Lesson Plan
Winter Wonders
Students will be able to identify key characteristics of winter, including weather patterns, animal adaptations, and common human activities during the season, and describe them using descriptive vocabulary.
Understanding the seasons helps students connect with the natural world around them, develop observational skills, and build a foundational knowledge of environmental science. It also expands their vocabulary and comprehension.
Audience
2nd Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through guided reading, discussion, and an interactive activity.
Materials
Whiteboard or large paper, Markers, Winter Season Reading, Winter Vocabulary Worksheet, Winter Animals Matching Game, and Winter Wonders Slide Deck
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Winter Wonders Slide Deck and practice the script.
- Print and review the Winter Season Reading.
- Print and review the Winter Vocabulary Worksheet and its corresponding Answer Key.
- Print and prepare the Winter Animals Matching Game.
- Gather markers and a whiteboard or large paper for brainstorming.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is Winter?
5 minutes
- Greet the student and initiate a brief discussion about winter using the Winter Wonders Slide Deck (Slide 1-2).
- Ask: "What comes to mind when you think of winter?" Write down student responses on the whiteboard/paper.
Step 2
Explore Winter: Reading & Vocabulary
10 minutes
- Present the Winter Season Reading (Slide 3-4). Read together, pausing to discuss new vocabulary and concepts.
- Use the Winter Vocabulary Worksheet (Slide 5) to reinforce new words. Provide support as needed.
Step 3
Animal Adaptations & Activities
10 minutes
- Transition to animal adaptations using the Winter Wonders Slide Deck (Slide 6-7). Discuss how animals prepare for winter.
- Introduce the Winter Animals Matching Game to identify animals and their winter strategies.
- Briefly discuss common human winter activities (Slide 8-9).
Step 4
Cool-Down: Winter Recap
5 minutes
- Use the final slide of the Winter Wonders Slide Deck (Slide 10) for a quick recap.
- Ask: "What was one new thing you learned about winter today?" Listen to their response and provide positive reinforcement.
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Brr! It's Winter!
Get ready to explore the coldest, coziest season!
Greet the student warmly. Start by asking what they already know or think about winter. "Hello! Today we're going on a winter adventure. What comes to mind when you hear the word 'winter'?"
Winter Brainstorm
- What do you see? (Snow, ice, bare trees)
- What do you feel? (Cold, cozy, chilly)
- What happens? (Holidays, playing in snow, animals hiding)
Facilitate a brief brainstorming session. Write down their ideas on a whiteboard or paper. "When we think of winter, what do we see? What do we feel? What kinds of things happen?"
Our Winter Story
Let's read and learn about the wonderful world of winter!
Introduce the reading. "We have a special reading today all about the winter season. Let's read it together and discover some amazing facts!"
Winter Weather Watch
- Cold Temperatures: It's often very chilly!
- Snow and Ice: Sometimes we get beautiful snowfalls and slippery ice.
- Shorter Days: The sun doesn't stay out as long.
Continue the reading, focusing on key details about winter weather. "Winter brings some unique kinds of weather. What do you notice about the temperatures and precipitation during winter?"
New Winter Words!
Let's review the new vocabulary from our reading!
Transition to the vocabulary worksheet. "Our reading had some interesting words. Let's practice them with our Winter Vocabulary Worksheet! We'll make sure we understand what they all mean."
Animals in Winter
How do animals stay safe and warm when it's cold?
Introduce the concept of animal adaptations. "Animals are super smart and know how to get ready for winter too! How do you think animals stay warm or find food when it's cold and snowy?"
Winter Animal Strategies
- Hibernation: Taking a long winter nap (like bears!)
- Migration: Traveling to warmer places (like many birds)
- Adaptation: Growing thicker fur or changing color (like foxes or snowshoe hares)
Discuss examples. "Some animals like bears hibernate, which means they take a long winter nap. Others, like certain birds, migrate to warmer places. And some, like rabbits, grow thicker fur!"
Winter Fun for Humans!
What do people do when it's cold outside?
Shift to human activities. "What about us? What fun things do people do during the winter season?"
More Winter Fun
- Building snowmen
- Sledding or skiing
- Drinking hot chocolate
- Celebrating holidays
Continue discussing activities. "We love building snowmen, sledding, drinking hot chocolate, and celebrating holidays!"
Winter Wrap-Up!
What was your favorite part of our winter adventure today?
Thank you for exploring Winter Wonders with me!
Conclude the lesson. "We learned so much about winter today! What was one new, interesting thing you learned about winter or the animals that live through it? Great job today!"
Reading
The Wonderful World of Winter
Winter is one of the four seasons, and it's often the coldest! In many places, winter means snow and ice. The air gets chilly, and sometimes we need to wear warm coats, hats, and gloves to stay cozy.
During winter, the days are shorter, and the nights are longer. This means the sun doesn't stay in the sky for as long as it does in summer. The trees that lose their leaves in autumn look bare, like they are sleeping until spring.
But winter is also a season of wonder! The world can look like a sparkly wonderland when it snows. We can have fun building snowmen, making snow angels, or going sledding. It's also a special time for many holidays and for spending cozy time indoors with family.
Many animals have special ways to get ready for winter. Some animals, like bears, go into a very deep sleep called hibernation. They sleep through most of the winter and wake up when it gets warmer. Other animals, like many birds, fly to warmer places far away. This is called migration. Some animals even grow a thicker coat of fur to stay warm, or their fur changes color to blend in with the snow! These are all ways animals adapt to survive the cold.
Worksheet
Winter Vocabulary Words
Directions: Read each sentence. Use the words from the box to fill in the blank. Then, draw a picture for each word.
Word Box
- winter
- hibernation
- migration
- adapt
- cozy
-
The coldest season of the year is called __________.
Draw a picture for winter here:
-
Bears go into a long sleep called __________ during the cold months.
Draw a picture for hibernation here:
-
Birds often fly south to warmer places. This journey is called __________.
Draw a picture for migration here:
-
Animals sometimes grow thicker fur to __________ to the cold weather.
Draw a picture for adapt here:
-
Sitting by a warm fire makes me feel __________ on a snowy day.
Draw a picture for cozy here:
Answer Key
Winter Vocabulary Answer Key
Directions: Read each sentence. Use the words from the box to fill in the blank. Then, draw a picture for each word.
Word Box
- winter
- hibernation
- migration
- adapt
- cozy
-
The coldest season of the year is called winter.
Thought Process: The question asks for the name of the coldest season. From the reading, we know winter is the coldest season. -
Bears go into a long sleep called hibernation during the cold months.
Thought Process: The sentence describes a long sleep animals like bears take during cold months. This matches the definition of hibernation from the reading. -
Birds often fly south to warmer places. This journey is called migration.
Thought Process: The sentence describes birds flying to warmer places. This aligns with the definition of migration. -
Animals sometimes grow thicker fur to adapt to the cold weather.
Thought Process: The sentence describes how animals change to survive cold weather. The word "adapt" means to change to fit new conditions. -
Sitting by a warm fire makes me feel cozy on a snowy day.
Thought Process: The sentence describes a feeling of warmth and comfort, which is what "cozy" means.
Game
Winter Animals Matching Game
Directions: Draw a line from the animal to how it gets ready for winter.
Animals
-
Bear
-
Bird (like a goose)
-
Squirrel
-
Frog
-
Snowshoe Hare
How They Get Ready for Winter
-
A. Collects and buries nuts (stores food)
-
B. Hibernates (long winter sleep)
-
C. Changes fur color to white (camouflage)
-
D. Migrates (flies to a warmer place)
-
E. Burrows deep in mud (hibernates/brumates)
Bonus Question: Why do animals need special ways to get ready for winter?