea
   
2. Abies fraseri
   
3. Abies grandis
   

C-

All three of these trees are native to North America. The Balsma is mostly found in Eastern and Central Canada, and the North Eastern Unites States (Wisconsin). The Balsma Fir is small to medium sized. The Fraser fir is found in Eastern United states mostly in Virgina, Tennesee, adn North Carolina. It's branchers are dencer the younger it is and then they spread out with age. Last but not least, the Grand Fir, is very large, and found in tje Pacific Northwest of NorthAmerica.

Part 2: Decorations

Well, first you would take string popcorn on tinsel and wrap your tree starting at the top and winding your way down. This can be done with or without lights wrapped around them. (I perfeer lights) Next, take out all your ornaments (heaviest first) and start placing them on the tree halfway in between the end of the branch and the trunk. You should start placing the heavier ornaments on the top of the tree where the branches a re stronger. Fragil Ornaments should be placed on their own branch near the middle of the tree so they are visible yet protected. Next take out your handmade, or loghter ornaments and place them all around the bottom. Be sure to get all sides of the tree (hiding ugly ornaments in the back. lol). When all ornaments ar elocated on the tree place yout tree topper on the highest branch sticking up vertically. Normally it is a star or an angle but can vary according to tradition that runs in your family. And Walaa! a decorated tree!

Part 3: O' Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees
Dominique x Lorraine

Part One - Trees

A)

*Douglas Fir
*Red Fir
*Stone Pine

B)

*Pseudotsuga menziesii
*Abies magnifica
*Pinus pinea

C)

The Stone Pine, (Pinus pinea), is more commonly used as a tabletop Christmas Tree when they are just seedlings. At this age they are about 20-30 cm, but as mature trees they grow to heights of up to 25 m. They have thick, red-brown bark and mid-green needles in bunches of two. The Stone Pine is native to southern Europe, more primarily the Ibearian Peninsula. Since the 1700's, it has been introduced to other reigons with similar climate, since the tree does best in warmer weather. The reigons where Stone Pines are currently found are South Africa, California, Australia, and parts of western Europe.

The Red Fir, (Abies magnifica), is a tall tree that can reach extreme heights of 40-60 m high. The bark is a greyish color, with reddish-ornage resin appearing later in it's life. The needles are blue-green and about 3 cm long. The Red Fir is a high-altitude tree, growing at altitudes of 1,400 - 2,700 m. It's native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States.

The Douglas Fir, (Pseudotsuga menziesii), is an extremely tall tree at heights of up to 75 m. This is actually the second largest tree in the world. The bark is thin, smooth, and grey. The needles are about 3.5 cm long, and are green on top with white bands on the bottom. The Douglas Fir is native to western North America, ranging from as far north as centeral British Columbia to as far south as the Yosemite Reigon of the United States. They grow at near sea level to about 1,800 m.


Part Two - Decorations

First is the tedious task of untangling the ball of lights that has been sitting in a box for nearly a year. Once you manage that task, put the lights on the tree. People usually start at the top and work their way around, circling around the tree. Try not to get too many lights in one area, or have random dark patches! You may either use color or plain white lights, as both are equally pretty. Then, some type of garland goes on. You might choose that silver tinsel stuff (or whatever color you pick), popcorn strings, or beads. Start at the top again, and work your way down as you just did with the lights. Next come ornaments. Put heavier ornaments on sturdier branches, or they will fall! Try to space them out good, so you don't have several ornaments in one spot. Hang them near the middle of the branch, since the middle is stronger. Finally, put the tree topper on. It might be an angel or a star. Whatever you prefer. And there you have it, a beautiful Christmas Tree to make your home more festive in the holidays!


Part Three- O' Christmas Tree




Sites Used: http://www.whychristmas.com/i/tree01.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Fir
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_Douglas-fir
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Pine

A. Besides the evergreen tree, please give me the names of three different trees that can be used as Christmas trees. (No artificial trees)



Grand Fir



Noble Fir



Scots Pine

B. Of the three trees you choose, please give me the proper name as well as the generic name for them.



Abies Grandis



Abies Procera



Pinus Sylvestris

C. I would like a description of these trees and what locations they are native to as well as the climate they do best in.



Grand Fir – Native to the Pacific North West of America. Large, evergreen coniferous tree. Height up to 70m, trunk up to 2m. can tolerate very cold temperatures, down to –40 deg.



Noble Fir – Native to Cascade Range and Coast Range Mountains. Similar in size to grand fir, but is mainly a high altitude tree.



Scots Pine – Native to Europe. Grows up to 25 m when mature, evergreen tree. Can survive in a normal, UK climate.

(25 points available for part one)

PART TWO-DECORATIONS

We decorated our Christmas first with tinsel (since it is an artificial tree and you can’t get much on it after the other decorations are up). We had bright gold and red tinsel (coincidence that I’m in Gryffindor?!) that stretches right to the top when twirled around the tree. Then we did the same thing with fairy lights in different colours, that makes the tree look brighter and so that it can be seen from outside. Then we stuck up the baubles (hundreds of them) so there were loads on each side. And lastly, up went the star!


(10 points available for part two)

PART THREE-O' CHRISTMAS TREE

http://www.valentine.gr/images/christmas-tree-l-a.gif


(5 points awarded for pictures) 4o points available over all

Term 8

Gryffindor
KatieBellaTrix- 31
WaterLily- 25

Ravenclaw
NONE

Hufflepuff
NONE

Slytherin
dominique x lorraine- 36