Kindergarten and First Grade Snow Unit Ideas

Simple Themed Activities for Reading, Art and Read Aloud Books

Jan 5, 2009

Each winter, many primary teachers teach about snow. These quick and easy lesson plan ideas will work well throughout December, January and February.

There are many excellent books related to the topic of winter that naturally lend themselves to fun hands-on projects. Preparing activities for an elementary snow-themed unit doesn't have to be complicated. These fun and quick ideas are easy to pull together and are sure to be a hit with all children!

Snow

Snow by Roy McKie and P. D. Eastman [Beginner Books, 1962] is a fun Dr. Seuss book full of rhymes, cute illustrations and general snowy silliness.

The Big Snow

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader [Aladdin Books, 1948] is the classic winner of The Caldecott Medal given each year for the best children’s picture book. The story starts in the fall with the animals preparing for the approaching winter. It culminates with the big snow and how the animals and people respond.

Snow Day

Snow Day by Betsy Maestro [Scholastic, 1989] looks at what happens on a snow day when school is cancelled by the weather and snow removal becomes the number one agenda of the town.

Snowflake Bentley

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin [Houghton Mifflin, 1998] is also a winner of The Caldecott Medal. This beautiful book is illustrated with woodcuts and tells the story of a Vermont man who studied snow his entire life.

Snowflake Bulletin Board

Just as Snowflake Bentley showed that no two snowflakes are alike, neither are two hands. Have students dip their hands in white paint and press their handprint onto a large piece of dark blue bulletin board paper. When they are dry, hang the paper on the bulletin board. The snowflake hands will go perfectly with the theme “We’re All Unique!”

Snow Day Writing Prompt

Have students either write or dictate a story about their dream snow day. What would they do? What would they wear? What would they eat? Who would they spend the day with? Then have students illustrate their story on a large piece of paper.

Birdseed Pinecones

Just as the little woman helped feed the birds in The Big Snow, students can make their own little birdfeeders to feed the birds. Have students smear vegetable shortening all over a pinecone hanging from a looped string. Roll the pinecone in loose birdseed and press the seed into the shortening to make it stick. Put the pinecone in a zipped baggie to transport home where the students can hang it from a tree or bush in their yard.

The copyright of the article Kindergarten and First Grade Snow Unit Ideas in Primary School Curriculum is owned by Sallie Schaaf Borrink. Permission to republish Kindergarten and First Grade Snow Unit Ideas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.