Snip, Snip...Snow! by Nancy Poydar - Teaching Ideas

I know, I know, it is a little late for a snow book, but I got buried under a bunch of other reviews and kind of got forgotten about. So instead of waiting to post it (and chancing it getting lost again) I am posting it now.

This is a story I think only kids that live in the snow can truly "get". The main character Sophie is waiting for and wanting it to snow really, really bad. She is tired of it just being freezing cold, with no snow. 

When she gets home from school she hears the weatherman forecast snow, which excites Sophie. Sophie runs around the house getting all her snow stuff ready for the morning of snow. But to her dismay morning comes but the snow didn't. She is so upset!

When she gets to school, she talks her teacher into letting them create their own snowstorm by making their own snowflakes. As the class is finishing up, it starts to snow. Sophie is delighted! She rushes home after school so she begin her snow time adventures. 

Reading level: 1.5 

Theme/subject: weather

Genre: general fiction 

Suggested Vocabulary/phrases: bare, weatherman, forecast, stalled, peered, wafting 

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story will be about. I wonder if it is really snowing or they are just making snowflakes.  {possible questions during} I wonder why her parents are happy that it didn’t snow. I wonder what the broom, raisins and carrot are for. I wonder why she is so mad that it didn’t snow. {possible questions after} I wonder if she had to go to school. I wonder what else she will do in the snow. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• Author's point of view – Third. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this.
• Author's purpose – entertain {evidence} the illustrations are very colorful. It was funny how excited Sophie got when she heard it was going to snow. The kids did lots of fun stuff in the snow. All these things made a very entertaining story.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} It was so cold but there was no snow. {most important event from middle} The weatherman said it would snow. {most important event from end} Sophie was so happy that it finally snowed. 
• Cause and effect – Why did Sophie have to wear a heavy jacket, mittens and her hood? Because it was so cold. Why did Sophie complain? Because she really wanted it to snow. Why was Sophie so happy? Because the weatherman forecasted snow. Why did Sophie put a carrot, box of raisins and a hat by the door? Because she wanted to make a snowman. Why did Sophie’s mom and dad look pleased? Because the snow did not come. Why did Mrs. Bloom let Sophie pass out white paper? So they could make their own snow. Why did Sophie say she was recycling? Because she made a snowman out of the scraps by her chair. Why did Mrs. Bloom tell the children to “Shhh”? So they could hear how quietly the snow fell.
• Character analysis - describe Sophie {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character} 
• Character changes – (beginning) Sophie was frustrated because there was no snow. (middle) Sophie was happy because the weatherman forecasted snow. (middle) Sophie was angry because it didn’t snow. (end) Sophie was happy because it finally snowed.
• Classify & categorize – Things to do when it snows: inside, outside
• Compare & contrast – Sophie and her parents. 2 different snowflakes.
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} Wanting it to snow. Making snowflakes out of paper. Having it start to snow at school. Walking home in the snow. Making a snowman. Sledding.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why do you think Sophie’s parents were happy when there was no snow in the morning? {text clues} Mom said, “No shoveling.” and “It’s nice without snow.” {what I know} My mom and dad always work hard outside after it snows. {my conclusion} I think Sophie’s parents were happy when there was no snow in the morning because it meant that they didn’t have to shovel the snow.
• Fact & opinion – {fact} There was no snow in the beginning of the story. The weatherman forecasted snow. Sophie put a carrot, box of raisins and a hat out by the door. There was no snow in the morning. Sophie’s class makes snowflakes. {opinion} Sophie’s mom and dad don’t like snow. Mrs. Bloom was angry about the mess in her classroom. Sophie thinks sledding is the most fun in the snow. Mom thinks shoveling snow is the worst job to do.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mainly about Sophie wanting it to snow. {details} Sophie was too excited to eat and sleep when she thought it was going to snow. Sophie got all of her stuff ready to play in the snow. Sophie was so angry that it didn’t snow that she asked her teacher if they could make their own snow.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when it finally started to snow.
• Predict – What do you think the story is going to be about? Do you think it really will snow? What do you think the carrot, raisins and hat are for? What do you think Sophie will do since there is no snow? Do you think it will ever snow? What do you think Sophie will do first in the snow?
• Problem & solution - {problem} Sophie really wants it to snow. {solution} She gets all her snow stuff ready. She asks Mrs. Bloom if they could make their own snow.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – Sophie’s mom and dad were happy when it didn’t snow. What could you tell Sophie to explain that not snowing was a good thing.
• Summarize - {someone} Sophie {wanted} it to snow {but} but it didn’t {so} so she went to school and asked her teacher if they could make their own snow. After making their own snow it {finally} finally snowed.
• Visualize – Sophie got everything ready that she wanted to do in the snow. Visualize what you would do to get ready for the snow.

 

Happy Reading!