Interactive Read Aloud:

Fourth graders love the snow, but how many go on to make it their life work? In Room 202, we read the book, Snowflake Bentley by Jacgueline Briggs Martin. This book is the biography of Wilson Bentley, a Vermont native that is mesmerized by snowflakes. Bentley spent his life taking countless photographs, many that are still used in nature photography today!

Technology Connection:

As a class, we turned to the internet to find out more about Wilson Bentley. We came across a wide array of informational sites - we especially loved looking at Bentley's photographs. Part of our investigation also included a short discussion on how snowflakes are formed.

Check out the link below to learn more about Wilson Bentley and his work!

http://www.snowflakebentley.com

Poetry Workshop:

We read the poem, Velvet Shoes by Elinor Wylie. This is a poem with a winter theme. As a group, we analyzed the poem, determining its rhyming pattern and interpreted its meaning. We also discussed unfamiliar vocabulary. Students were invited to select a line from this poem and incorporate it into their own winter poem. The results were amazing!

Kidspiration - Match the adjective to each noun - Winter Theme!

As a culminating activity, students had the opportunity to work with a partner as they matched the appropriate adjective to each noun. When completed, the partner pair was invited to create their own adjective that described each noun.

 

Student Sample

Snowflake

I am a snowflake
 falling at a tranquil pace.
I’m as white as a white cow’s milk.
 I’m near the ground
 Good
Good
Bye!

Sample 2

Click on Image to View Full Size

Download Kidspiration File

New York State Learning Standards

ELA Standard 1 - Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

ELA Standard 2 - Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression.

MST Standard 2 - Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.

MST Standard 4 - Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate.