When the temperatures drop, bring the educational fun indoors with these fun, easy activities for infants, toddlers, and preschool children.
Sometimes when it rains, children may feel cooped up and exhibit challenging behaviors. Teachers have to create their own sunshine inside by finding ways to keep children active and engaged indoors. Help children create their own sunshine band hats & form their own sunshine band to chase away the clouds and rain with this activity! The noise may wake up the whole school, but marching is a good way to stimulate the brain and have some active fun. For more ideas that make being stuck inside fun, get the book Rainy Day Activities by Dr. Jean Feldman.
Movement and Play Seasonal Learning: WinterDuring winter, or any other time where there is inclement weather that keeps children indoors, it can be difficult to find ways to keep children entertained, learning, and focusing their energy in positive ways. Not to fear! Banish Boredom is here! Check out these three activities from the book that you can save for a day with inclement weather to create some excitement indoors!
Movement and Play Art Lesson Planning Science Seasonal Learning: WinterDuring the winter holiday season, it's nice for children to slow down, reflect on the holidays, and express their creativity through arts and crafts. In this activity, children will do just that as they make "holiday lights" with colored cellophane through holes punched in trees. Get plenty of activities written by teachers for teachers like this one in The GIANT Encyclopedia of Art & Craft Activities for Children 3 to 6!
printable Art Seasonal Learning: Winter Individual ChildIn this activity, children will learn more about Kwanza and make their own symbolic corn out of paper. The name for the holiday of Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits." Munhundi means corn. The corn represents the children of a family (one ear of corn for each child). The corn symbolizes the parents' wish for the child to grow up strong and happy!
printable Art Seasonal Learning: Winter Large GroupIn this holiday art activity, children will create their own bright and fun garland decoration to drape over a window or mantel, hang on a Christmas tree, or drape around an entire clasroom! Like all the activities featured in MaryAnn's Khol's book, Art with Anything: 52 Weeks of Fun Using Everyday Stuff, this activity stresses the "process of art" rather than the end product.
Art Seasonal Learning: WinterWith colder weather taking over, it's only a matter of time before snowflakes begin falling from the sky! In this activity from Everything for Winter: A Complete Activity Book for Teachers of Young Children, children will use fine-motor skills to cut patterns in paper to create their own unique snowflakes. Take the learning experience even further by talking about how snowflakes form from tiny ice crystals in the clouds or by discussing how each snowflake is completely unique & special, just like people. Allow the children to tape their snowflake creations to the windows to enjoy the beauty of their own work throughout the winter season!
Art Seasonal Learning: WinterChildren are always fascinated by their shadows! In this activity brought to you by The GIANT Encyclopedia of Science Activities for Children 3 to 6, young children will trace shadows, including their own, as they learn more about how light & shadow work. This activity is also a great way to get outside with children in the winter months as they explore science concepts outside the classroom that they can carry with them back into the classroom.
printable Science Seasonal Learning: Winter Large GroupAn animal that most everyone associates with winter is a penguin! This season is the perfect chance to teach children about the flightless bird while also strengthening skills at every developmental level.
Math Seasonal Learning: WinterChinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the celebration of the beginning of a new year based on the Chinese lunar calendar, and it is the most important holiday in China.
Movement and Play Art Language Seasonal Learning: WinterCreate sparkle ice sculptures and even fake snow with hands-on activities to entertain kids in and out of the classroom.
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