January STEM Book of the Month
Cannon Elementary: A GCISD STEM School
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Publisher Review
Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter's snowy landscape in this magical book.
January Design Challenge
Imagine a world where humans were forced to live underground to survive the harsh winter months. Students may use a media of choice (digital/non-digital) to design and describe their ideal underground shelter. What items would be imperative for their survival? What comfort items would they take? How do their shelters compare to those of the animals depicted in the book? Using math skills, ask students to figure out how large or deep their shelter would need to be in order to contain them comfortably? Students can research and explore the habitats of the animals depicted in the book by using Britannica Online Encyclopedia or e-books which can be found in MackinVia.
Skype with Kate Messner!
Grade levels who complete the Book of the Month challenge are invited to participate in a Question and Answer Skype session with Over and Under the Snow author, Kate Messner! Contact Mrs. Berumen for more details and scheduling opportunities.
About the author
Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose books for kids have been New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. Kate also spent fifteen years teaching middle school and earned National Board Certification in 2006. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family and loves spending time outside, whether it's kayaking in the summer or skating on the frozen lake when temperatures drop.