Snowflake Similes

Snowflake Similes are one of my favorite winter activities.  This past week we read Snowflake Bentley, and did numerous activities with the book.

For the similes themselves, I have a half sheet template that we first brainstorm and then they create their own.  

Snowflakes are as unique as...

Snowflakes are as fragile as...

Snowflakes are as light as...

Here's the template if you need it.

After glueing on their template, the kids get to take a coffee filter and make their own snowflakes.  It's always art after the writing... Some years I have had the foam snowflakes (think Dollar Spot), but this year we resorted to the filters.  They really do make them unique.  We started fractions in math, so were able to practice that a bit as we were folding the circles getting ready to cut.  

I also love Mentor Sentences and recently realized that Jivey has Snowflake Bentley in her Volume 2 Unit 4 product.  I love that my read aloud could also be used for our mentor sentence.  

I wanted to direct you to the Snowflake Bentley website, where there is much more information, photos, his articles, interviews, gift shop, etc.  So much realia to share with our students. 

What do you do with the book?  Hope you have a great day!

Snow Day Similes {Freebie File}

That week right after break we had our Snow Day party at school.  I've done it for a couple of years, so you might have seen other posts about it.  This year it was simplified since I was still functioning at 60% after the bout with Bronchitis and we were catching up after 3 days of subs.

Here was our day:

*Math - Math fact snowball fight

Each student had a piece of scratch paper, they wrote a simple multiplication fact in the center of the paper, then crumpled it up.  On the count of 3 they all threw the paper balls, and then grabbed one off the ground.  They had to answer the math problem, sign their initial, and then write another math problem on the paper.  They then crumpled it up again, threw it again, and it continued again and again...  SO MUCH FUN!  Lots of giggles and my teacher heart was happy!

*Read Aloud: Snowflake Bentley

The big deal was making sure the kids knew how unique snowflakes are. 

*Snowflake Similes

In past years I've passed out the copy paper for students to make their own snowflake, or passed out a dicut that students add glue and glitter to... but this year I needed to simplify it... so we used coffee filters.  Here's the google doc. if you want the student paper. 

Do you celebrate snow in your classroom?   

 

Simile Snowflakes

I love this project, even though it creates a trail of silver glitter throughout my classroom.

For this, my students brainstormed items that they considered unique, fragile, and light.  We made a big list on the board, and some of them we had to really discuss.  Then they wrote their own idea on their papers, and glued it onto the bottom of the black construction paper.  I had picked up those foam snowflakes when Target had then 90% off (after Christmas sale), so they glued that on top, and then could decorate the design on top of the snowflake.  I was in charge of the silver glitter outside on my ramp, and the ground outside is still completely glitterized.  They look so pretty though, and my kids had a good review of similes - so it's worth it!  I'm sure my custodian would also agree.  :)

Do you do something similar?  How do you review similes?  Share!  

Five for Friday!

5 for Friday!  What a week!  Linking up with Doodlebugs.  :)    

ONE

Christmas came into the classroom again!  I ordered a class set of I Am Helen Keller from Scholastic over break, and they came!  A big box just for me!!! These books will be added into my read aloud collection during our communication unit. :)  It's the little things people...

TWO

We read Snowflake Bentley today and I decided to make snowflake similes with them.

We brainstormed different ways the author described the snowflakes - unique, fragile, and light… and from there the kids had to be creative.  I typed up this half page note to make their writing pop!  The snowflakes I picked up at Target's Christmas clearance for 70% off - only 30 cents for a pack of 10.  I even picked up enough for next year too.  :)  

The students were able to decorate their snowflakes with glue, and I was in charge of the glitter.  It still got all over.

THREE

This week we had 2 snowball fights during math time.  The first time the kids took a piece of scratch paper and wrote a math fact in the middle (with their initial), and then on the count of 3 we threw them into the air.  They then grabbed a new snowball, answered the math fact (with their initial), and wrote a new fact.  This kept going and going until the papers were full.  The next day we played it again, but instead wrote double digit numbers, with the students writing prime and composite next to them as they were tossed around.

FOUR

I wanted to remind you that the giveaway from the Blog Hop is almost over!  Rafflecopter will be choosing a winner on Sunday!  

  

FIVE

Last up - News News News!!!  We just got a phone call that my sister in law is being induced tonight.  She didn't want to find out the gender, so we are all anxiously waiting to hear pink or blue... In our small family we have 3 boys, and my brother in law has 3 boys…  Guess we'll see!!  

Hope you had a great day and an awesome week!

Revisit: Snow Day Party

Snow Day is coming the first Friday back in January!  Since this week I am trying to prep for when we come back in January (in the midst of December classroom chaos)  I wanted to link up with 2 super cool linky parties to share my lesson plan that worked wonderful last year.

Holly's Tried it Tuesday

Hope's Take Me Back Tuesday

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Originally written January 4th, 2013:

I live in California and where I live we don't get snow.  At all.  Not even a bit near our houses.  So my kiddos never get a chance to have a snow day at school.
Now, as I was sitting at home over vacation I saw that Tara from 4th Grade Frolics had a snow inspired day for her winter party.  I was jealous for a moment, and then I decided to have a snow day as well - to celebrate January and coming back to school.  
So I chose some of the activities and crafts that Tara mentioned, and added a couple of other ones that I enjoy.
Here's how I planned my day:
Snow What Fun (Read Aloud)   To first get the kids thinking of what the snowmen might do if they were alive, I will read the book Snow What Fun.  I know it's supposed to be the night before Christmas but the kids won't care.  If a snowman came to life, I'm sure it would want to have some fun.
Snowman Narratives (Tara's idea)  Her idea of having the snowman come to life for a narrative inspired me to have my own students create this same project.  Every morning from now until March my students will be completing quick writes complete with our Rainbow Edits (for convention practice).  My students will write about their own personal snowman and what would happen if they were to wake up someday to find it had come alive, or what their snowman would do if it was alive.  As the students finish with their Rainbow Edit they will have a chance to illustrate their final drafts complete with their own snowman.  I made up this freebie.  Just click to download.  

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Snowball Fight (Math Facts) I have a box of paper scraps - each page is around 8x8 in. and the perfect size for a snowball.  The kids each will take a page and write their name on it (small print to the side).  Then they will write a math fact on it.  On the count of 3 we will toss them up in the air, and then grab another snowball from the floor.  We won't toss it to another person, we will just throw them.  When we grab another one the kids will have to answer the math problem and write their initials next to it.  Then they have to come up with a different math problem to write on the paper.  We will crumple them up again and throw them.  We will repeat the process until we can not fit anymore math problems on the papers (or 10 minutes - whatever comes first).

 Fraction Snowflakes (Math - Tara's idea) This project uses qtips, dark construction paper, and white glue.  They create a snowflake using qtips and then had to calculate the 2 fractions.  I'm going to have my students write the fraction of how many full qtips/total number, and then another fraction of how many half qtips/total number.  I think I'm going to give them a total of 20 full qtips to do what they want with them - break or use full.
Making Snow (Science experiment) We just did the Orbeeze experiment yesterday, so I don't want to do an entire write up again.  Instead I'm just going to make snow (with them watching) and they will predict what will happen - how the snow will look and feel compared to real snow.  Then we will create a Venn Diagram using our senses and background knowledge.  I will tell them what this pretend snow really is made from.  The diaper ingredient always grosses them out - especially after they have all touched it.  It's not like it was a dirty diaper!!
Snowflake Bentley (Read Aloud) Don't you love this book?  I love how there are so many facts included and that it stresses that each snowflake is unique.  This will be our after lunch Read Aloud for today.  

Creating Snowflakes (Art) I had every intention of sending snowflakes to Conn. but they don't need them anymore.  So we will do it for fun, to practice following directions, and to decorate our own classroom.  After reading Snowflake Bentley I want them to create their own unique snowflake.
Glitter Playdough Snowmen (Art - Tara's idea)  I used the same recipe that Tara shared and will give each student a little amount to create their own 3d snowman as they finish their snowflakes (and have picked up all their tiny little scraps of paper off the floor/desk/chair).
I love Winter!!!
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I hope this helps someone.  :)  Have a great day!