In cold weather children’s systems of clothing for comfort may become more complicated with added parts of boots, leg warmers, mittens, scarves, hats and coats with multiple fastenings. Reading a book aloud during the time it takes children to get dressed to go outside can help those who are fastest be patient while waiting for others to finish. 

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright is recommended by Kathy’s Book Corner at ScienceStart! for introducing the topic of freezing and melting (changing the state of matter from a solid to a liquid.) Kathy Conezio suggests activities to do at home or school related to the theme of the books she reviews. You can also find videos of books being read aloud by Jessica Bruederle and other readers, but nothing beats sitting on a lap or gathering by a knee to listen to a story being read from an actual book. The reader can pause to ask children what they think might happen next or to describe a time they had a similar experience.

Do you use videos for story time or for children to revisit favorite books? What technology system works best in your home or program? 

NSTA Recommends is another wonderful resource for finding books that are scientifically accurate and useful for learning about science concepts in early childhood. Build It! Structures, Systems and You by Adrianne Mason describes many systems and their parts. While the text level of Snow and People by Nikki Bundy is recommended for grades 2 and above, the photographs and labeled illustrations will engage preschoolers in talking about their clothing system for keeping warm. 

I asked my local librarian for books about light and shadow and she found many non-fiction books that address science concepts such as, “How is a shadow formed?” Local libraries—another example of a system!