Introducing Theme: Snowflake Poem
Our grade one class was eagerly anticipating the first snowfall.
We read the Snow Dance by Lezlie Evans and No Two Snowflakes by Sherree Fitch. We brainstormed as a class snow words and words to describe snow. We made a snow word bank. The students then wrote their own poems about snowflakes.
Snowflakes Poem:
___________ snowflakes
___________ snowflakes
___________ snowflakes
I like snowflakes!
Look at the snowflakes…..
______________________
______________________
______________________
Five Little Snowflakes (Poem)
The students had fun with the poem “Five Little Snowflakes.” The students in groups of five acted out the poem in front of their peers.
Mitten Poem
Snowflakes and snow brainstorming led us to discuss as a class things we need to wear in winter weather. We read The Mitten big book by Jan Brett.
We brainstormed as a class words to describe mittens. We made a mitten work bank. The students then wrote their own mitten poem.
Mittens Poem:
___________ mittens,
___________ mittens,
___________ mittens,
I like mittens!
___________ mittens,
___________ mittens,
___________ mittens.
______________
Mitten Pattern Book
The students retold “The Mitten Story,” in a patterned book. It was a close activity and they had to fill in the blanks.
Example 1:
One morning in __________.
__________ went for a walk.
____________ lost a mitten!
Example 2:
A __________ snuggled into the Mitten.
A __________ snuggled into the Mitten.
A __________ snuggled into the Mitten.
Suddenly there was a loud ripping noise. R-R-R-RIP!!!
All the animals flew out of the Mitten.
That was the end of the Mitten.
Mitten and Animal Stick Puppets!
The students enjoyed sharing their build up stories with each other. To extend this activity we made a large manila tag mitten. Students coloured and cut out the animals and taped them onto Popsicle sticks.
The students had fun retelling the story of the mitten. It was a wonderful way to illustrate the story sequence.
Boot Pattern Book
Students enjoyed listening to the “Jacket I Wear in the Snow,” by Shirley Neitzel. We made a pattern book called, “ __________’s Winter Boots.”
Example:
These are the b _ _ _ _ _, (picture of boots)
Too big for me.
That cover the j _ _ _ _ _ , (picture of jeans)
stiff in the knee that go under the s _ _ _ _ _ _. (picture of sweater)
All itchy and warm!
Snow Art Activities
Tube Sock Snowmen:
The students made their own tube sock snowmen. We turned the socks inside out so we could see the terry texture. Students stuffed the socks with rice and stuffing. We used jute chord and tied a knot between the two balls. We tied it at the top with jute as well. The students had fun sewing on a fleece top hat. They sewed on small buttons for the eyes, mouth and tummy. The scarf was made out of fleece and we glue-gunned a twig under the scarf for arms.
Snowman Picture:
Students also made their own snowman out of fleece. Students began with a piece of blue construction paper for the background. They ripped a piece of white paper in two, to make a hill or snow drift. Students then glued on a large, medium and small white fleece circle to build a snowman. They glued on a tall black to hat and scarf. Students glued on small buttons for the eyes, mouth and tummy. Small twigs were glued on for the arms. Students were delighted with their snowmen.
Snow Literature
Amy Loves the Snow by Julia Hoban
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Frozen Noses by Jan Carr
Missing Mittens by Stuart J. Murphy
Sadie and the Snowman by Allen Morgan
Sledding by Elizabeth Winthropp
Snowballs by Lois Elhert
Snow Day by Werner Zimmerman
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buecher
Stella Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II
The Biggest Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
The Big Storm by Rhea Tregebor
The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen
The Snowchild by Debi Gliori
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg
When will it Snow by Marty Crisp