This Caldecott Medal book has beautiful illustrations to assist in the telling the story of a young boy's adventure in the snow. With simple vocabulary, younger elementary students can easily relate to the young boy's experience. As a Pre K teacher, I plan to read this during the first snowfall.
Snowy Day
Author: Ezra Jack Keats - Originally his family hoped Ezra Jack Keats would join the traditional family business painting signs. However, his love for art transformed into an art for drawing and illustrating. Through his life in the military and life after the military, Ezra Jack Keats studied art throughout the world specifically in Paris. The editoral director, Elizabeth Riley, spotted his art display and offered him a job. Since then, Ezra Jack Keats has written and illustrated many books including those who have won various medals. Ezra Jack Keats
Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: Pre K -2
Theme/Skill: Winter Weather
Brief Synopsis: This story explains a young boy’s adventures on a snowy day. He plays outside, makes a snowman, and watches a snow ball fight. At the end of the story, he makes a snow ball to bring home. When he gets home, his snow ball has melted but luckily it is still snowing the next morning!
Pre-Reading Activity: Tell me about an adventure you had in the snow. What is your favorite thing to do in the snow? Sledding? Building a snowman? As a class, brainstorm a list of things to do in the snow. Discuss the details of the children’s adventures.
Post-Reading Activity: What did the boy do in the snow all day? What happened to the snow ball the boy made? Have you ever tried to save a snow ball? If so, what happened to yours? After discussing their favorite snow activities and reading this book about playing in the snow, students will be given the writing worksheet that states “On a snowy day, I would . . . “ The students can imagine themselves on the snowy day and write about it. Once they finish their writing, they will be asked to draw a picture above their writing illustrating their snowy day.
Keats, E. (1962) The
Snowy Day. New York: The Viking Press, Inc. Grades K – 2.
Hi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI love this book! I have used this in my classroom of first graders, and also when I taught kindergarten. I like your idea of having the students imagine themselves on a snowy day and drawing a picture. This is perfect for grades K-1. It teaches visualization skills, and has them use their imagination. Thanks for the ideas!
Thank you! Drawing your mental images reminded me of our work in our literature circle book!
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