While winter may not be the favorite season for most people, it definitely comes with very interesting topics to read about…extreme sports, Winter games, animal behavior in the winter, to name a few. For my students (in the south) we love all things snow. This post will share one of my favorite winter read alouds about snow and some free comprehension questions (printable + digital) to accompany the read aloud.
This post contains an Amazon affiliate link if you decide you want to purchase the book mentioned in this post.
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder is one of my favorite winter read alouds. The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful and very engaging.
For my students down in the South, snow is such a wonder to them. They love learning about snow and this book does not disappoint. The book does a great job of weaving interesting facts and details in a narrative format that is engaging as a read aloud.
There are so many opportunities for questioning with the read aloud. The questions I have included in the free download vary in complexity and level of thinking. You can use them all, pick and choose only the ones that work best for your students, or assign different questions to different students to differentiate the activity.
The digital winter activity version can be used as an extension of a read aloud, to practice answering questions using complete sentences, as a digital reading center, or even as an early finisher activity.
Here are the questions included in the free winter digital activity (+ printable):
- What makes clouds visible?
- Explain why snow crystals need a speck to begin.
- What are some types of “specks” that can form snow crystals?
- Explain the process a speck goes through to become a snow crystal.
- Determine the meaning of “sprouting” as used in page 12 of the story.
- What two factors determine the shape of a snow crystal?
- Describe the characteristics of snow crystals that are shaped as stars.
- Describe the characteristics of snow crystals that are plate crystals.
- Describe the characteristics of snow crystals that are columns.
- Which type of snow crystal can have plate crystals or snow crystals on the ends of it?
- Explain the relationship between the number six and snow crystals.
- According to the text, why are snow crystals rarely perfect?
- Explain the relationship between snow crystals and snowflakes
- Compare and contrast snow crystals and snowflakes.
- Determine the meaning of “wither” as used in page 28 of the story.
- According to the text, what is the best way to see a snow crystal?
- Write a fictional narrative from the point of view of a snow crystal as it forms and falls to the ground. Include details from the text in your narrative.
- Compare and contrast the three different types of snow crystals described in the text.
Youtube Reading
If you are using this as a completely digital activity and don’t have access to the read aloud, here is a reading I found online.
Grab the FREE Digital Winter Reading Activity Questions Here
Want More Digital Winter Reading Activities?
Do you want more digital winter activities to engage your students + review reading comprehension skills? This winter-themed reading comprehension resource is perfect to review key 4th and 5th grade reading skills and engage your students this winter. It includes engaging winter topics such as avalanches, snowboarding, ice fishing, extreme winter sports, snow globes, and more!
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