Snowflake Bentleyby Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Author)

Mary Azarian (Illustrator)Caldecott Medal Winner

Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking

development

Tier 1

Excerpt from book

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Excerpt

Snowflakes fascinated William Bentley, who first became interested in them as a child. A self-taught scientist in his adult life, he photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations and share their

beauty with the world.

Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able:Ladder AA1: Sequencing-To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2: Cause and Effect-To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events.A3: Consequences and Implications-To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts.

Ladder BB1: Details - To list specific details or recall facts related to the text or generate a list of ideas about a specific topic or character.B2: Classifications - To categorize different aspects of the text or identify and sort categories from a list of topics or details.B3: Generalizations - To make general statements about a reading and/or idea within the reading, using data to support their statements.

Ladder EE1: Understanding Emotion – to explain how emotion and feeling are conveyed in a text and/or their personal experience.E2: Expressing Emotion – to articulate their feelings through a variety of media (e.g., song, art, poem, story, essay, speech)E3: Using Emotion – to analyze how emotion affects the passage and/or the reader.

Habits of Mind

Working Interdependently

Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)

Innovating, Creating, Imagining

Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A, B, & E Thinking Questions.

Tier 2Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder B & C Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, Sequencing pictures, Role Play, Journaling.Choose 4 of 5 questions below to complete.

A1: How would you explain Willie’s progression of his interests in science and nature?

A2: What do you think is the impact of Willie’s study of snow on others throughout the book? What is its final effect?

B1: How would you describe the details of one of the attempts to capture snowflakes? What does Willie do and why?

B2: Categorize the different experiments Willie conducts in the book.

E1: Willie’s feelings about snowflakes throughout the book are clear. How do other people react to Willie, and how do their reactions affect him?

Tier 3Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder B & C Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, Sequencing pictures, Role Play, Journaling.Choose 3 of 4 questions below to complete.

A3: What are the consequences of Willie’s interest in snow on his life? How are the implications different at different stages of his life?

B3: What conclusions can you make about Willie’s scientific ability? Support your answer with evidence from the story.

E2: In the image of Willie walking through the snow at the end of his life, what emotions is the illustrator trying to create? How does this picture make you feel?

E3: Review the quote from W. A. Bentley at the end of the book. What kind of work do you feel as strongly about? What do you think is as important as a “daily quart of milk”?

Tier 4

Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the ideas to complete.  Be creative. 

1. Using the diamante poem format on the last 2 slides, create a diamante poem for snowflakes. Make 3 or more diamante poems about a snowy day, a snowman, a snowball, snowsuit, or your own snow word. Be creative in sharing your poems. Use an optional project strategy below to illustrate your poems.

2. Research William Bentley using this webquest link: http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/40115. Choose 2 of the 4 extension activities to complete. Share your research information with your class.

Optional project strategies:  Commercial Role Play; Create a Puppet Show; Charts, Posters, Flyers, Brochures; Picture Dictionary.