Lesson Plans for Winter Unit

Books

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Mary Azarian used woodcuts to illustrate this picture book biography about a man whose passion was to photograph snowflakes.

Annie and the Wild Animals, The Hat, & The Mitten by Jan Brett

Polar Bears Past Bedtime by Mary Pope Osborne

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Day 1

Vocabulary Words of the Day

gazelle /g&-'zel/

any of numerous small to medium graceful and swift African and Asian antelopes

Page 2 - Is he a sign, like the rabbit and the gazelle?

tundra /'t&n-dr& also 'tun-/

a level or rolling treeless plain that is characteristic of arctic and subarctic regions, consists of black mucky soil with a permanently frozen subsoil, and has a dominant vegetation of mosses, lichens, herbs, and dwarf shrubs.

Page 12 - The Arctic tundra is a treeless plain.

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Read Polar Bears Past Bedtime Chapters 1 - 2

Answer comprehension questions.

Online Activities

Exactly where is the Arctic? Take a look at this map of the Arctic Region at http://www.athropolis.com/map.htm

In Chapter 2 Jack and Annie learn that the sun does not shine in the Arctic during the winter months and does not set during the summer months. What is the sun doing in the Artic right now?
Find out here http://www.athropolis.com/sun-fr.htm

Craft Activity - Polar Bear Craft from Oriental Trading Company

I LOVE READING SNOWMAN BOOKMARK CRAFT

Item Number: IN-48/3331

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Day 2

Vocabulary Words of the Day

whirl /'hw&r(-&)l, 'w&r(-&)l/

to move in a circle or similar curve especially with force or speed.

Page 23 - The huskies dashed off in a whirl of snow.

split /'split/

to affect as if by breaking up or tearing apart : shatter <a roar that split the air>.

Page 32 - Suddenly howls split the air.

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Read Chapters 3 - 4.

Answer comprehension questions.

Online Activity

In Chapter 4 Jack and Annie see the seal hunter's polar bear mask. Look at some real masks made by the Arctic people, the Yup'ik.

Go to http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/features/yupik/

Click on the link "View the Masks"

Be sure to go all the way through the slide presentation to Slide 23 so you can see the polar bear mask. The slide show ends on Slide 28.

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Day 3

Vocabulary Words of the Day

scampered - scamper /'skam-p&r/

to run nimbly and usually playfully about.

Page 33 - The cubs jumped up and shook themselves like wet puppies. Then they scampered toward Annie, who rushed to greet them.

Page 35 - They pushed Jack and Annie over and scampered away.

whimpered - whimper /'hwim-p&r, 'wim-/

to make a low whining, mournful, or broken sound.

Page 41 - The cubs whimpered louder.

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Read Chapters 5 - 6.

Answer comprehension questions.

Activity - Polar Bear Craft from Oriental Trading Company

Item Number: IN-48/3362

4 1/2" - 8" Foam Polar Bear Ornament Craft Kit. Assorted styles. (makes 12) © OTC

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Day 4

Vocabulary Words of the Day

atoms - atom /'a-t&m/

the smallest particle of an element that can exist either alone or in combination.

molecules - molecule /'mä-li-"kyü(&)l/

the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms

Page 50 - The swirl of light is caused by electrically charged particles from the sun striking atoms and molecules in the earth's atmosphere.

parka /'pär-k&/

a hooded fur pullover garment for arctic wear.

Page 55 The hunter took the masks and put them inside his parka.

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Read Chapters 7 - 8.

Answer comprehension questions.

Online Activity - View photos of the Northern Lights

Northern Lights Photo Contest http://www.northern-lights.no/

Vote for your favorite photo at http://www.northern-lights.no/zope/Contest/Gallery/index_html?redir=ok&now=2002_06

Art Activity - Northern Lights Drawings - Students made pictures of the Northern Light by coloring brightly colored swirls on black construction paper then adding a small amount of sugar water to make them glisten.

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Day 5

Vocabulary Words of the Day

battered - batter /'ba-t&r/

To hit heavily and repeatedly with violent blows.

Page 62 Icy winds battered the tree house.

society /s&-'sI-&-tE/

a voluntary association of individuals for common ends; especially : an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession

Page 67 - "These are your Master Librarian cards," said Morgan. "You are the newest members of the ancient Society of Master Librarians."

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Read Chapters 9 - 10.

Answer comprehension questions.

Art Activity - See-Through Decorations

Create a winter scene by tearing tissue paper into various shapes. Place them on a piece of clear contact paper. Add a second piece of Contact paper to seal the picture. Crayola Kids Magazine Holiday 1998 page 32

Vocabulary Test for Polar Bears Past Bedtime

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Day 6

Vocabulary Word of the Day

hexagon - six-sided shape

All snowflakes are hexagons.

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Read Snowflake Bentley

Online crystal snow display http://www.jericho-underhill.com/bentley.htm

Activity - Make snowflakes - Use bead kit or make crystal snowflakes.

The crystal snowflake was made using a Borax solution. They were easy to make and terrific fun!

For directions go to http://www.teelfamily.com/activities/snow/boraxsnowflake.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/winter/crystalsnowflake/

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Day 7

Vocabulary Word of the Day

unexpected - coming without warning; unforeseen, unanticipated, unpredicted, surprising, sudden

Then, as unexpected as the warm spring breeze, Taffy walked proudly into the yard.

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Read Annie and the Wild Animals

Activity http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuides/annieand.pdf http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/Annie.htm
(Sing the Story-rhyme- & sequencing activities)

Students retell the story using manipulative and the flannel board.

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Day 8

Vocabulary Word of the Day

lumber - walk heavily, trod, hobble, plod

A great bear lumbered by.

snuffle - breathe in, inhale

Next a hedgehog came snuffling along.

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Bookmarks for The Mitten and The Hat http://www.janbrett.com/bookmarks/bookmarks_mitten_and_hat.htm

Read The Mitten and The Hat

Look at the language, especially the verbs, that Brett uses in her story. The animals swoop, lumber, trot, snuffle, bump and jostle. Use the thesaurus for other words that mean the same thing.

Activity - Put the animals in the mitten http://www.janbrett.com/put_the_animals_in_the_mitten.htm

Make a Venn Diagram to compare the two books: The Hat and The Mitten. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading26/venn.htm

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Day 9

Vocabulary Word of the Day

glee - jubilant delight; joy, glee, delight, excitement, happiness

This one was rocking with glee, his long nose buried in Tuffi's warm fur.

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Read The Trouble with Trolls

Activity - Pencil Topper http://www.janbrett.com/make_a_pencil_topper.htm

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