Infusion of Literacy Into the Science Curriculum s2

Infusion of Literacy into the Science Curriculum

Book Information

Title Over and Under the Snow

Author Kate Messner

Publisher Chronicle Books

Summary This beautifully illustrated picture book describes, in first- person, a girl’s cross country ski adventure where she observes animal life “over” the snow and imagines the animals’ “secret kingdom under the snow.” An author’s note explains that this subnivean zone is “a network of small open spaces and tunnels beneath the snowpack and the ground” and provides a safe place for animals to survive the winter. Availability APL – Aurora Hills, Central, Cherrydale, Columbia Pike, Glencarlyn, Shirlington, Westover; APS Library system (Abingdon, Barrett, Carlin Springs, Hoffman Boston, Jamestown, Stratford, Tuckahoe); Amazon (for purchase).

1 How can the book content be infused into the science curriculum?

Grade Level K-5

Strands Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and Logic; Earth Patterns, Cycle and Change; Life Processes; Living Systems

Kindergarten Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and Logic K.1; K.2- Five senses, descriptions and sequencing Earth Patterns, Cycle and Change K.9; K.10- Patterns; weather, animal/plant growth, routines, change

Grade 1 Life Processes 1.4; 1.5- Plants & Animals – needs, parts, characteristics Earth Patterns, Cycle and Change 1.7 – Weather, seasons: effects on plants, animals

Grade 2 Life Processes 2.4- Stages in animal life; flowering plants Living Systems 2.5- Systems include living and nonliving things; habitats Earth Patterns, Cycle and Change 2.7- Effect of weather and seasonal changes on growth and behavior

Grade 3 Living Systems 3.5 & 3.6- Food chains; Environments Life Processes 3.4- Animal adaptations Grade 4 Living Systems 2.5- Ecosystems

Grade 5 Living Systems 5.5- Characteristics for organism’s survival; cell structure/function

2 Sample Activities

Grade Before reading the book to the class, ask students what they do to 1 prepare for winter (e.g., by warm clothes, get out sleds, etc.). Ask students what they think animals do to prepare for winter, writing down their ideas on a flip chart. Read Over and Under the Snow. After reading the book to the students, ask them to recall ways in which the cold weather effected the animals in the book. Grade Before reading the books, select all or some of the animals featured 2 in the book (red squirrel, shrews, white-tailed deer, deer mice, voles, snowshoe hares, bullfrogs, beavers, red foxes, chipmunks, black bears, bumblebees). Discuss with the students what type of habitat these animals might live in and what type of adaptations they might make during the wintertime. Record these observations on a flip chart. Assign groups of students to one of the animals mentioned. As you read Over and Under the Snow have the students responsible for the animals write down a few facts they learned about their animal as the book was being read. Have students share out any facts they’ve learned.