This winter, whether you want snow to fall or not, why not make a fun lesson out of the cold winter weather? A few ideas to get you started follow.
Make a snowflake
- Students can make traditional paper snowflakes with these free patterns or these fun curled paper snowflakes
- Or, perhaps you might want to try quilling like the one pictured below. We saw these on the Yuletide Tour, but I found these instructions on line.
- If you are hoping to make a snowflake from a solution, try this crystal snowflake (pictured above).
- Do your children prefer to sculpt? Perhaps they could build a snowflake with clay following these instructions.
- Not interested in making a mess? Try this online resource to make your own digital snowflake.
History Books
- The Snow Walker, by Margaret K. and Charles M. Wetterer
- Snowshoe Thompson, by Nancy Smiler Levinson
- A New Coat for Anna, by Harriet Ziefert
- The Winter at Valley Forge: Survival and Victory, by James E. Knight
- The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto, by Natalie Standiford
Science Books and Resources
Books:
- Snowflake Bentley, Jacqueline Briggs Martin
- Snowflakes in Photographs, W.A. Bentley
- Snow is Falling, by Franklyn M. Branley
- The Antarctic Habitat, by Bobbie Kalman
- The Arctic Habitat, by Bobbie Kalman
- Who Lives Here? Polar Animals, by Deborah Hodge
- Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather, by Jennifer Dussling
Resources:
- Observe actual snowflakes following this lesson plan
- Watch this video Science of Snowflakes
Math and Critical Thinking
- Incorporate snowflakes into your math lessons with this idea involving geometry and equilateral triangles
- Show students the symmetry of snowflakes
- Encourage students to test their abilities with this critical thinking worksheet from Math Wire.
Poetry
Read or memorize a variety of poems about winter or snow, including:
- Winter-Time, by Robert Louis Stevenson
- When Icicles Hang by the Wall, William Shakespeare
- The First Snow-Fall, by James Russell Lowell
- White Fields, by James Stephens
Study poetry by one poet, like Robert Frost
Younger and older students can view and compare paintings like:
- Hunters in the Snow, by Pieter Bruegel
- The Census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Bruegel
- Winter, by Lucas van Valckenborch
- A Blizzard, by Grandma Moses
- Sugaring Off in Maple Orchard, by Grandma Moses
- Allow students to paint a water color winter scene using this idea.
- Or try one of these tactile projects our family completed in past years:
Winter Wonderland Scenes
These snowy scenes made several years ago are made from construction paper (brown, blue, and white). Trees were cut out of brown paper. The falling snow and snow covered hills were torn from white paper.
A Snowman
This snowman is made from felt, construction paper, thin foam, buttons, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, pony beads, and glitter. In addition to the different textures, some of the supplies (foam circles, buttons, and pipe cleaner pieces) offered an exercise in size comparison (big, medium, and little) for my youngest when he was in preschool.
Interesting Books to Read Aloud
- Treasures of the Snow, Illustrated Edition, by Patricia St.John
- The Lady in the Box, by Ann McGovern
- The Biggest Snowball Ever! by John Rogan
- Gregory's Shadow, by Don Freeman
- Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton
- Hans Brinker, retold by Bruce Coville
For Fun
- This snowman maze is a fun activity.
- Play a snowman dress up game.
- Have students put together this online snowman puzzle.
Related:
Winter Poetry
When the Weather Outside is Cold
You've put together a great collection of activities here! Thank you for sharing. We've been meaning to try growing out own snowflakes for ages as we re-read Snowflake Bentley - I think today's the day!
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