Vole in the Snow Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will examine a vole’s burrow.

 

Science Focus:

How animals meet their needs in winter

 

CCSS:

SL.1.2 Discuss a video; L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases; RI.1.1 Key details; RI.1.8 Text evidence; W.1.2 Writing; RI.1.10 Read and discuss first-grade texts, L.1.1 Conventions of English when writing

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  • Watch our video Animals at Home.
  • After watching, ask children to tell which home they found most interesting and why. Then tell them they will learn about an animal that makes its home underground. (SKILL: SL.1.2 Discuss a video)
  • Play the vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are burrow and store. (SKILL: L.1.4 Clarify words and phrases).
  • Read the issue together.
  • Then project and discuss the reading checkpoint skill sheet. Later, children can fill in their own copies. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

In this game-show style activity, kids can play individually or in teams to win points as they answer questions! (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)

  • Kids tell what voles can do, what they have, and what they are, with this Can, Have, Are Chart skill sheet. (SKILL: RI.1.1 Key details)
  • Norbert Know-It-All is back at it—this loveable “expert” is all mixed up again! His letter to kids tells them all the “facts” about voles—but after reading the magazine, kids will know better—and they’ll want to prove it! They can write Norbert at [email protected]. Norbert will write back!! (SKILLS: RI.1.8 Text evidence; W1.2 Writing)
Example of a drawing

Objective: Children will design and write about a burrow they would like to live in.

Materials: paper, crayons, pencils

  • Invite kids to imagine that, like a vole, they could build a home underground and live in it. What would it be like?  Encourage them to sketch out a plan fi rst, remembering these details:
    • It’s dark underground— how would they see?
    • Burrows are deep— how would they get in and out?
    • What would they do for fun in the burrow?
  • Let kids draw their burrow “dream homes”—they can have one room or more than one. Kids can add labels if they like.
  • Next, give children an index card or sheet of writing paper and have them write a few sentences describing their burrow and why they like it. Attach their description to the bottom of the drawing and put the burrows on display! (SKILL: L.1.1 Conventions of English when writing)