Winter is Coming

LESSON 4

Children develop an understanding of how animals prepare for winter through nature observation and story.

  • The book, “Winter Is Coming,” by Tony Johnston

  • Paper

  • Crayons/colored pencils

    Optional:

  • Binoculars

  • Magnifying glass

Materials

  • Gather materials

  • Plan a nature walk/visit

Preparations

  • Read "Winter Is Coming" to the children, and encourage active listening.

  • Engage children in conversations about the book's illustrations, promoting comprehension and critical thinking.

  • Encourage the practice of observation and reflection, allowing children to experience how animals prepare for winter in their natural habitat.

  • Provide materials and support for children to express their observations through drawings.

  • Lead a reflective discussion by posing open-ended questions related to animal behavior and winter preparations.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children engage in active listening and discussion while reading the book "Winter Is Coming.”

  • Children develop their visual literacy skills by observing and discussing the illustrations in the book.

  • Children express their observations and experiences by creating drawings, fostering creativity and self-expression.

  • Children actively participate in a reflective discussion, responding to open-ended questions related to animal behavior and winter preparations, which encourages critical thinking and communication.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Come up with actions to the poem and practice saying it together.

November comes and November goes

November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.

- Elizabeth Coatsworth

Activity Flow

  1. To begin, gather your supplies and head out on a nature walk with your child. Find a place in nature where you can lay down a blanket, sit, and observe. Preferably a place you might see some animals scurrying or flying around you.

  2. Once you are settled, introduce the book, “Winter Is Coming,” to your child. Tell your child that this book is set during the months of autumn, just like we are experiencing now. It is about a girl who spends a lot of her time in nature sitting and watching. Because she is so quiet and still, she is able to see incredible things around her. She draws pictures of her observations. Let’s discover what she is able to see and observe happening in nature.

  3. As you read the story, stop on each page to admire the beautiful illustrations by Jim LaMarche. Take time to notice the details in the pictures and what they are showing us about autumn.

  • How do you think animals are preparing for winter?

  • What are the animals doing to find and store food for the winter?

  • Do you see any animals making cozy homes or nests? What do these homes look like?

  • How are animals staying warm and comfortable during the cold months?

  • Have you seen any birds flying to different places? Where do you think they're going?

  • Are there any animals you've seen with thicker fur or fluffier feathers? Why do they have them?

4. After the story, try to be quiet like the fox and still in nature. See what you can observe, and just like the girl in the story, draw the things you are observing on paper or in a special notebook.

5. Take time to review your child's drawings and observations together. Ask questions about their artwork and what they found most interesting during the nature walk. This allows your child to share their experiences and solidify their understanding of the animals' preparations for winter. Here are some questions you might ask: