Download Over and Under the Snow

Infusion of Literacy into the Science Curriculum
Book Information
Title
Over and Under the Snow
Author
Kate Messner
Publisher
Chronicle Books
Copyright
Year
ISBN#
2011
Summary
This beautifully illustrated picture book describes, in firstperson, 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
978-0-8118-6784-9
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).
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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
Living Systems
2.5- Ecosystems
Grade 4
Grade 5
Living Systems
5.5- Characteristics for organism’s survival; cell
structure/function
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Sample Activities
Grade
1
Grade
2
Before reading the book to the class, ask students what they do to
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.
Before reading the books, select all or some of the animals featured
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.
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