Upon our return from Winter break, we began a study of the season. Although it was difficult to imagine the cold temperatures and snow, we did our best to make the season come alive in the classroom. We started with a discussion of the weather and what we would normally wear in the Winter when the temperatures drop. Next, we discussed our favorite winter activities and finally how animals prepare for the winter.
Sensory Table
Since we didn't have real snow for the sensory table, the children pretended with packing peanuts. They practiced fine motor skills by using tongs to put packing peanuts into plastic bottles to make snowmen.
Dramatic Play
At the dramatic play center, the children played hockey and ice skated on our indoor rink. The students were also able to buy and sell snacks at the snack shop.
Art
There were so many wonderful Art projects at the Art Center in January that allowed the children to express their creativity. First, they made salt fireworks by making designs with glue, pouring salt on top and then painting the salt with different colors.
The children practiced their scissor skills in order to make these colorful hats.
Students wrote or ordered the letters in their name to make these unique snowmen.
After reading Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, the children traced circles with chalk in order to create their own snowmen at night.
Watercolors were used to create the backdrop to these beautiful snowflakes which were created as the students cut designs in coffee filters.
Following a reading of the Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and a discussion of what the children enjoy doing most in the snow, they created their own snowy day scenes by cutting shapes from construction paper. The background was made by painting with white paint over the students' crayon drawings.
Math
At our math center, the children practiced making shapes and copying designs using geoboards. This month's math concepts all focused on shape identification and building.
Block Center
The children used various building materials such as Lincoln Logs and Legos to build log cabins and winter escapes.
Games
Our game was a favorite for everyone, Don't Break the Ice. This is a great game to work on waiting and taking turns.
Playdoh
The children enjoyed making snowmen at the playdoh center.
Yoga
Miss Kate also joined our class in January. We are lucky because she is a certified children's yoga instructor as well as a classroom teacher. She has been teaching the children yoga poses, playing games and incorporating our mindful breathing strategies as well.
Mr. Ken
No month would be complete without Mr. Ken!
Gym
Our gym class also had a Winter theme. Students imagined themselves engaging in some familiar activities.
Below, children are "sledding" on scooterboards.
Next, they played a game of floor hockey.
The children ice skated across the floor on frisbees.
They made snow angels on the panel mats.
The students threw "snowballs" into buckets.
Finally, they rolled down the sledding hill (cheese mat.)
It was a fun morning of practicing a variety of gross motor skills including throwing, balancing, and hand-eye coordination.
