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The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey
 

Language Arts

Pre-Reading Activity
Look closely with your child at the front and back cover and illustrations in the book.

Who do you think the story is about? Can you find the word Christmas on the cover? What is a miracle? Do you know of any miracles? What is the boy on the cover doing? Have you ever carved wood? Do you have any wooden toys? Do you think they were carved?  Who do you think the man is?

Narration
After you have read the story a few times to your child, ask your child to look through the pictures in the book? What is his favorite and why? Can he tell you the story in his own words and you write his words down for him?  Would he like to draw a picture to go with his narration?

Descriptive Language
Writers use descriptive language to tell us and show us what kind of person a character is. The author, Wojciechowski, describes Jonathan’s walk, eyes, face and hair. She is not just saying Jonathan is a sad person, she is giving us lots of details to show us. Those details help us to understand Jonathan better and make the story more interesting.

Locate the passage on page 3 in the book that begins, “ Mr. Toomey wasn’t an old man, but if you saw him, you might think he was, the way he walked bent forward with his head down . . “, notice Wojciechowski’s use of adjectives and adjective phrases to describe how Mr. Toomey walks and looks.

Remind your older student to use adjectives and adjective phrases in his oral and written narrations.

Adjectives
(Complete this lesson after you have done the previous lesson on descriptive language).  Have them describe the following persons, places and things from the book using descriptive language.

Mr. Toomey’s worktable
the scarf the Widow McDowell is knitting
Thomas’s bird
Thomas
Mary
baby Jesus
 

Comprehension Questions
Children will enjoy answering the review questions especially if you make a game of it. Write questions on slips of paper and put them in a brown sack, have children draw paper slips and answer the questions. If they get the correct answer they might enjoy acting out something from the story and having the other children or you guess what they are doing. Here are some review questions to get you started on a game.

1.    Why did the village children call Mr. Toomey, Mr. Gloomy?

2.    What was the reason for Mr. Toomey’s gloom and grumbling?

3.    What did Mr. Toomey do after he lost his family?

4.    Why do you think Mr. Toomey did not want the Widow McDowell to sit in the rocking chair?

5.    What did the Widow McDowell and Thomas do every time they heard the church bells chime?

6.    Why was Mr. Toomey upset that the Widow Mc Dowell put the cloth embroidered with Lilly of the Valley on the table?

7.    What did Mr. Toomey look at that helped him capture the expression the face of Mary and baby Jesus?

8.    On Christmas day, after Church, what did the village children see Mr. Toomey do?

9.    Why do you think Mr. Toomey threw the chunk of wood he was going to make into Mary and Jesus into the fireplace?

10.  What do you think is the miracle of Jonathan Toomey?

Bible Study & Character Development

Silence
Find the passage in the book on page 13 that begins, “Do you every stop talking?” asked the woodcarver… “   

Why might it be important to be silent sometimes? (People are thinking or doing something that requires they concentrate and breaking the silence by talking or making noise interrupts that.) Think of some examples of when it’s important to be silent, (when a parent is driving through traffic, what a parents is food shopping and needs to think about what they are buying, what a parent is talking on the phone, when you are trying to figure out the answer to or listening to your favorite story being read.)

 What usually happens when you interrupt someone who you know wants silence?  

Talk about when it’s a good time to interrupt silence, like if someone is hurt.  
 

Thankfulness
Find this passage in the book on page 9 that begins, “He thanked the woodcarver for teaching him how to carve…”

Why is it important to thank someone for teaching you something? (It’s polite  and nice to let people know you appreciate them, you are grateful they helped you and want them to know.) Think of some examples of when you said thank you and talk about them. Think of some examples of when you were thankful but forgot to say thank you. It’s probably not to late to offer your thanks.
 

Kindness
-Find this passage in the book on page 13 that begins, “ She touched the woodcarver gently on the shoulder and placed a cup of tea and a bun…” 

The Widow McDowell is being kind to the woodcarver. She is setting out food for him while he works. She doesn’t disturb him, she lets him know quietly by touching his shoulder when she places the food next to him. It is kind of her to do this, she doesn’t expect a thank you, she knows he is appreciative because he eats it all. Think of some times you have been kind without expecting a thank you or praise for your efforts. Talk about your examples. Maybe you did some chores without being reminded, or helped a younger brother or sister or feed your pets.

-Find the passage at the end of the book that begins, “ ‘ I understand,’ said the Widow, and she handed Jonathan two packages…”

The widow McDowell and Thomas are happy to give Mr. Toomey presents even though he acts like he doesn’t want them. What they don’t know is that their kindness is making Mr. Toomey feel like living again. Think of some times you gave to someone when they did not want you to give or did not expect it. Talk about your examples. How does giving make you feel? How do you think the widow McDowell and Thomas felt about giving to Mr. Toomey? Maybe you shared a snack with someone who said they didn’t want one but you could tell they did because they ate it, or when you have a card to Nana when she didn’t expect it.  

Patience
Find the passage in the book, on page 12 that begins, “Thomas sat very still. Once, when he wanted to sneeze, he pressed his finger under his nose to hold it back. Once, when he wanted desperately to . . . “

 Thomas has to be very patient when he watches Mr. Toomey carve. Patience takes will power. You have to will yourself to wait so in time you get what you want. We practice patience while we wait for Christmas, or wait for the cookies to be baked. Think of some times when you were patient and also some times when you were not patient and talk about the.

Star Chart
You may want to start a character quality chart with your students during this study.  Children will enjoy getting stars on a chart for practicing silence, thankfulness, kindness, and patience.  Prepared Character Chart

Character Basket
This is another way to reward character qualities you have discussed while studying this book.  Cut strips of yellow construction paper to represent straw, like the bedding Jesus had in his cradle. Place the strips in a basket. Each night during the advent season, ask family members what they did that day to exhibit silence, thankfulness, kindness, giving or patience. Write the example and the name of the family member and date on the construction paper straw. Sometime after Christmas Day read the strips to each other and remember the advent season. These are fun to save as a remembrance of past Christmases.

Social Studies

Nativity
Thomas and the Widow McDowell originally come to Mr. Toomey because they lost their Christmas nativity set when they moved. Explain to your child that the word nativity or creche means the place of Jesus’ birth including the people and animals that were present. A nativity set is part of the Christmas celebration in many Christian homes. Tiny ceramic or wooden figures of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, animals, and shepherds are arranged in a barn like setting to represent what it must have been like when Jesus was born. Many families do not place the baby Jesus in the nativity set until Christmas morning, the day Jesus was born.  (Some choose to place the wise men in the nativity as well; however, the Bible says they weren't there until Christ was a "young child"; you may want to mention this to your student.)

Turn to page 7 in the book and read the section where Thomas and his Mother the Widow McDowell describe the lost nativity set to Mr. Toomey, the woodcarver.

Review the sections in the book where Thomas describes his nativity figures to Mr. Toomey: on page 12, Thomas describes happy sheep, on page 16 - a proud cow, on page 17 - an important angel, on page 22 - wise men and Joseph and on page 23- smiling Jesus and Mary.

Make your own nativity set
Use Thomas’s descriptions to help you create your own nativity set for your Christmas celebration. Many children will enjoy making shadow box nativity sets. To make a shadow box, stand an empty box on it’s end and decorate the inside and outside with paint, glue and construction paper. Be sure to include lots of hay and perhaps a window with the night sky where the star of Bethlehem might be seen. Draw your own nativity figures, cut them out of old Christmas cards or use coloring pages. The activity provides a keepsake which can be used for Christmas every year.

If your child is interested in learning more about Jesus, the story of his life can be found in the New Testament of the Bible. The story of Jesus’ birth is in Mathew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2 in the Bible.

A nicely illustrated Bible Story book is DK Illustrated Family Bible by Claude-Bernard Costecalde (Editor), Peter Dennis (Illustrator). ISBN Number: 0789415038.
 

Time Period
Ask your child to find the details in the pictures that give us a clue to when the story takes place. (probably during the early 1900’s). On pages 1 and 2, we see a horse pulling a cart, people riding on horses and women in long dresses wearing hats. On pages 3 and 4, can you find any details in the pictures or story that lead you to conclude that this was a time before electricity? ( a broom made out of straw and a candle on the wall). On pages 9 and 10, what is the large bucket for? ( hauling water ). What is the cut wood under the counter probably used for?  (building a fire to provide heat for warmth or cooking ). On pages 17 and 18 there is a kettle over the fire. What does this tell you about how Mr. Toomey cooked food? (possibly a time before stoves). On page 27 and 28 we see Mr. Toomey working at night. How does he get light to work by?  (a lantern ).

Science

Trees
Mr. Toomey carves with pine, hickory and chestnut wood. Pine, Hickory and Chestnut are types of trees and wood comes from trees. Chestnut Trees used to be fairly common in the Eastern United States, but a disease killed many of them, reference is made in Christmas songs and some stories to roasting chestnuts as a holiday tradition. Chestnut wood is lighter in weight than Oak but of similar hardness. Pine is a soft wood that might be easier to carve. Hickory wood has a strong smell. If you live near a Pine, Hickory or Chestnut tree, draw one in your nature journal. If you don’t live near these kinds of trees just mention that they exist and look them up in a nature guide to see what they look like.

If your child would like to learn more about Trees he may enjoy the Caldecott Award Winning Book, A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, illustrator Marc Simont, Harper Collins ( January 1, 1957) ISBN Number: 0060261560. The books explains the many uses of trees in simple poetic prose.

Tools (Simple Machines)
Also notice the kind of tools Mr. Toomey uses to carve with: a vice, saws, pliers, chisel and mallet. Some of these tools are simple machines. If you have some of these tools in your home show your student how to use them.

Read about Simple Machines in Simple Machines by Allan Fowler ( A Rookie Read About Science book) Children's Press: New York, 2001. ISBN Number 0-516-27310-8. Another wonderful book that shows photographs of the simple machines you might find on a farm is titled: Grandpa Had a Windmill, Grandma Had a Churn by Louise .A. Jackson, Simon and Shuster 1997, ISBN Number 0819308730

Sneezing
Find the passage in the book on page 12 that talks about Thomas sneezing. Pretend to sneeze and hold it back. Talk about times you have sneezed and make predictions about why people sneeze (the have a cold, the smell something strong like pepper, they are allergic to something like cats or some flowers). Sneezing is a reflex action, it happens without us being able to control it. Some people say God bless you after someone sneezes, The custom may have started when a Pope of long ago ordered that prayers be said against sneezing, as during those times people believed that sneezing was a sign of death, so if someone sneezed people would say God bless you as though they were saying a short prayer to God to bless the person who sneezed and may die.

Go-along Book:  Why I Sneeze, Shiver, Hiccup, and Yawn by Melvin Berger and Paul Meisel

Hiccupping
Find the passage in the book on page 13 that talks about Thomas almost hiccupping. Pretend to hiccup. Talk about possible hiccup cure, like drinking a glass full of water without stopping, or taking a tablespoon of sugar. Make predictions about whether you think the old time cures will work.  A hiccup is a reflex just like a sneeze, when you hiccup your body is trying to get air out of your stomach.

Art

Carving
Mr. Toomey helps Jonathan to carve a small robin. Draw a bird outline on a piece of Ivory soap. Put the soap in the refrigerator overnight to make it harder. Then carefully, using a knife, with a parent present at all times, carve your bird. Students might like to use a mallet, like Mr. Toomey and Thomas to chip away some of the soap before they carve.

In the ALA notable book, Daniel’s Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla, illustrated by Joan Sandin, Daniel carves a duck, enters it in the town fair and learns that laughter has many meanings and giving is a pleasure.  

Consumer Science

Hostess Gift:
Each time the Widow McDowell comes to visit she brings a hostess gift to Jonathan Toomey. Mr. Toomey is letting the Widow and her son into his home to watch him work, the Widow McDowell brings him a gift out of niceness to show her appreciation. Many times if you are invited to dinner or to say or visit with someone in their home, you might remember to bring a hostess gift. It could be some baked goods, flowers or even a card of thanks written afterwards and mailed to the host of your visit or dinner.

Review the gifts the Widow McDowell and Thomas gave Mr. Toomey.

On page 9 , the Widow McDowell gives Mr. Toomey a warm loaf of cornbread,

on page 13 she gives him sweet smelling raisin buns, on page 16 - fresh molasses cookies, on page 22 - a bouquet of pine boughs and holly springs dotted with berries and finally on page 23 the Widow McDowell gives Jonathan Toomey two packages -Christmas gifts. 

If you are going to someone’s house this holiday, perhaps Nana’s or a friend’s you should bring a hostess gift. Think of something you can bring and make now, perhaps a homemade card you can add writing to later or some bread you can make now and wrap in clear plastic with a red ribbon. Below is our favorite hostess gift recipe.

Pound Cake

1 8-0z package of cream cheese
3 sticks of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
3 cups of sugar
3 cups of cake flour
6 eggs 

Mix cream cheese and butter until creamy. Slowly add eggs, two at a time, and then cake flour, one cup at a time, until all the ingredients are mixed well. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Place in a 300 degree oven and bake for 2 hours. Cake is done when a knife comes out clean. Cool before removing from pan.

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