Here in upstate New York we have cold and snowy winters. There are many fun and educational activities to do in this season. Below you will find many activities, links and resources to make this a fun season for your students!

Click here to learn more about Winter.

Winter Spelling Words - I put each word on a snowball shape and placed on a bare winter tree.

The Snowy Day - ideas for the book

Links:

Our Mitten - an integrated unit using mittens as a theme

The Mitten - by Jan Brett

Winter Fun! - from Mrs. McGowan's wonderful website- lots of ideas and link
 
 

Activities:

1. Make simple snowflakes - Show the children how to fold coffee filters in half and then in half again. Have them cut out small triangles out of the folded edges. Unfold them to reveal beautiful snowflakes!
Make snowflakes online!  Click here to go to the Make-a-Flake website. Here you make your snowflake by using the computer mouse to control the scissors. Have fun!

2. Q-tip snowflakes - Give each child three Q-tips that are cut in half. Also, give them a small square of aluminum foil. Squeeze a small amount of glue in the center of each piece of foil.  Have the children arrange their six Q-tip pieces on their foil squares with the cut ends of the Q-tips touching so they make star like snowflakes.  When the glue completely driess, peel off the foil pieces. then tie loops of thread to the snowflakes and hang them in a window.

3. Science - Soon after snow has fallen, let the children go outside and make two small snowballs. Have them place each snowball in a paper cup. Put one cup outside and one cup inside. Have students predict and observe what happens to the snowballs. Record their predictions and observations.

"Freezing Time" - Pour water into a container, filling it about halfway. Mark the water level on the outside of the container with a marker or crayon. Place in freezer for a few hours.
When the water freezes, remove container and mark the water level again. Record observations. Explain that the water level is higher because water expands as it freezes and takes up more room in the container.

4. More Science - Ice cube experiment -"Ice Cube Pick-Up Trick"
    Get the kids wondering why we sprinkle salt on icy streets and sidewalks!
   Take an ice cube from the freezer, float it in a glass of water and lay a piece of string or yarn on top. Try to pick up the ice cube. Sprinkle some salt on top of the cube where the string is. After a minute, lift the string by both ends. The string will be frozen to the ice cube. Now get another ice cube and investigate whether other substances (sugar, flour, pepper, sand,) will create the same effect. Record all observations.
Explain that the salt raises the temperature of the top of the ice cube so that it melts a bit. The melted water then freezes over the yarn or string, allowing the ice cube to be lifted.

The salt allows some of the ice cube to melt. As it melts, the effects of the salt are diluted, and the water refreezes and traps the string. Things that dissolve in water will have this effect.

5. If it snows where you live, let the students examine snowflakes with a magnifying glass. Let them observe that snowflakes are crystals of frozen water and that each snowflake is unique: no two crystals are alike!
 See real photos of snowflakes! - Click Here 

6. Have a "snowball sight word fight!" - put sight words on white paper, crumple up and have kids throw tham back and forth. Students open up their paper and read/spell the word. This is great for review!

7. Snowball Bingo - Put sight/spelling words on bingo paper. Laminate to save, if desired. Use mini-marshmallows as markers (for the snowballs).

8. Snowball cookies - recipe to come!

9. Winter wordsearch

10. Online Winter crossword puzzle

Activities:
1. Make 'Marshmallow snowmen'. You will need:
          Blue or black construction paper
          Marshmallows
          Glue
          Pretzels
          Markers
          Scraps of construction paper
Directions:  Give each student a handful of marshmallows. Tell them to "build" a snowman by gluing the marshmallows to the paper. Add pretzels for arms. Use markers to color the marshmallows to make a scarf, nose, eyes, etc. (or use construction paper scraps). Eat leftover marshmallows.(optional)
  *Write a sentence, paragraph, or story describing the snowman.

2. Snowman Glyph
       Another Snowman Glyph
    Snowperson Glyph

3.  Warm snowmen for a cold day - (idea from Mailbox)
Give each student  3 refrigerated biscuits and have him/her put vertically on foil to resemble a snowman shape. Use pretzels and raisins for the snowman's arms, eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Place the foil on a baking sheet and bake as directed.  Serve with butter, honey, jelly. Enjoy these treats on a cold winter's day!

4. Color and compare 2 snowmen using a Venn diagram - 
(abcteach.com)

5.Snowman shapebook pattern

Online Activities:

Make a Snowman! - read a story, make a snowman and sing!