Look at these easy and fun Over And Under The Snow activities I have gathered to create a fun and free literature unit study for preschoolers (or even kindergarteners ). Also, you’ll love more ideas on my pages Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas, Best Homeschool Unit Studies and How to Homeschool Preschool.
Preschoolers can benefit from a literature unit study.
And you can easily turn it into a fun week-long theme that covers everything from language arts to science and even math.
You will want to start each day by reading the entire book from start to finish.
You can choose the order you do these activities.
It is totally up to you and what works for you and your child.
Besides the book and some plastic animals, you can put this entire week together with less than $5 in supplies.
I picked up the pack of styrofoam balls, shaving cream, and baking soda that made up 3 of the week’s activities for $3.75 at Dollar Tree.
I have also included a few more ways to use these items to stretch the fun, learning, and budget.
Language Arts Day 1
The act of reading alone is a wonderful language arts activity.
As you read through the book you stimulate their imagination and expand their understanding of the world.
Reading aloud helps them to develop language and listening skills and is an important pre-reading activity to help them understand the written word.
But there are some places you can be intentional.
Throughout the book, some words will be brand new to your child. Take some time to go over them a bit before you read so that your child can understand and learn the new vocabulary.
Here are some new words that you might pick a couple from to focus on:
- Glide- To move with a smooth continuous motion.
- Flash- A quick view of something.
- Tracks- A mark or line of marks left by a person or animal.
- Huddle- To crowd together closely.
- Morsels– A small piece of food.
- Shelter- A place that gives temporary protection from weather or danger.
- Gnaw-To bite or nibble something persistently.
Point out letters your child is already familiar with on the cover or throughout the book and have them name the letter.
New letters should be told to the child over and over until they have it down. But make it fun! Talk about what letter f-f-fox starts with or o-o-over.
Finally, the shaving cream that you will be using later in the week can be squirted right onto the table and smoothed out a bit to practice drawing and writing letters with little fingers.
Sensory experiences like this often stick much better than dozens of tracing worksheets.
Also, add some of these books for a fun read aloud.
I lean toward living books then like to add in reference book when possible.
29 Winter Books to Read to Kids and For Kids Who Love to Read
Add in a few books to make your winter unit study complete. Add books for all ages.
Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter.
As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins.
Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze.
Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.
Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.
ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.
A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow.
This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.
What happens to seeds that don't sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them.
Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths.
Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen,"
This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene.
Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle.
The poem is indeed about the yearly cycle in the life of a tree. But it is also an intriguing poetic concoction.
The initial letters of each line in each stanza spell out a word that pertains to that tree's life cycle - SEED, GERMINATE, SHOOT, ROOTS, LEAVES, FLOWERS. It's a kids' acrostic.
Everyone knows the Moomins sleep through the winter. But this year, Moomintroll has woken up early.
So while the rest of the family slumber, he decides to visit his favorite summer haunts. But all he finds is this strange white stuff. Even the sun is gone! Moomintroll is angry: whoever Winter is, she has some nerve.
Blessed--or cursed--with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been seen as strange.
And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants
The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals.
They can be Strong, like a walrus Tough, like a lemming Resilient, like an arctic fox.
But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear.
An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making
It is the longest night of the year, and the snow lies deep. All through the forest, animals long for dawn's warmth.
Strong and clever creatures boast that only they can bring back the sun. But the wind knows better.
Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says.
The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig.
Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life.
A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?
Crystal and Ivory snowflake take full advantage of this beautiful snowy evening in New York City as they travel to the park, fly through Time Square, journey past the Statue of Liberty, and more before coming in for their final landing of the day.
A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.
Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives.
But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.
From the author of Ice Dogs comes a riveting adventure about a musher who sets out to prove her impaired vision won't hold her back from competing in a rigorous sled race through the Canadian wilderness. Perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen.
There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.
Forest animals, awakened by the birds' warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise.
Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream.
Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.
One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south.
When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!
With the first ice—a skim on a sheep pail so thin it breaks when touched—one family’s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streambed, through sleeping orchards and beyond.
With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow.
Grandmother Winter lives all alone with her snow-white flock of geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why?
To bring snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. To the woodland and all of its creatures, the arrival of winter is a gift.
Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed.
And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve.
Next add geography or history or both.
Geography Day 2
In preschool, this is focused on the study of people and how they relate to their world.
This means transportation, community helpers, family, emotions, and caring for our world.
You can talk about the relationship between the little girl and her father in the book.
And explain how they each felt throughout their exploration of the woods and ways that we can take care of the world we live in and the animals by respecting them during walks.
Who are helpers in places like this?
Park rangers and game wardens are likely brand-new community helpers to your child.
Explain to them what each does and how they help our world.
You can also focus on the geography of the animals throughout the story.
Where would you find red squirrels or voles for instance?
Next, add in some fun art. Here are some ideas.
Art Day 3
Create a fun puffy sensory paint by combining white craft paint with a little bit of shaving cream.
Then for an easy over and under the-snow activities use it to create a winter scene with areas for creatures over and under the snow.
Use a marker to draw trees in the background, encouraging your child to recreate the cover of the book if they like. Both free art and gently directed art are important parts of development.
Once the paint has dried your child can add animals above and below the snow to re-enact the book.
You can use plastic animals, print out small pieces of paper of winter animals, or let them draw some in.
You do not need or want a full math curriculum at this age. Simply focus on number sense to begin with.
Math Day 4
As you read the book, have them count with you the number of animals on different pages.
Number sense includes counting and identifying quantities, number recognition, subitizing (glancing at small numbers and knowing the number).
One-to-one Correspondence- This is simply making the connection between a number and a physical item.
It involves the act of counting each object in a set once, with one touch per object.
A simple activity you can do to help develop number recognition is to get multiples of an object.
For example, you can grab small styrofoam balls or white buttons to go along with the snow theme of the book and a single dice (two if they are working on higher than 1-5).
Let them roll the die and match the number with the correct number of objects.
Use positional words like over, under, inside, outside, behind, etc. and have your child move an object to demonstrate them.
This simple spatial activity is a precursor to geometry and measurement.
You can use styrofoam balls for all kinds of counting and adding and subtracting.
More Over and Under the Snow Activities
- Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
- Over and Under the Snow Building Activity
- Kindergarten Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting
- Over and Under the Snow – A Storytime Activity
- Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
- Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments
- Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
Science Day 5
The science possibilities are wonderful in this book.
You can study specific animals and their habits, winter weather or both. I have an activity suggestion for this that gives you a concrete example of both.
You can take a deep dive into learning about the creatures above and below the snow by watching short videos on various animals.
Pouring over your favorite zoology books, observing these animals in nature in your own backyard, or at the zoo.
Or with fun hands-on activities like this Over and Under the Snow sensory bin with two ingredient snow as its base.
Over and Under the Snow Activities – Two Ingredient Snow
You will need:
- Baking soda
- unscented/sensitive shaving cream
- Blue construction paper
- Paintbrush
To create the 2 ingredient snow, combine baking soda with unscented shaving cream until a snowlike texture is reached.
If it’s too dry add more shaving cream, too wet, more baking soda.
I find that it is easiest to mix it with your hands. If it just holds together when squeezed it’s a great texture.
Fill the bottom of your chosen shallow container for the sensory bin with the “snow”.
Add small pinecones, twigs, etc. as well as plastic animals mentioned in the book like foxes, squirrels, beavers, frogs, black bears snowshoe hares, and owls.
The sensory bin is used for dramatic small-world play, fine motor skills, and as a wonderful base to work in science learning about animals as well as snow.
