Winter is a interactive unit for preschoolers. It is especially stimulating if your school is in an area that normally does not experience a lot of winter weather. Winter is such a natural beauty and is easy to convey to little ones.
Here are a few activities I do in my class every year to expose preschoolers to winter.
Art
Art is such an experience and should appeal to the preschooler's senses. One fun project I do that combines snack with art is a popcorn winter scene. Kids can glue popcorn to blue or black construction paper as snowfall. Another art project that includes food it to let the kids make snowmen out of marshmallows. The kids can glue the marshmallows to paper or use icing to stick the head and body together. Pretzels can be used for the arms with chocolate chips and licorace for the face.
Another cute activity is called "Walking in the snow." Allow the kids to step in white paint, then walk across long construction paper. Finally, an activity that will involve even those kids that hate getting into messy art is mitten painting. Allow the kids to put on mittens and finger paint. They will love being silly and keeping their hands clean.
Homeliving
What a cold center! Allow the kids to dress up in hats, mittens and coats. Roll up white socks in balls and allow the kids to have a snowball fight. Be sure to decorate this center with lots of white felt. Allow kids to pretend cook soup after the fight so that they can warm up.
Nature Center
Some kids have never felt snow. If this is the case with your class, check out stevespanglerscience.com and order some fake snow. The kids will love scooping and feeling. This is also a great center to place ice water for the kids to feel the coldness.
Story time
Get a plastic swimming pool and feel with packing peanuts. Enjoy winter books while sitting in the pretend snow. Some great stories to read is "Polar Bear, Polar Bear-What do you See" or "Snowballs" by Lois Ehlert or "Warm in Winter" by Erica Silverman.
Block center
Allow the kids to go ice fishing. Laminate fish and place in a tub of ice water. Put a magnetic strip on the back and allow the kids to fish with a magnetic pole. Be sure to be stationed at the center. Instead of water, you can use blue cellophane. Another activity is to place a white sheet in the block area and encourage the kids to "clear the streets" with cars and trucks. You can also add winter animals such as polar bears and a moose to the block area or have the kids build an igloo with white blocks.
Manipulatives
Print out and laminate mitten pairs with different designs. Allow the kids to find matches. Another activity is to punch holes in the mittens and allow the kids to lace the pairs together.
You can also put out shaving cream and allow the kids to drive cars through the "snow."
Winter is an exciting time in the classroom. Enjoy it! Don't be afraid to get messy and stimulate the children's senses. Make it a memorable time. If you have any other activities that you enjoy in your classroom, please include it in the comment section below
