Lesson Plans For Winter

By Penny Warner

When the weather turns chilly and Jack Frost nips at the classroom windows, tie your lesson plans around a wintry theme. Your students will have a cool time as they learn about this special season.

Let It Snow!
Turn your classroom into a Winter Wonderland, filled with all kinds of “snow” activities. First, cover the walls with a Snow Scape Scene and set out a giant inflatable snowman. Have students make their own snowflakes then stick them on all the windows. Let them make snowmen out of clay or dough and set them around the room. Put on a puppet show using snowmen finger puppets. Give the kids snowflake kazoos and flutes and make it a musical! Pass out snow themed craft supplies to work with, such as glitter pens, erasers, notepads, stickers, stampers, etc. and have the students make their own wintertime bookmarks, book covers and book bags. Buy winter craft kits for the students and let them make snow globes and Marshmallow Snowmen. Have the students dress up in snow gear, take pictures of them next to the snow scene backdrop then let them decorate snowflake frames for the photos.

Penguins & Polar Bears
Set up an igloo made from a round tent frame and white sheets. Decorate the sheets with pictures of penguins and polar bears, using craft materials and fabric paint. Let the kids make and wear penguin and polar bear masks, then have a Penguin-Polar Bear parade around the room. Make or buy penguin puppets to use for dramatic play and put on a show. Set out penguin-themed craft supplies and materials, such as pencils, pens, stickers, rulers and erasers. Let the students make penguins and polar bears from foam sheets, then use them to decorate the walls. Make penguin-themed buckets and play a game of “Toss and Catch the Snowball”, using a variety of balls or beanbags. Or give them Polar Bear Mitts for a game of catch.

Weather Watch
Have the students make their own Cool Winter Calendars, using craft or scrapbook supplies, such as stickers, stamps, paper, punch-outs, letters, ribbon, glitter glue, stencils, etc. Let them fill in their calendars each day with the current weather report, then add stickers or color in the squares with markers. Have them make individual weather scenes, such as “Rainy Day”, “Snowy Day”, and “Windy Day”, then add details with markers, stickers, and other craft supplies. Let the students make their own thermometers for checking the weather. Set up a bulletin board with giant cutouts of kids and have the students “dress” themselves in winter clothes, using craft materials. Place them on the bulletin board for all to see. When spring arrives, change the clothes!

Winter Party
When the kids are stuck inside due to the weather, have a Winter Party to celebrate the season. Set a table with a snow-white tablecloth or one decorated with snowflakes. Add place settings using snow-themed plastic utensils, plates and cups. Decorate the table with Marshmallow People, “snow” balls, snowflakes, and other winter-themed decorations. Serve hot chocolate in decorated mugs, with marshmallows on top. Let the kids make “Snow Mountains” with vanilla ice cream and toppings in decorated bowls. Hide a toy snowman or snowball somewhere in the classroom and play a game of “Hot and Cold”. Let each student have a turn hiding a toy and let each searcher keep the toy he or she finds.