This lesson provides teachers with support for using text-dependent questions and Common Core literacy strategies to help students derive big ideas and key understandings while developing vocabulary using the illustrated text, "The Stranger." This story uses a mixture of pictures and words to explore the idea of the changes of the seasons and the expected natural events that occur with it' colder weather, leaves changing color, Jack Frost and migration. Chris Van Allsburg walks a fine line between reality and fantasy to create a mystery about the identity of the stranger who will represent the seasonal change from summer to fall. The Houghton Mifflin authors identify the storyĺĺs theme as an allegory for autumn and the use of personification to make the association.

"Get your class involved in learning about Tourism! We can work with you to create memorable experiences."

Select Student Resources from the top left to change to the student resources.

A career quiz is also available!

Grade School - the seasons, travel guide search, colouring book, word searches
Middle School - tourism profile, tourism in my town, map quest, marketing
High School - tourism careers, advertising, business plan, customer service interview

Students will learn about basic shapes in Monet's painting "Wheatstacks, Snow Effect, Morning". They then learn about light and shadows through reading and experimenting with three-dimensional models and flashlights. Students will also learn about time of day and the seasons.

This lesson from NASA explains how the Earth's tilt causes the seasons. There are also links to related resources on the webpage.

How does our climate affect us? How do we decide what to wear each day? What factors determine if our clothing choices are comfortable? What is the source of our water? Students explore characteristics that define climatic regions. They learn how tropical, desert, coastal and alpine climates result in different lifestyle, clothing, water source and food options for the people who live there. They learn that a location's latitude, altitude, land features, weather conditions, and distance from large bodies of water, determines its climate. Students discuss how engineers help us adapt to all climates by designing clothing, shelters, weather technologies and clean water systems.

Hear words from the book in nēhiyawēwin

These activity sheets are from the book “When the Trees Crackle with Cold: A Cree Seasons Activity Book” by Bernice Johnson-Laxdal and Miriam Körner. We thank them for their permission to share these activities with you for Family Literacy Day in Saskatchewan!

Story Questions
Read and Find Activity Sheets
Look and Find Activity Sheets