January
Arts and Crafts
Fun With Mittens
Cut several pairs of mittens from old wall paper and laminate. (You can get discontinued books from any store that sells wall paper). Students match the mittens to make pairs.
Write numbers on one mitten and corresponding dots on the matching mitten. Student have to match the correct number with the dots. OR Write upper case letters on one mitten and lower case on the other for students to match.
Using any mitten pattern, make patterning strips from sentence strips. Students will duplicate and then extend the pattern.
Trace and cut out several mittens on various colored tag board, laminate, and punch holes around edges. Let students lace with yarn.
Mittens
Fold various sheets of colored construction paper in half and draw a mitten. (Students get an automatic pair). Have students decorate their mittens with crayons, markers, sequins, glitter, etc. Staple together with yarn long enough to drape around their neck and add fiber fill around cuff of mittens on both sides. Fun to wear home!
Icicles
On the top of a piece of dark blue paper, paint a line of white tempera paint. Let student blow gently with a straw so the paint will run. The result will look like icicles.
Snowpeople
Provide each student with a large, medium, and a small circle. To build a snowperson, the student should glue their three circles together. Using diluted white glue and a paintbrush, brush glue all over the snowpeople shapes. Cover the snowpeople with fiberfill or bits of cotton, and they will really look like they were made of snow. Use scraps of fabric, felt, small buttons, or construction paper for hats, scarves, and bow ties.
Penguin
one large black oval
one smaller black oval and one smaller white oval
orange paper for beaks and feet
two gold brads
The large black oval is the penguin body. Glue the smaller white oval onto front of body. Cut the smaller black oval in half, lengthwise and attach to each side of body with brads. Fold orange paper and cut small triangle on fold; glue on for beak. (This will give the beak a 3D effect). Cut two small feet out of orange and glue.
Science
Bird Feeders
Bird feeders can be made from a variety of scrap material; then filled with bird treats.
1. Cut a hole in the lower part of a plastic bleach bottle. Then glue the bottle onto an aluminum pie tin.
2. Scoop out an orange or a grapefruit.
3. Hang up a plastic berry basket.
4. Roll a pinecone in peanut butter and seeds.
5. Remove the cardboard tube from a coat hanger and insert the open ends of the wire into a corn cob.
6. Hang a mesh bag from potatoes or oranges. Fill with large bread crumbs or bird seed.
7. Cut a large square in opposite sides of a milk carton, leaving an opening. Put a towel across the
bottom and secure with string.
8. Remove both ends of a large tin can, be sure there are mp sharp edges.
Fill your completed feeders with seeds, suet, raisins, crumbs, etc., and hang them from a tree or on a post. This is a wonderful way to observe birds, talk about different kinds of birds and their habits.
Making Frost
Changes in temperature causes dew. Frost is really dew. You will need a tin can with the lid removed, rock salt, and crushed ice.
Have the children put two cups of crushed ice and 1/2 C of rock salt in a can. Have the children stir mixture rapidly. Go on to another activity and tell the children they will return in 30 minutes. When you return, the can will have dew on it. If you wait a while longer, this dew will change to frost.
Books
The Mitten ~ Jan Brett
The Jacket I wear in the Snow ~ Shirley Neitzel
Time to Sleep ~ Denise Fleming
Frosty the Snowman ~ Carol North (retold by)
Snow Family ~ Daniel Kirk
When Winter Comes ~ Robert Maass
In the Snow: Who's Been Here ~ Lindsay Barrett George
A Winter Day ~ Douglas Florian
Here Comes the Snow ~ Angela Shelf Medearis
I Am Snow ~ Jean Marzolla
The Biggest Snowball ~ John Rogan
A Silly Snowy Day ~ Michael Coleman
Froggy Gets Dressed ~ Jonathan London
Winter Rabbit ~ Patrick Yee
Snowballs ~ Lois Ehlert
Clifford's First Snow Day ~ Norman Bridwell
Snow Day ~ Betsy Maestro
Snow is Falling ~ Franklyn Branley
Boots ~ Robin Ballard
Geraldine's Big Snow ~ Holly Keller
Snow on Snow on Snow ~ Cheryl Chapman
Ice Cream Bear ~ Jez Alborough
A Hat for Minerva Louise ~ Janet Morgan Stoeke
The Snowman Flap Book ~ Raymond Briggs
One Snowy Day ~ Jeffrey Scherer
Bunny's First Snowflake ~ Monica Wellington
Penguin Pete's ~ Marcus Pfister
Antarctic Antics (A Book of Penguin Poems) ~ Judy Sierra
Recipes
Snow Ice Cream
1/2 c sugar
1 C whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Snow
Mix the sugar, milk and vanilla. Put a clean container outside to catch the new snow. Add snow to mixture until it is the consistency of sherbet.
Edible Snowman
three large marshmallows
tube of white frosting
mini M & M's
mini chocolate chips
1 Hershey Kiss
red licorice strips
small tube orange frosting gel
small tub red frosting gel
Stack three marshmallows together to make snowman, "gluing" together with white frosting. Use small craft stick to dot frosting in place for eyes and add chocolate chips. Dot frosting in place for buttons and add mini M & M's. Place small blob of frosting on top, unwrap kiss, and place for hat. Wrap licorice strip around "neck" for scarf. Dot orange gel for nose and using red gel, draw on mouth.
Songs and Fingerplays
Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen knocking at the door,
One melts away and then there were four.
Four little snowmen climbing a tree,
One melts away and the there were three.
Three little snowmen looking for something to do,
One melts away and then there were two.
Two little snowmen are now having fun,
One melts away and then there was one.
One little snowman all by himself,
He melts away, now there are none.
The Snowman and the Bunny
A chubby little snowman, had a carrot nose
Along came a bunny, And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny, looking for his lunch
Ate that snowman's carrot nose
Crunch, crunch, crunch!
Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen sitting on the ground, (pat hands on floor)
The first one said; "Oh my aren't we round." (make circle with arms)
The second one said; "There are snowflakes in the air." (wiggle fingers above head)
The third one said; "But we don't care." (shrug shoulders)
The fourth one said; "Lets run and run and run. (pat hands quickly on the floor)
The fifth one said; "I'm ready for some fun." (smile)
Whew went the wind (blow) and out came the sun (make circle with arms over head)
and the five little snowman knew their fun was done.( pretend your melting)
Five Little Snowmen
Five little snowmen fat,
Each with a funny hat
Out came the sun and melted one
What a sad thing was that.
Boo! Whooo Booo! Whooo
.............4, 3, 2, 1.
Dance Like Snowflakes (Frere Jacques)
Dance like snowflakes,
Dance like snowflakes,
In the air. In the air.
Whirling, twirling, snowflakes,
Whirling, twirling, snowflakes,
Here and there. Here and there.
Think Snow! (Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush)
What shall we do in wintertime,
In wintertime, in wintertime?
What shall we do in wintertime
On Monday when it’s snowing?
We’ll build a snowman round and fat,
Round and fat, round and fat!
We’ll build a snowman round and fat
On Monday when it’s snowing!
Tuesday - take a sled ride down a hill
Wednesday - find some food to feed the birds
Thursday - skate around a frozen pond
Friday - pack some snowballs round and tight
Saturday - make some angels in the snow
Sunday - build a snow fort in the yard
The Snow
This is how the snow comes floating softly down.
In a little while it covers all the ground.
Then I'll make some snowballs, more than one or two
Are you ready? Are you set?
I'll throw them all at you!
Snowflakes, Snowflakes (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Snowflakes, snowflakes, soft and white,
Falling gently through the night.
While the children sleep for hours,
You will cover trees and flowers.
When they 'wake they'll rub their eyes,
A land so white is a big surprise!
I'm a Little Snowman (I'm a Little Tea Pot)
I'm a little snowman, short and fat,
Here is my broom stick,
Here is my hat.
When the sun comes out,
I'll melt away,
Down, down, down, down....
Whoops! I'm a puddle!
Build a Snowman (Frere Jacques)
Build a snowman, build a snowman,
Big and round, big and round,
Sun is shining on him
Sun is shining on him
He's all gone, he's all gone.
I'm a Little Snowflake (I'm a Little Tea Pot)
I'm a little snowflake you can see...
No other snowflake looks like me!
Please pick me up after I fall,
And roll me with my friends to make a snowball.
Snowflakes
Snowflakes, snowflakes, sailing down,
Falling, falling, on the ground.
Covering everything in sight
Until the world is a snow white.
A Snowy Winter Day (Here we go' Round the Mulberry Bush)
Look at the snow come sailing down,
Sailing down, sailing down.
Look at the snow come sailing down,
On a winter day.
Let's make a snowball two or three,
Two or three, two or three.
Let's make a snowball, or two or three,
On this snowy day.
Throw the snowballs, zing, zing, zing,
Zing, zing, zing, zing, zing, zing.
Throw the snowballs, zing, zing, zing,
As we play in the snow.
Winter Clothes (Did You Ever See a Lassie)
Children put your coats on, your coats on, your coats on,
Children put your coats on, one, two and three.
(Boots, gloves, scarves, etc.)
Mitten Song
Thumbs in the thumb place, fingers all together.
This is the song we sing in mitten weather.
Hibernation Song (Are You Sleeping)
Bear is sleeping, bear is sleeping
In the cave, in the cave.
I wonder when he'll come out,
I wonder when he'll come out
In the spring, In the spring.
Birds are flying, birds are flying
In the sky, in the sky.
I wonder when they'll come back,
I wonder when they'll come back,
In the spring, in the spring.
I'm A Little Penguin (I'm A Little Teapot)
I'm a little penguin in the snow.
I slide on my tummy to and fro.
I eat the fish from the deep blue sea.
I'm black and white so look at me.
Penguin Song (My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean)
The penguin slides over the ice bank,
The penguin jumps into the sea.
Look at his black and white feathers,
That penguin's as cute as can be!
Little Penguin (I’m a Little Teapot)
I'm a little penguin round and fat
Here is my beak, here is my hat.
Winter days are coming, hear me shout,
"Please don't toss my mittens out!"
Penguin Song (I'm a Little Teapot)
I'm a little penguin in the sea.
I can swim as fast as can be!
When I catch a fish, just look at me.
I'm as proud as I can be.
Royal Penguins
One royal penguin, feeling very blue,
called for his brother then there were two.
Two royal penguins swimming in the sea,
called for their sister, then there were three.
Three royal penguins waddle on the shore,
call for their mother, then there were four.
Four royal penguins learning how to dive,
call for their father, then there were five.
Parent-Child Time
~ Build a snowman with your child
~ Have a gentle snowball fight
~ Take a snow walk
~ Read books to your child about snowmen
~ Make an angel in the snow with your child and compare sizes
~ Discuss why we wear coats, mittens, and boots
Calendars
CLASSROOM CALENDARS
Monday-Wednesday-Friday AM
Tuesday-Thursday AM
Tuesday-Thursday PM
Many of the monthly suggestions have been collected over the years I have been
teaching. It is not my intention to take credit for someone else's original idea.
Please see Resource Materials for a listing of books and publications I have and
the Links page.
