Three Snow Bears Lesson Plan
The Three Snow Bears
by Jan Brett
Ages: K-2nd Grade
There is a lot to learn about the Inuit culture and Arctic terrain in Jan Brett's “The Three Snow Bears.” Start by reading the story with the class closely clustered nearby so the illustrations can be shown, investigated and discussed throughout the reading.(Isn't that the fun of Jan Brett's books?)
On Vocabulary
Brainstorm a list of words that relate to (1) Inuit Culture (2) Arctic terrain. Post them on large chart papter. Have children write the words and draw a little illustration next to each, i.e. Igloo picture, Inuit coat picture, etc. Here are some more words to begin:
- polar bear
- snowy owl
- Siberian husky
- ice blocks
- hamuit
On Comparisons:
Read this book, and then read another, more traditional version of "The Three Bears." Discuss differences in characters, setting, plot, then ask students to make a Venn diagram.
On Geography:
Read and discuss: The Arctic is a large, cold area around the North Pole. The Arctic has a central ocean almost enclosed by land. Winter in the Arctic is long and cold, and summer is short and cool. There is a place where the sun never rises during at least one day in winter and never sets during at least one day in summer. Despite the cold, the Arctic has lots of life on land or sea, even during the cold, dark winter months. The Arctic has more than 400 species of flowering plants, as well as shrubs, grasses, mosses, and herbs. Abundant animal life inhabits the Arctic, including polar bear, Arctic fox, ermine, walrus, seal, caribou, and reindeer. Read, discuss, ask students to draw Arctic scenes, or..
On Art:
Make a snow globe of a scene from the book using a clear plastic cup, construction paper, cotton balls, and an index card for a base.
Directions: Draw a circle the size of the cup rim on the card. Using construction paper and cotton balls, fashion a simple scene (igloo, snow, bear), and glue it to the base of the card, within the circle. Finishing touch: Sprinkle glitter or white acrylic snow over the scene. Glue the clear cup upside down on the scene; shake it....A snow globe. No water.
Seven Silly Eaters Lesson Plan
The Seven Silly Eaters
by Mary Anne Hoberman
Ages: K-2nd Grade
There is a lot to learn off Hoberman's work. The food-related theme can be used to teach children about nutrition, the spectacular rhymes can introduce and reinforce common word-patterns, and the detailed illustrations by Marla Frazee are wonderful backdrops for testing observation skills.
On Nutrition:
- Draw a food pyramid sporting the book's featured foods. Or, have children choose 2 of the foods and find real recipes for them.
- Older children can break down (on paper) the metabolic value of each item, perhaps putting the items in order of health value.
On Rhymes:
- A younger group can, together, list the rhymes from the book along with all their rhymes, and perhaps come up with more..
- An older group can match Hoberman's style with similar poem books of their own.
On Search:
- A younger group can search the book for answers: "How many pets does the family have? What does Mac dump on the cat? Color of Mrs. Peter's robe? Cake?
- For the older group, make the questions more complex, such as: "What musical family does Mrs. Peter's instrument belong in?.
