On my first giveaway post, I asked readers to comment with their favorite snowy day activities. Amber posted these instructions for Snow Ice Cream:
Archives for December 2009
Amber’s Fresh Snow Ice Cream
On my first giveaway post, I asked readers to comment with their favorite snowy day activities. Amber posted these instructions for Snow Ice Cream:
Snow Dough Snow Men
If you’re itching to build a snowman with your little ones, but you’re local climate doesn’t support such an activity, whip up some of your own snow dough. This is just a spin on the Classic Playdough Recipe. Follow that recipe but add about 1/4-1/2 cup white tempera powder to increase the whiteness and the fluffiness (or simply omit any color, and you’ll end up with white-ish dough). Add some glitter as well for real appeal. The final product is a sparkly white playdough that can be rolled into snowmen, or manipulated into other snowy creations. Provide pipe cleaners and beads for the snowmen’s noses, eyes, and buttons. You might also consider other items like yarn, fabric, what-have-you! Inserting these kinds of accessories builds fine motor skills and often encourages use of the pincer grasp, critical for budding writers. Manipulating playdough enhances fine motor strength while also fostering creativity. Enjoy some fun in the snow….dough!
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons- Don’t Just Listen, Get Up and Move!
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has always been one of my favorite musical works. This program music is so beautiful and powerful, but also so descriptive, you can literally see in your mind and feel in your bones what Vivaldi is trying to describe with his music. (And if you aren’t sure what he’s trying to describe, check out these sonnets Vivaldi wrote to correspond with his music.) Because the music is so suggestive of movement, it’s perfect for a music and movement activity with children!
Vivaldi's Four Seasons- Don't Just Listen, Get Up and Move!
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has always been one of my favorite musical works. This program music is so beautiful and powerful, but also so descriptive, you can literally see in your mind and feel in your bones what Vivaldi is trying to describe with his music. (And if you aren’t sure what he’s trying to describe, check out these sonnets Vivaldi wrote to correspond with his music.) Because the music is so suggestive of movement, it’s perfect for a music and movement activity with children!
Bring in the Snow!
Next time you’re out shovelling the walk, shovel a bit into a bucket and bring it inside! Fill your sensory table with snow and try one of these fun activities for exploring the enchanting powder with your little ones!
Book Activity: Under My Hood I Have a Hat
If you’re looking for a simple book about bundling up for winter weather, written with captivating rhymes, Under My Hood I Have a Hat, by Karla Kuskin and illustrated by Fumi Kosaka, is your book! The nameless heroine of this story goes through her layers of winter wear as she and her dog come inside for hot chocolate. Then she names more as she piles them back on to head outside again!
The lines in this story are at the same time simple and fun. Here are a few favorites: “Under my hood, I have a hat, and under that, my hair is flat. Under my coat, my sweater’s blue. My sweater’s red. I’m wearing two.”
Book Activity: Snip, Snip, Snow!
Snip, Snip, Snow! by Nancy Poydar tells the story of a relatable, spunky girl named Sophie, who can’t wait for the snow to fall! Her excitement turns to disappointment as the storm is stalled. In its place, Sophie and her friends begin cutting paper snowflakes, creating their own snowstorm. Caught up in their own fun, the first real snowflake almost goes unnoticed. The children run outside to enjoy the new snow! This story is so well-written and the illustrations really draw you in. The book also includes instructions for making paper snowflakes, just like Sophie did!
Tortilla Snowflakes!
Here’s a simple way to take a common snack and make it a little more special on a wintry day. Using a pastry brush, cover a warm tortilla with melted butter. Lay a paper or foam snowflake on the tortilla and sprinkle well with cinnamon sugar. Remove the snowflake, and “ta-da”! You have a tortilla snowflake!
Winna’ Winna’ Winna’!
According to my very sophisticated and highly scientific method of writing names on paper and drawing one out, it looks like Michelle will have a new book to read as she sips her hot chocolate on a snowy day! Congratulations, Michelle! And thank you all for sharing your snowy day ideas! I love hearing from you! I hope to have more give-aways in the future, but in the meantime, feel free to chime in!
