Winter

books:

The Mitten by Jan Brett

The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth

Jolly Snow by Jane Hissey

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

Snow Day by Betsy Maestro

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader

White Snow Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft and Richard G. VanGelder

A Winter Day by Douglas Florian

Jolly Snow by Jane Hissey

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Activities:

1. Brainstorm a list of "Winter Words" and post somewhere in your room on large chart paper. I like to do this for various holidays and seasons so the children can copy a word or two when writing. If you write the words on a specially shaped piece of paper it makes it even more interesting and exciting (i.e. I wrote Thanksgiving words on a drumstick shaped piece of chart paper.).

2. Read and compare two versions of The Mitten (by Brett and Tresselt). You can use the information to make a venn diagram.

3. Make a graph of favorite winter activities.

4. Use marshmallows and small pretzel sticks to make edible snowmen.

5. Teach your children how to cut snowflakes.

6. Science Lab: I set up four stations when I do this winter lab:

• Using a thermometer to measure the temperature of snow, ice water, tap water and "hot" water.
• Using a pan scale, weigh equal amounts of snow and water (i.e. 1 cup). Which weighs more?
• Use a piece of string and salt to lift an ice cube. (Place the string on the ice cube and top it with a pinch of salt. This may take a few tries!)
• Use salt to melt snow faster than if it was just in the open air. (Connection: Many towns have trucks that sprinkle salt on the road when it's snowy or icy in order to melt the snow or ice.)

7. Put out some cotton for your children to use as snow on drawings and paintings.

8. Science Experiments:

• Put a glass jar filled with water into the freezer.
• Bring an ice cube (or snow or big chunk of ice) into the classroom. Leave it out all day and periodically observe it.

POETRY:

5 Little Snowmen

5 little snowmen standing in a row,

Each had a hat and a big red bow.

Out came the sun and it shone all day,

1 little snowman melted away.

etc....

The Chubby Snowman

A chubby little snowman

Had a carrot nose.

Along came a bunny,

And what do you suppose?

That hungry little bunny,

Looking for his lunch,

Ate that snowman's carrot

Nibble, nibble, crunch!

home

updated 1/23/98