Cue up the Also Sprach Zarathustra—it's time for some exploring! And what better place to explore than a neighborhood covered in a fresh blanket of snow? No better if you're young Peter, the protagonist of The Snowy Day. He's ready to get on his gear and wander out into the wild white yonder to see what's what. And Peter is a serious explorer (as most children are), so he won't leave any snowbank untouched.
Questions About Exploration
- What's the difference between just going out for a walk in the snow and going out to explore in the snow? Which one is Peter doing? Explain.
- What kinds of things does Peter discover about the snow during his exploration?
- What, if anything, does Peter discover about himself?
- When was the last time you did something that could be considered an exploration? What was it, and what did you learn?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Peter's day of exploration in the snow demonstrates that children are natural scientists.
Peter did such a good job exploring by himself that there's really nothing left for him to discover when he goes back out with his friend the next day.