The Snowy Day

 

 

In this Caldecott Award-winning book, a small boy named Peter experiences the joy of a snowy day. First published in 1962, this now-classic book broke the color barrier in mainstream children’s publishing. The vivid and ageless illustrations and text, beloved by several generations of readers, have earned a place in the pantheon of great American children’s literature.

Summary provided by: http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/the-snowy-day/

Quick Links:

Read aloud Video at: http://vimeo.com/45402375

http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/fun-games/the-snowy-day-read-aloud/

http://www.wegivebooks.org/books/the-snowy-day

Sign Language Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFzDYLcwEJ0

 

 Art: Cutting out Snow Flakes

The classic winter activity that is a fantastic open-ended art project with limitless creativity.

Use different paper, folding, add painting and glitter, different materials… go crazy!

 

Art/Science: Making Personal Snowballs

Collect snowballs and freeze them, then let the kids dye them with water color paint. Then place them back in nature. .Watch them and collect data and chart melting or changes if possible.

 

Music and Movement: Making ‘Tracks’

In the book Peter makes different kinds of tracks in the snow with his feet and using a stick. Have the kids try making tracks in snow or walking inside coping the way Peter does in the book.

Handwriting: Tracing 

Set up trays with material and provide different ‘sticks’  straws, sticks, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners etc..

Draw lines, trace letters, work on pencil skills.

 

Science: Collecting Snow

This is a great way to teach what is in snow and to explain why we tell children “Please! Don’t eat the snow!”

Have the class collect snow from all over, add the snow to a clean and clear container and watch it melt. Ask Why? don’t lead them… see if they can figure it out.

 

Science: Crystal Snowflakes

The instructions below make one snowflake crystal.

Materials

Boiling hot water – enough to fill one pint sized mason jar
1/3 cup borax – you can find this in the laundry aisle. I also like to use Borax to help remove stains and odors in our laundry. It works great on pee laundry…for any of you toilet training your kids right now. 😉

pint mason jar
pencil
pipe cleaners
string/yarn

Directions

1. Form your pipe cleaners into a snowflake shape or whatever shape you desire, while you boil water.
2. Add water to your mason jar.
3. Mix in borax. Stir it but don’t worry if it isn’t completely dissolved.
4. Attach your pipe cleaner shape to the string and hang it from the pen/pencil while submerging it in your jar.

Directions at: http://www.deliacreates.com/2011/01/snow-and-ice-activities-for-kids-part_11.html

 

Additional projects at : 

http://curry.virginia.edu/go/wil/Snowy_Day_Lesson.pdf

http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/educators-corner/ec-tf-thesnowyday/

 

 

 

The Mitten

 

When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that is is missing. One by one, woodland animals find the mitten and crawl in; first a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger, ad others, each one larger than the last. finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse, and what happens next makes a wonderfully funny climax. as the story of the animals in the mitten unfolds, the reader can see Nicki in the borders of each page, walking through the woods unaware of what is going on. Once again Jan Brett has created a dramatic and beautiful picture book in her distinctive style. SHe brings the animals to life with warmth and humor, and her illustrations are full of visual delights and details faithful to the Ukrainian tradition, from which the story comes.

Summary provided from janbrett.com

Art : Child’s Hand Sewing Mittens

• Have the child pick out a color of paper.
• Trace hand leaving 1/2 inch to 1 inch around hand.
• Have child cut on the line if age appropriate, if not double paper and cut two matching pairs
• Punch holes with hole puncher about 1/2 inch apart along the edge of the paper mitten leaving room to string yarn without tearing paper.
• Have child pick a color of yarn. Tie a knot  around a beginning hole to start and let them go. Figuring out how is an experience in itself. Try not to lead them, there is no right way to sew their mitten. It is an expression of themselves. Be encouraging and proud of whatever creation they make.

 Math: Matching

Make a matching game from patterned paper, by cutting out right and left mittens then laminate them to make them last, you can  use them over and over by changing the game. this can be a table game, a hide-and-seek game, and many more. This is also a great time to add the additional lesson of right and left, pairs, and matching.

Free Pictures at: http://www.archjrc.com/childsplace/mittensequence.html

http://janbrett.com/games/matching_animals_game_main.htm

The Cast

Free PDF at: http://www.janbrett.com/put_the_animals_in_the_mitten.htm