31. Th Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

 31. Th Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats


Keats, E.J. (1962). The snowy day. NY: Viking.

 This is the story of Peter.  This story leads you to believe Peter lives in more urban area.  He wakes up one morning and everything is covered with snow.  After breakfast he puts on his red snow suit and heads outside to enjoy the day.  He begins his fun by making different patterns of footprints in the snow.  He is excited when he finds a stick in the snow.  He uses it to hit a snow-covered tree and all the snow falls on his head. He wanted to join the snowball fight, but new he was to little.  Instead he builds a snowman and makes snow angels. He makes a snowball and puts it into his pocket for tomorrow.  He goes into his warm house and takes a warm bath.  He thinks of his adventures as he soaks. He checked his coat pocket before going to bed and of course, the snowball is gone.  He was so sad, that night, he dreamt the sun melted all the snow.  When he awoke, he discovered snow everywhere and even new snow was falling.

This is a simple story about the joys of snow.  Growing up in Southeast Texas, we didn’t see many snow days.  If we did, it was usually more ice than snow.  This story could give children who don’t experience it a window into what a snow day is like. The book has “captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall.” The artwork in the story can be used to inspire students to create their own Peter or snow scene. This is a great book for a January snow theme in a younger grade.  I found a kindergarten lesson plan that creates different centers using the book.  In another site, I found other ideas for center about the book…one fun idea is actually making snow.  Students would love it! 

These are the links for the two center activities sites I found.

 

https://mrswillskindergarten.com/ezra-jack-keats-snowy-day-lesson-ideas/

 

 https://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/lesson-plan/a-flurry-of-activities/



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