Thematic Unit: Winter Time

It’s certainly winter time around here, as the three and  a half foot berm of snow that has been shoveled and blown from our driveway will attest.  If it’s winter in your neck of the woods, I thought you might like a list of ideas for activities you could use in creating a winter themed unit.

In exploring winter, children get the opportunity to use a lot of science skills.  In addition to the process of inquiry, they’ll build knowledge about seasons (Earth Science) as well as learning a lot about states of matter through freezing and melting activities (Physical Science).  All the while, there’s also plenty of room for supporting language skills and social skills along with many others.

Here are some things you might find in a play-based classroom exploring a winter theme:

Dramatic Play

Set up the housekeeping area like a warm winter home.  Provide winter clothes, mugs and cotton balls, perhaps a play fireplace, and plenty of “warm” food on the stove.  You could also create a coffee shop full of warm drinks and treats like this one from 45Wall Design (the things some people can do with a little cardboard – sheesh!).

Fine Motor Working Tables

Beleduc Four Seasons 5 Layer Puzzle

Snowflakes with  Geoboards

Spice Jar Snowman Blocks {No Time for Flash Cards}

 Creative

Puffy Snowflake Paintings {Inner Child Fun}

Salt Paint for Toddlers {Hands On: As We Grow}

Icicles {Inner Child Fun}

Snowflake Collage {Tinker Lab}

Outside

Colorful Ice Wreath {NJC}

12 Outdoor Ideas for a Snowy Day {NJC}

Frozen Bubbles {Craft Interrupted}

Sensory Table / Science Station

Colorful Ice Sculptures {NJC}

Arctic Ice Sensory Play {No Time for Flash Cards}

Icy Water Bead Cubes {Life with Moore Babies}

Snowman in a Bottle {Teach Preschool}

Block Area

Block Play in a Winter Wonderland {Inner Child Fun}

Turn a Pom Pom Drop {Strong Start} into a Snowball drop by using blues and white or by using various sizes of white and using a variety of tubes to match the size.

 

Snack Time

Homemade Hot Chocolate {NJC}

Snowflake Snack {Creative Food} (So fun, so simple, and relatively healthy!)

Fresh Snow Ice Cream {NCJ} or Snow Cream {Tinkerlab}

Circle Time (Whole Group)

Animals in Winter {Carrots are Orange}

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons {NJC}

Winter Songs, Stories, and Fingerplays {Rhythm of the Home}

Five Little Snowmen Fingerplay {NJC}

These are the Four Seasons {NJC}

Book Activities (Small Group)

Author Study: Jan Brett’s Wintry Books  {NJC}

All You Need for a Snowman {NJC — Old School Style Here!}

Snowmen at Night {NJC}

The Snowy Day {NJC} Follow up by writing in salt like Peter wrote in the snow with his stick.

What are your favorite winter themed activities?

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