Building the Snow Family: Exploring Winter and Family Values

Preschool / Pre-Primary / Nursery / Pre-Kindergarten Lesson Plan – Learning The Snow Family Book, Maria Montessori philosophy

Title: “Building the Snow Family: Exploring Winter and Family Values”

Age Group: Preschool / Pre-Primary / Nursery / Pre-Kindergarten (3-5 years old)

Learning Framework: Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) – USA

Educational Approach: Montessori Method

Learning Outcomes (Based on ELOF):

1. Social and Emotional Development: Children will develop positive relationships with others.
2. Language and Literacy: Children will demonstrate comprehension of a story.
3. Cognition: Children will observe and describe characteristics of living things.
4. Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development: Children will demonstrate the strength, balance, and coordination to participate in physical activities.

Resources Needed:

• The book “The Snow Family” (or a similar book if unavailable)
• Craft materials (paper, crayons, markers, scissors, glue, etc.)
• Small containers, water, and a freezer (for creating miniature ‘ice blocks’)

Lesson Plan:

1. Introduction and Story Reading (20 minutes):

Introduce the book “The Snow Family”. Read the book aloud to the children, making sure to show them the pictures and engage them in the story.

2. Story Discussion (15 minutes):

Discuss the story, focusing on the family dynamics in the Snow Family, their actions and emotions, and how the children can relate these to their own experiences.

3. Family Portrait Activity (20 minutes):

Provide craft materials for children to create a family portrait. This can be their own family, the Snow Family, or an imaginary family. Encourage them to explain who is in the picture and their relationships.

4. “Ice Block Building” Activity (30 minutes):

Ahead of the class, prepare small ‘ice blocks’ by freezing water in small containers. Children can use these to build their own ‘snow family’ or structure, promoting motor skills development and creativity. Make sure to closely supervise this activity to ensure safety.

5. Story Reflection and Conclusion (15 minutes):

Ask children about their favorite part of the story and what they learned about family and working together. Connect this to their own experiences and encourage sharing.

Assessment:

Evaluate children’s understanding of the story, their ability to relate it to their own experiences, and their participation in the activities.

Alignment with Montessori Method:

The lesson plan encourages active, hands-on learning, self-expression, and social development, aligning with the Montessori method. The activities promote creativity, storytelling, and the development of motor skills.

Link to ELOF:

This lesson plan integrates several domains of the ELOF. Children develop language and literacy skills by discussing the story, practice cognition through observing and describing characteristics of living things (snow family), build social and emotional skills through relating the story to their own experiences, and practice motor skills in the ‘ice block building’ activity.