FIAR: Katy and The Big Snow

I like 'rowing' our books in season-- part of the Melancholy in me; wanting things in some type of order!  However, with such a mild winter and other lessons going on, we just never got around to rowing "Katy and The Big Snow", until now.  March has brought us some very windy weather, with a day of snow flurries, but it was gone within hours.  We were able to get outside once this winter and play in the snow, but that was it!  I'm not complaining though; the first snowfall of the season is always pretty and I love having snow at Christmas time, but after that... the cold weather/snow can hitch a ride somewhere else! 

Tyler really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed getting to cuddle up and read it to him.  With the exception of reading before nap time, he is not much of a cuddler (is that a word?!) during our Five in a Row readings; I think because he liked the book he was more apt to cuddle with me.  More often than not, he sits on one of his ride on cars.  I love snuggle time with him, though!  My little boy is growing up....

We "rowed" another book by Virginia Lee Burton earlier in this school year; we read "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel."  Both books are full of charm; it's a no wonder both are considered classics.  Katy and The Big Snow is about a hard working red tractor who "becomes a heroine as she finally gets a chance to work and fulfill her responsibilities" (summary from FIAR manual).

Social Studies:

• Using Beginning Geography, Tyler learned the points of the compass.  We have talked about cardinal directions before, so it was a bit of a review, too. 
• To practice more with cardinal directions, we played "If You Were Katy."  I placed several community location pictures, as well as signs to indicate N, S, E, W, around our living room.  Tyler rolled the die to find out where he was to go to. 

Tyler and his snowplow!  I attatched a hamper to his ride-on toy! 


 Before he set off to help, we talked about which way the needle would point on our printable compass; then, he was on his way.  He worked hard, just like Katy : )  Tyler had a lot of fun playing this game! 

• Completed a Road Signs lapbook page from Homeschool Share.

Language Arts:

• Tyler is one page away from finishing up Explode the Code book 1 and I am just so proud of him!  ETC combined with All About Spelling, really helped him gain confidence in blending his sounds together to read!  I picked up a Little Critters "Play Ball" early readers book and he read most of it without my help!  Finding beginning readers is tough!  They are either too easy and/or a little bit too wordy and over-whelm him. 

• We revisited Personification; I gathered a bunch of toys and had Tyler sort them into two piles: objects that showed some type of human characteristic and not-personified.  Afterwards he placed eye stickers on a bunch of his toys and we made up stories together!  He is such an animated story-teller, usually using actions rather than words to describe/ show something! 

• Copywork

Math:

• Counted by 5's
• I introduced Tyler to measuring in inches and feet; Tyler really enjoys measuring things, so I pulled out a long piece of butcher paper from his art easel and we measured how much snow fell in the city of Geopolis.  I worked with Tyler on measuring 4 inches, 10 inches, 2 feet, 3 feet, and 5 feet.  Then I made some snow paint and we covered the piece of paper! 

 Afterwards, Tyler had fun rolling his cars in the snow but unfortunately they all got "stuck" just like in the story-- but we couldn't find our Katy to help them out, so they just stayed there!  I left Tyler to feed Abby, but loved hearing him play with his cars. 


 Five feet of snow is a lot!!   

• Made a "How Many Inches" worksheet for Tyler to complete:

• I found a website full of Kindergarten Math activities based on Ohio standards. Tyler played "Measure with Paperclips," "Measure with Inches," "Which Tool to Measure With," and "Math Lingo"; after one of the measurement activities, you could "set off" fireworks and another you could build your own house.  Definitely will be checking this site more more ideas!   

Art:

• Cut and paste Rainbow City activity: a mix of St. Patrick's Day and big city life : )


• Snowman Puzzle: I cut a snowman into strips that Tyler had to piece back together.  Afterwards, I asked Tyler if he wanted to add a couple of buttons, and a couple turned into a snowman COVERED in buttons! 

Science:

• Well, I was hoping for one last snowfall... and it didn't come, so we just read a couple of books about snow. 

And, just for fun we made some yummy white chocolate covered banana snowmen-- YUM!

For more ideas and inspiration check out:
Delightful Learning
All of a Kind Family
Katy and The Big Snow Measurement Activity @ Too Many B's

I usually have our next book somewhat planned and I have nothing yet!  I am thinking we will row "Clown of God" by Tomie de Paola to work in the rainbow/ St. Patrick's Day theme.... stay tuned!