Hey there friends,
I wanted to share my favorite winter activities for the classroom that are sure to please both you and your students. Let’s keep your kiddos engaged and you sane this winter!
Winter Holidays Around the World
I always wanted to cover a variety of holidays but never had the time. This is why I created this Winter Holidays Around the World Unit full of variety. You can pick and choose what activities/crafts you have time for and still feel satisfied with what you taught.
I did research within my own school’s demographics and created culturally responsive activities for Christmas, Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Kwanzaa. We want to make sure we share about all of our students’ diverse cultures and others they may encounter outside their immediate community. Inspired, I wrote small nonfiction readers for each of the holidays with comprehension extensions, and a print-and-go trifold for each holiday. These are perfect for centers, morning work, guided reading groups, or parent volunteers to do with your students!
Providing writing extensions along with graphic organizers to help extend the learning about holidays around the world was also important. Don’t worry I also added a variety of art projects and festive activities representing each of the selected holidays from around the world.
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Winter STEM Challenge Activities
If you are looking for something engaging and hands-on, you must check out my two winter-themed STEM challenges – “How to Catch an Elf“ and “How to Catch a Snowman.”
I always thought STEM projects would be so much work. However, if you lay the groundwork for expectations of behaviors and basic procedures, then you can be free to roam and observe the magic of their amazing little brains at work.
I was a changed teacher after my first time doing a winter STEM project for “How to Catch a Snowman”. The teamwork, conversations and obviously their unique STEM creations were so rewarding to be a part of.
Still unsure? Don’t worry… Each unit has all the directions, at-home parent connection materials, visuals, and even literacy extensions organized and ready to print and go! You just supply the basic materials for construction (most can be found in your classroom or recycle bin ha!)
I was a changed teacher after my first time doing a winter STEM project for “How to Catch a Snowman”. The teamwork, conversations and obviously their unique STEM creations were so rewarding to be a part of.
Still unsure? Don’t worry… Each unit has all the directions, at-home parent connection materials, visuals, and even literacy extensions organized and ready to print and go! You just supply the basic materials for construction (most can be found in your classroom or recycle bin ha!)
Here’s what teachers are saying about my Winter STEM Challenges:
“MY KIDS AND I HAD SO MUCH FUN! This was the last activity we did before winter break and it was so engaging for my kids. They spent so long thinking of their ideas and creating their traps. I cannot recommend this enough. I had kids who rarely talk to me about their learning come up and want to show me their creations and explain their projects.”“We enjoyed using the STEM and Art/Writing activities plus the sequencing and character analysis pages. Students were highly engaged during the activities. The STEM was their favorite. The ART/Writing turned out so well we hung it in the hallway as featured pieces!”
You can also read more about how to incorporate STEM with this previous blog post“SIMPLE STEPS ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT STEM IN YOUR CLASSROOM”
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Need something to send home with students to keep them learning over break? Looking for educational holiday or Christmas gift ideas for students?
Snow Day Activities with At Home Connections
My Snow Day Pack is full of fun learning activities from baking, STEM, math with measurement, game design, journaling, and more! I provide all the templates and directions you need to make this a seamless resource to send home with students.
This has come in handy on several occasions when we had unexpected continual DAYS off of school. I love being able to provide disguised learning activities to keep their brains going even when they aren’t with me. I also love being able to provide opportunities for at-home involvement.
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Winter Writing Activities Journal & Prompts
My Winter Writing Journal is always a big hit with students and guardians. This resource can be used as an at-home tool, as morning work, or as a writing workshop warm-up. It has all the support materials you will need for your writers including prompt ideas, winter word lists, graphic organizers, brainstorm space, and writing templates. All you have to do is print, staple, and send home!
A fun way to increase involvement if this is an at-home or over winter break writing resource for you is offering rewards to kids that bring them back after the break with stories to share. I have used a variety of rewards in the past such as letting students read stories from their winter writing journal on the microphone, hanging up the stories for others to see, or using extra tech time to type them. I have also offered classroom cash and a fun winter pencil as a prize!
A fun way to increase involvement if this is an at-home or over winter break writing resource for you is offering rewards to kids that bring them back after the break with stories to share. I have used a variety of rewards in the past such as letting students read stories from their winter writing journal on the microphone, hanging up the stories for others to see, or using extra tech time to type them. I have also offered classroom cash and a fun winter pencil as a prize!
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I hope that you find inspiration and support in these fun winter resources in and out of the classroom. Just think, you will be on break so soon, relaxing in sweats, watching too much Hallmark, and snacking on holiday treats….can’t you see it now? I hope you have a great last few weeks with your nuggets before break!
Kacie
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