Special Collection: Spread the Joy

We've gathered some joyful Storyworks stories, plays, and poems that will light up your students and help you celebrate winter's special moments.

The Big One

On an ice-fishing trip, Joe reels in a connection 
with his dad

Read the Story
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this story
Download
PDF
Finding the Main Idea
Help students learn to find the main idea.
Download
Listen to the Story
Hear the story read aloud.
Listen

The Curse of Winter

An engaging Greek-mythology play tells the story of how the seasons came to be

Read the Play
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this play
Download
PDF
Genre
Students learn about the attributes of a myth.
Download
PDF
Plot
Help students analyze the plot of the play.
Download

Snow Mail

A joyful poem about a snowy surprise that’s sent 
through the mail

Read the Poem
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this poem
Download
PDF
Listen to the Poem
Hear poet Kenn Nesbitt read his poem.
Listen
PDF
Poetry Kit
Take students on a deeper dive into this poem and then write their own!
Download

Would You Do This?

Why people around the world jump into icy water on
New Year’s Day

Read the Article
Listen to the Article
Hear author Alex Winnick read his story!
Listen
PDF
Wonderful Words!
Students can make their vocabulary even cooler with this engaging skill builder.
Download

Holiday Foods Around the World

Sugary fried dough! Sticky rice dumplings! People around the globe celebrate the holidays with some special treats. What about you? 

Read the Infographic
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching infographics
Download
Dig Deeper Slideshow: More Holiday Foods
Learn about some other holiday treats.
Watch the Slideshow

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Happy New Year!

Some fun facts about New Year’s Eve 
celebrations across America

Read the Infographic
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching infographics
Download
PDF
Guided Writing
An engaging writing acitivity that asks: Can you come up with a new way to celebrate?
Download

Dust of Snow

A wintry poem from Robert Frost

Read the Poem
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this poem
Download
PDF
Poetry Kit
Help students better understand the poem and connect it to other texts with this activity.
Download

Light

The amazing story of how Thomas Edison changed 
the world

Read the Play
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching this play
Download
Vocabulary Slideshow
Unlock challenging vocabulary words with great visual and audio support.
Watch the Slideshow
PDF
Theme
This activity supports students' skills in identifying the theme of a text.
Download

Is There a Better Way to Wrap Our Gifts?

Some people think wrapping paper is wasteful. Is it time 
to start a new gift-wrapping tradition?

Read the Debate
PDF
Lesson Plan
A step-by-step guide to teaching debates
Download
PDF
What Do You Think?
This activity helps students assess both sides of an issue.
Download

Image Credits: The Big One: Art by Lisa K. Weber; The Curse of Winter: Art by Abigail Dela Cruz; Snow Mail: Art by Irina Mileo; Would You Do This?: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP Images; Holiday Foods Around the World: Shutterstock.com; 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Happy New Year: Shutterstock.com; Light: Art by Allan Davey; Dust of Snow: Art by Jo Turner; Is There a Better Way to Wrap Our Gifts?: Westend61/Getty Images (Presents); Shutterstock.com (All Other Images)