Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

One of the best parts of teaching in the Primary Grades during the Holiday season is definitely the awesome books that correlate with the time of year!  I use many different books in my classroom and with my after school Reading club for Kindergarten students.  Some of my favorite books are The Hat and The Mitten by Jan Brett and The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.  I've created some activities to extend higher level thinking and comprehension strategies with the three stories.  Take a look below!

The Hat vs. The Mitten Extension Activities

First, discuss if each story is Fiction or Nonfiction.  Review what characterizes a story as either of the things and then have the students prove it to you!

Then, your students can sort photographs between "The Hat" and "The Mitten".  Students may find these stories very similar because of the text patterns and illustrations, so together you can discuss the differences.

Make retelling "The Mitten" fun by having your students create their own mittens and putting the order of the characters into the mitten they created!

Finally, review character and setting with your students by creating a specific scene from the story "The Hat!"

Here is all about one of my ALL time favorite stories "The Polar Express" and how I extend learning in my classroom!

The Polar Express Extension Activities

First, discuss main character and traits that go along with the boy in the story.

Then, the problem the boy faces in the story and what happens to him to fix that problem!

 My favorite part is the strategy we used to retell the story!

If you are able to watch the movie in your classroom, then compare and contrast the movie to the story.  It can be differentiated to students in your classroom using pictures or words!

 Finally, have some fun with a setting focused craftivity!!!

 Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you and your students are enjoying the holiday season as much as we are!!!

Happy Holidays!