The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats / Lesson Plan

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Objective

By the end of this lesson, Ella will explore the themes of winter and snow through various creative activities inspired by "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. She will engage in art, math, music, physical education, and science, enhancing her understanding of the story and the winter season.

Materials and Prep

  • Paper and crayons or markers
  • Snow-themed songs (can be sung or played from memory)
  • Space for movement (indoors or outdoors)
  • Items found in nature (like sticks or leaves) for science exploration

Before the lesson, familiarize yourself with "The Snowy Day" and think about the different activities that can relate to the story. Prepare to sing songs about snow and winter, and think of some simple math concepts to introduce.

Activities

  • Art Activity:

    Ella can create her own snowy day scene using paper and crayons. Encourage her to draw snowflakes, trees, and anything else she remembers from the book. Ask her to share what she loves about winter as she draws.

  • Math Activity:

    Using the crayons, Ella can count the number of snowflakes she draws. Help her group them by size—big and small—and count how many are in each group. This will introduce her to basic counting and sorting.

  • Music Activity:

    Sing a song about snow or winter. You can create simple lyrics together, like "Snowflakes falling, falling down!" Encourage her to make up movements that go along with the song.

  • Physical Education Activity:

    Set up an indoor "snow obstacle course" where Ella can pretend to walk through snow. Use pillows to represent snowdrifts, and encourage her to jump over or crawl under them, mimicking how she would move in the snow.

  • Science Activity:

    Take a nature walk outside to find items that remind her of winter. Collect sticks, leaves, or rocks and talk about how they change in winter. Discuss how snow affects the ground and the plants.

Talking Points

  • "What do you see when it snows? Can you draw it for me?"
  • "Let’s count how many snowflakes you drew! How many big ones? How many small ones?"
  • "Can you think of a song about snow? Let’s sing it together!"
  • "How do you think we move in the snow? Let’s pretend to walk through it!"
  • "What do you think happens to the plants in winter? Let’s look for clues outside!"