Under the Snow
Written by Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
Using clear, simple language, Under the Snow offers young readers
a lyrical look
at the surprising ways animals living in fields, forests, ponds, and wetlands
spend the chilly winter months. Some fish and insects rest, but others stay
active. Voles spend their days burrowing through the snow. Red-spotted newts
dodge and dart, whiz and whirl just below the ice. Readers will
enjoy the fascinating facts about animal survival. The soft watercolors add
to beauty of this quiet season.
Biographical Sketch:
Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 100 science books
for children. She has always been fascinated by the natural world and is
passionate about sharing its beauty and wonder with readers of all ages.
Afterearning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Union College in Schenectady,
NY, and a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University,
Melissa worked as a children’s book editor for nine years before becoming
a fulltime writer in 2000.
Melissa believes that nothing brings nonfiction writing to life like firsthand research. While gathering information for her books, she has explored tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in East Africa, and swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands.
Suggested Activities:
1. Discuss the different habitats; field, forest, pond and wetland, mentioned
in the book. Have students draw a picture showing what one animal does during
the winter.
2. Compare and contrast the different habitats in winter.
3. Have students create a bar graph to compare the size of the animals in each habitat. Does size have something to do with how the animal survives the winter?
4. Have the children make hats to represent one animal from the book. They can wear the hat while performing the Readers' Theater.
5. Download a copy of the Readers' Theater script written to accompany Under the Snow from the author's website (www.melissa-stewart.com). Assign parts and have students perform.
6. Depending on the grade level, look at a map of your community or state and identify where the habitats from the book are located on a map.
7. Categorize the animals as mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish or insect. Discuss how each group adapts to the winter.
8. Discuss how snow helps animals in winter.
9. Have students write their own story of a snowstorm and how the animals find shelter.
10. Here's a song to learn - sung to the tune of Frere Jacques.
Winter's coming. Winter's coming.
It is dark. It is cold.
I am bundled snug and warm.
Animals sleep safe from harm.
Sleds and snow.
Cold winds blow.
Companion books:
Bancroft, Henrietta. Animals in Winter. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
Carle, Eric. Dream Snow. New York: Philomel, 2000.
Dunphy, Madeleine. Here is the Wetland. New York: Hyperion, 2007.
Guiberson, Brenda. Life in the Boreal Forest. New York: Henry
Holt, 2009.
Howell, Will. Zooflakes. New York: Walker & Company, 2002.
Salas, Laura Purdie. Seed Sower, Hat Thrower: Poems About Weather. Mankato:
MN, Capstone, 2008.
Selsam, Millicent. Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints.
New York:
HarperCollins,
1998.
Shulevitz, Uri. Snow. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004.
Sturges, Philemon. Rainsong, Snowsong. San Francisco: North South
Books, 1995.
Waldman, Neil. Snowflake: A water cycle story. Brookfield, CT: 2003.
Yolen, Jane. Owl Moon. New York: Philomel,1987.
Books by the author:
Amphibians, Children's Press, 2001.
Dolphins. National Geographic Press, 2010.
Gross and Goofy series, Benchmark Books, 2009.
A Place For Frogs, Peachtree, 2010.
A Place For Birds, Peachree, 2009,
Rainbow of Animals series, Enslow Publishers.
Websites:
The author's website has many suggestions for using all of her science books:
http:// www.melissa-stewart.com
This is the activity guide from the publisher: http://peachtree-online.com/pdfs/UndertheSnowTG.pdf
Science made Simple. This site has many different activities for studying animals in winter: http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/animals.html#PROJECTS