Are your students captivated by snowflakes? If so, grab a copy of Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. In this picture book biography, students learn all about Wilson Bentley’s life and passion for photographing snowflakes. I want to share some activities you can pair with this book.
About the Book
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Illustrator: Mary Azarian
From the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley’s enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist’s vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.
If you don’t already have a copy of this book in your school or classroom library, you can find it on Amazon.
we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Snowflake Bentley Activities
I have put together several activities to pair with this picture book biography. This companion has a large focus on comprehension and vocabulary. You’ll find a handful of questions to help guide the discussion as you read. Students can also respond to the questions in writing.
After reading the book, students can put the story back together with this cut and paste sequencing activity.
For vocabulary, I selected 12 words for the story. Each vocabulary card has a matching definition. Students can use the cards in a pocket chart center or to play a memory matching game. To continue working with these words, students can complete a fill-in-the-blanks page or a vocabulary match-up activity.
This companion also includes a few extra book activities. I added a character chart, by the numbers activity, a snowflake maze, a snowflake art gallery, and a page where students identify the fake snowflakes.
As an extension, students can follow the step-by-step directions to create their own paper snowflakes. Pair these with a piece of writing or let them stand alone.
Digital Activities for Snowflake Bentley
With many classrooms going digital, I decided to add some digital options to each book companion. In addition to the printable PDF, you will find a Google Slides link that can be used with Google Classroom. I have also included a fillable student PDF. Please note: these digital options do not include the snowflake craft. Instead, there are slides with images and a text box for a student response.
You can find all of these activities in my Snowflake Bentley book companion.
You might also enjoy these winter activities:
- The Snow Globe Family Book Companion
- Sneezy the Snowman Book Companion
- Snowzilla Book Companion
- Winter Writing Crafts
- Other Book Activities
Happy Reading!
