Step into a wintry wonderland of learning with our Snowflake Bentley activities designed to dazzle snow lovers. Each activity is a flurry of fun, fostering literacy and fueling research skills in young minds. Watch as students delve into snowflakes’ unique world, mirroring Bentley’s own icy intrigue. From crystalline crafts to frosty reading challenges, our winter activities sparkle in any classroom setting. So, don your mittens, gather your little snow explorers, and get ready to embark on an educational adventure as unique as each snowflake! 

For young learners, Snowflake Bentley activities provide a treasure trove of literacy-enhancing activities. In sequencing Bentley’s biography, children practice organizing events chronologically, deepening their understanding of narrative structure. Drawing and defining story vocabulary strengthens their language skills, enriching their verbal and written expression. By writing about Wilson Bentley and determining the author’s purpose, students not only strengthen their research skills, but also develop critical thinking skills.

Furthermore, these activities bridge the literacy and science gap brilliantly. Research, writing facts about snowflakes, and critically analyzing Snowflake Bentley’s work cultivate a scientific mindset among students. Activities such as sorting facts and opinions about snowflakes, creating snowflakes with shapes, and working collaboratively to design a snowflake integrate scientific concepts with hands-on learning. Through coloring, tracing, cutting, and gluing, this approach not only introduces basic scientific principles but also nurtures fine motor skills. Math is embedded into this cross-curricular journey as well, since shapes can be identified and counted along with their sides and vertices.

As a result of the included activities, students will be able to:

• Sequence the biography.
• Draw and define story vocabulary.
• Research and write about Wilson Bentley.
• Determine the author’s purpose.
• Apply Writing Skills with included writing templates and prompts.
• Practice Reading Comprehension with included discussion questions for the beginning, middle, and end of the book.
• Engage in Social Skills with included whole group prompts and activities.
• Develop Fine Motor Skills with included coloring, tracing, cutting, and gluing activities.
• Illustrate different kinds of snowflakes.
• Sort facts and opinions about snowflakes.
• Write facts about snowflakes.
• Use shapes to create a snowflake.
• Identify and count simple shapes.
• Count shape sides and vertices.
• Work collaboratively to design a snowflake.
• Critically examine Snowflake Bentley’s work. 

With these activities, students gain a comprehensive and engaging learning experience that combines science and literacy.

💙 Snow bored with your usual reading routine? Flurry up excitement and ice-olate skills for your favorite books and dive into these snow-tacular activities that are sure to freeze-frame fun. 

💙  Once you’ve snowballed into the Snowflake Bentley activities, glide your storytelling to frosty peaks, and read-aloud the book with the ‘chill-tacular’ soundscape in your Novel Effect app for an experience as unique as a snowflake!

About the Book

Wilson Bentley was always fascinated by snow. Throughout his childhood and adulthood, he saw each crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle. As a result of his parents' support and saving, he was able to buy his own camera and microscope. The enthusiasm he displayed at the time was misunderstood. With patience and determination, Wilson cataloged hundreds of snowflake photographs, gave slideshows of his discoveries, and, when he was 66, published a book of them. His work became the basis for all we know about beautiful, unique snowflakes today. 

Not yet snuggled into your snow fort with your own copy of the book? Glide on over here to scoop up your very own frosty tale!