Over and Under the Snow

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

Grades K-5

Poetic perfection is rare to find in a nonfiction selection written for children, but Kate Messner has achieved it. I love showing my students examples of nonfiction that are illustrated because some of them think a nonfiction book must have real photographs. This book reads more like a story about a girl going cross country skiing with her father and all the animal tracks they find along the way. Her father tells her about the animals hibernating right under the now. I love finding winter books and projects that aren't holiday focused and this fits the bill. Below are three hibernation crafts/projects that I found which could pair well with Over and Under the Snow and some songs and finger plays you could try as well.

 Sleeping Bear in Cotton Ball Covered Paper Plate Cave found here.

 Where Do Animals Go in the Winter? Craft found here.

 Sleeping Bear in Cave with Autumn Leaves craft found here.

Here are some songs and finger plays that will go great with your hibernation themed story time.

I found these songs and rhymes on the fun4kids blog.

Hibernation Song

(to tune of wheels on the bus)
The weather's getting cold so bundle up,

bundle up, bundle up

The weather's getting cold so bundle up,

winter's coming soon.

The bears in the cave sleep all the time............

The squirrels in the trees get lots of nuts...............

The frogs and toads go deep in mud.......

The ducks and the geese go flying south........

The people in the town wear hats and gloves..........

Here is a Cave
Here is a cave. (make arch with one hand)
 Inside is a bear. (using other hand, put one finger in cave)
Now he comes out. (pull finger out)
To get some fresh air.
He stays out all summer
In sunshine and heat. (fan face with hand)
He hunts in the forest (crawling motion with hands)
 For berries to eat. (fingers to mouth)
When snow starts to fall (wiggle fingers like snow falling)
He hurries inside.
His warm little cave (make arch with hand again)
And there he will hide.(put your finger inside)
 Snow covers the cave
Like a fluffy white rug.
Inside the bear sleeps (hands to side of head like sleeping)
All cozy and snug.

Winter Animals
Winter is cold (hug yourself and shiver)
There is snow in the sky (flutter fingers above your head)
 The squirrel gathers nuts (Pretend to gather nuts)
And the wild geese fly (flap arms)
The fluffy red fox (Cup hand over had to form ears)
Has his fur to keep warm (Stroke arms as if stroking fur)
The bear’s in her cave (form a arch with your arms)
Sleeping all through the storm (fold hand under cheek and pretend to sleep)