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The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Jeni Bassett, is a sweet winter story about a contest, two mice and the power of working together. Here are five Biggest Snowman Ever activities adapted for students in special education, plus a simple plan for teaching them across one week in December or January.
What is The Biggest Snowman Ever about?
The mayor of Mouseville announces a contest for the biggest snowman. Two friends, Clayton and Desmond, each want to win, but building a giant snowman alone turns out to be really hard. When they decide to work together, they build the biggest snowman ever. It’s a simple story with a clear lesson about teamwork and sharing.
For special education classrooms, it’s a great pick because:
- The problem and solution are easy to see, which makes it perfect for teaching story elements.
- Teamwork is a social skill your students are already practicing every day.
- The contest gives you natural vocabulary like contest, prize, mayor and announced.
- Comparing big and small snowmen connects to math and size concepts.
5 Biggest Snowman Ever activities for special education
1. A whole group read aloud and story map
Read the book whole group and stop to talk about the title, the setting, the characters and what happened. Visuals for each story element help students follow along and give nonspeaking students a way to answer by pointing. Then fill out a story map together: Mouseville in winter, Clayton and Desmond, and how they worked together to build the biggest snowman.
2. Vocabulary cards and clip cards
This book has great vocabulary to teach: contest, prize, mayor, gathered and announced. Teach each word with a picture and a simple definition, then practice with matching cards and clip cards. Clip cards double as fine motor practice and make an easy independent center.
3. Sequencing the story
Use first, then, next and finally to retell the story: the mayor announces the contest, the friends try to build snowmen on their own, they decide to work together, and they build the biggest snowman ever. Students put picture cards in order and add words or sentences when they’re ready.
4. “I can make the biggest snowman” craft
Students build their own snowman and complete the sentence “I can make the biggest snowman.” Make it a math lesson too by comparing sizes: which snowman is big, bigger and biggest? A sentence builder with real picture visuals means every student can write a complete sentence.
5. A leveled comprehension quiz
End the week by checking what students remember. A leveled quiz lets everyone answer the same questions in the way that works for them:
- Level 1: picture answer choices to circle or point to
- Level 2: written answers with picture support
- Level 3: blank responses for students who are ready to write on their own
It’s also quick data for IEP goals around answering wh- questions, recalling details and retelling.
A simple week with The Biggest Snowman Ever
Here’s one way to spread these activities across a week so there’s very little to prep each day:
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Read the book whole group with story visuals and fill out the story map together. |
| Tuesday | Reread and introduce the vocabulary words with picture cards. |
| Wednesday | Practice vocabulary with clip cards and matching, then start the snowman craft. |
| Thursday | Finish the craft and sentence, then sequence the story. |
| Friday | Review the story and give the leveled comprehension quiz. |
Display the story map and sequencing on a bulletin board all week so students can refer back to them.
Tips for students who need more support
- Practice teamwork for real. Have two students build one block tower or one play dough snowman together, then talk about how it felt.
- Use real objects for size. Line up three balls or paper circles to show big, bigger and biggest.
- Use a choice board so students can answer “Who built the biggest snowman?” by pointing to a picture.
- Pre-cut craft pieces for students who are still building scissor skills, so the focus stays on the story and the sentence.
Get everything ready to go
Everything above is included in the Biggest Snowman Ever Book Companion: a teacher planning guide with a suggested schedule, whole group visuals, a story map, vocabulary cards, clip cards and matching cards, the craft with real picture visuals, sequencing, and leveled comprehension quizzes. Every activity is differentiated, so you can use it with your whole class.
Planning more than one winter read aloud? The Winter Book Companions Bundle includes The Biggest Snowman Ever along with three more winter books, which is a full month of read alouds for less than buying them separately.
Do I need the book?
Yes. Book companions go alongside the book and don’t include any of its text. You can find The Biggest Snowman Ever at most school and public libraries. You can also find The Biggest Snowman Ever on Amazon.
More winter read aloud ideas
Teaching all of the winter books? See our Snowmen at Night activities, How to Catch a Snowman activities and Tracks in the Snow activities, browse every month’s books on the Book Companions page, or add a few winter crafts for special education.
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