Sara Says

Ah, Winter. Snow angels, rosy cheeks, steaming cocoa, snow days, and catching snowflakes. Children love winter and winter events such as building snowmen, snowball fights and sledding. So, it's a sure bet that students will enjoy hearing and reading these stories about winter and snow. The stories show students the importance of friendship, cooperation, and family. Through these books and activities the students will meet children similar to themselves and see how they develop friendships, cope with situations in which they find themselves and learn respect for one another.

Are you looking for wonderful snow activities, crafts, songs, and fingerplays? Additional snow resources

Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson More about this book
Everybody's favorite snowman comes magically to life in the pages of this picture book. Featuring the festive spirit and rollicking lyrics of the original song, it's the perfect read-aloud for this holiday season.
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats More about this book
Grades K-2 Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day pays tribute to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.The award-winning illustrations closely match the text, making the story effective in preparing children to read.
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs More about this book
Grades Pre-K-2 When his snowman comes to life, a little boy invites him home and in return is taken on a flight above beautiful cities and a strange land. A timeless tale without words, it is appropriate for young children and has also been transformed into an Academy Award-nominated, short animated film.
Snow Pumpkin by Carole Lexa Schaefer More about this book
Grades PreK-1 When the first snow falls ^× in October ^× Lily knows that she doesn't have long to build a snowman. She and her friend, Jesse, go to "Snowman Square," where lots of people are in the mood for flaky fun. Some are pitching snowballs, others are making snow angels, and snowmen are filling up the square. This leaves little of the snowy stuff for Lily and Jesse ^× so little, it seems that their snowman may remain headless. Then Lily remembers her grandmother's pumpkins in the community patch. One of the snow-covered pumpkins, the one that seems to have a face, makes a perfect topper for the snowman. The next day, the sun takes its toll, but the pumpkin head remains--and it's still smiling through Halloween. This is a beautiful book that depicts interracial friendships.
Dream Snow by Eric Carle More about this book
Ages 4-8 Children will love these beautiful and magical illustrations as well as the musical surprise at the end of this book. It's almost Christmas and it hasn't snowed yet. As the farmer naps on his small farm, he dreams of being covered in a gentle blanket of new snow. When he awakens, he discovers that real snow has fallen. And "Oh my! Oh my! I almost forgot," the farmer shouts, and, bundling up, hurries out to his tree with a box and a sack, looking remarkably familiar in his white beard and red suit. After decorating Tree, the farmer shouts "Merry Christmas to all!" and pushes a button for a surprise Yuletide jingle.
All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle More about this book
Ages 4-8 Working cooperatively, the children of this snow-clad village build two huge snowmen. In colorful winter clothing, these plump and squat kids, with their two-toned faces, swarm the white pages as step-by-step they create a snowman so big that readers must turn the page sideways for a full view. This is the perfect picture book for a snowy day!
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert More about this book
Ages 4-8 In Snowballs, Ehlert puts a creative twist on one of the favorite traditions of winter:building a snowman, or, in this case, a snow family, including pets! Children will be inspired by her creative use of objects to make these snowmen truly unique!

Activities

Introduce the unit by explaining to the students that they will be listening to, or reading stories about snowmen. Ask the students to explain how they have made snowmen.

What was the hardest or easiest part about building a snowman?
What type of snow works the best?
What other kinds of things have they made out of snow?
What is the most famous snowman story they have heard?
Discuss with students what they think is the best way to build a snowman. If weather and climate permit, take the class outside to build snowmen. Divide the class into small groups. Usually three students in a group works well. Take pictures of the finished snowmen with a digital camera. Print the pictures as large as possible (8 x 10). Attach each picture to a large sheet of white construction paper leaving room to add written text. Assign each child the task of writing at least one sentence that they write on the page with their picture. Put the finished pictures together as a Big Book for the classroom.
If you are unable to go outside as a class, choose a material like clay or flour and salt clay that can be made ahead of time. Have the students make miniature snowmen
Snowmen Magnets or Ornaments (per snowman) 1 tongue depressor white paint black paint black felt wiggly eyes ribbon round toothpick orange paint Paint tongue depressor white. When dry - paint the top 1" black (on both sides) Take a small strip of black felt and make a brim for the hat. Glue around the tongue depressor where black and white line up. Glue on wiggley eyes. Paint tip of toothpick orange and break off making it about 1/2" long - glue in place for nose (looks like a carrot nose). Make 5 dots below nose with a black marker for the smile. Take a length of ribbon and tie on for the scarf. Make 4 larger dots down underneath the scarf for buttons. Take a length of ribbon and glue to the back of the hat to form a loop for hanging on the tree.
Snow Scene in a Jar Materials: empty small jar ((like a baby food jar) hot glue gun hot glue gun small plastic toy animal (they have them in toy stores everywhere) white rocks, big pieces of gravel, plastic tree etc. glitter (some of the new iridescent ones are beautiful & available at hobby stores) water food coloring if desired Use hot glue gun to glue rocks and animal to the bottom of jar. Fill with water and add food coloring if desired. Spoon in some glitter and use more hot glue to glue lid onto jar. Be sure to have an adult help with all of the hot glue. Shake to make it snow!
Three Dimensional Snowmen Materials: Blue construction paper white paint sponge glitter button eyes pompoms popcorn pipe cleaners black beans Sponge paint the snowman shape. Poke two holes to thread yarn through. Cut mittens from folded construction paper and glue to the ends of the yarn. Use construction paper scraps or found objects (buttons, cloth, beans, beads, popcorn) to create a face, hat buttons for snowman. Cut cloth and pompom for a hat, glue triangle out for a nose, pipe cleaner arms, button eyes, black bean mouth, popcorn buttons.
Shaving Cream Snow Let the children play with shaving cream and pretend it is snow. They pile it up and make snowmen and all sorts of creations.
Edible Snowmen Kids always enjoyed making edible snowmen. Marshmallows held together by a toothpick, licorice strip for the scarf, pretzels for the arms, raisins for buttons, candy corn for nose. Make and then eat

Songs, Poems & Finger Plays

Dance Like Snowflakes (Sung to Are You Sleeping)
Dance like snowflakes, dance like snowflakes
In the air, in the air
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Here and there, here and there

Frost (Sung to The Farmer In The Dell)
The frost is on the roof (point hands over head)
The frost is on the ground (point to the floor)
The frost is on the window (make a window with your hands)
The frost is all around (make large circles with hands)

Snowflakes (Sung to Sailing, Sailing)
Snowflakes, snowflakes
Falling to the ground
Each one rests so gently
They never make a sound

Snowflakes, snowflakes
Are so pure and white
The special thing about them is
No two are alike

Snowflakes Falling Down (Sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
Snowflakes falling down
Falling to the ground
Big white fluffy flakes
That do not make a sound

The Wintery Wind (Sung to Happy Birthday)
The winter wind blows
The winter wind blows
It gives me the shivers
 From my head to my toes!

Pudgie Little Snowman
A pudgie little snowman
had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny
and what do you suppose.
That hungry little bunny
looking for some lunch
Ate the little snowman's nose
Nibble, Nibble, CRUNCH!

Making A Snowperson
Roll it, roll it, get a pile of snow. (make rolling motion)
Rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling we will go.
Pat it, pat it, face it to the south. (patting motion)
Now my little snowperson's done, eyes, nose and mouth (point to each)

Zippers
Three little zippers on my snowsuit, (hold up three fingers)
Fasten up as snug as snug can be.
It's a very easy thing as you can see
Just zip, zip, zip! (do three zipping motions)
I work the zippers on my snowsuit.
Zippers really do save time for me
I can fasten them myself with one, two, three.
Just zip, zip, zip! (do three zipping motions)

Two Little Snowflakes
Way up high in the winter sky,
2 little snowflakes caught my eye.
Down to the ground they fell without a sound.
And before very long,
It was snowing all around.

Links

"Snowy Silhouette" http://www.crayola.com/index.cfm Click on the crayon marked Inspiring Ideas, then register teachers and kids for free access to these two art-oriented snowman activities

"Snowman Clipart" http://school.discovery.com/clipart/clip/ice-cold.html This Web link brings you to Discovery School.com and a clipart image of a snowman.