What We Do in the Winter Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Students will compare and contrast winter in two parts of the United States.

 

Science Focus:

seasons

 

Social Studies Focus:

geography, culture

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a map

 

Vocabulary:

steam, refreshing, darted

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 ask and answer questions; RI.2.4 determine meaning of words; RF.2.4 read grade-level texts; W.2.3 write narratives; W.2.8 recall information; SL.2.1 participate in collaborative conversations

 

Lexile Level:

580L

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Provide students with some background on winter.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Signs of Winter." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What happens in winter where you live?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. What do students notice about where each kid on the cover lives?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about what winter is like where you live.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are steam, refreshing, and darted. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer (20 min.)

This story will enchant readers with the sounds, tastes, and sights of winter—so cozy up with this warm text no matter where you are wintering!

  • Students will love building a personalized digital snowman in the “Build Your Own Snowman” game.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words steam, refreshing, and darted.

Editor’s Pick: Writing (15 min.)

  • Students can imagine they are writing a letter to the kids in this issue or choose a friend to write a letter to. Using the prompts in the Winter Where I Live skill sheet, they will examine, describe, and illustrate their own winter experience.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • The Winter Word Search skill sheet lets students review key words from this issue while hunting for them in the word search.

Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on winter:

  • “Uncover Winter Weather!,” January 2023. Students will identify the characteristics of winter weather and examine commonly asked questions about it.
  • “Splash! Chomp! Yum.,” November/December 2023. After reading about Maya’s and Riley’s winter experiences, students can discover how three animals prepare for the winter.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 540L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 380L