Perspective:  Geography
Benchmarks:  Describe the ways in which their environment has been changed by people, and the ways their live are affected by the environment.
Grade Level:  1st grade

Materials

• Small and large marshmallows
• White Frosting
• Graham Cracker Sticks
• Book: Building an Igloo by Ulli Steltzer

Focus Question:

"What materials do you think your house at home is made of?"
" What other materials might be used to build a home in different parts of the world."

Lesson Importance:

"Today we are going to read a book about people of the Arctic and how they used to build their houses out of snow.  It is important for us to learn about other cultures and how they adapt to their environments, which includes how they build their homes."

Lesson Objective:

For the 40 minutes we will discuss how people of the Arctic make their homes, read a book about building Igloos, and students will create their own Igloos.

1. Read the book about building Igloos.
2. Have students construct their Igloos at their tables.
3. Discuss closure questions together as a class.

1.  What part of making your igloo did you find to be the most difficult?
2.  In what ways is the Igloo you made similar to the Igloo made in the book?