Winter: Day Three

Cold as Ice

In winter, and when it's cold outside, water can freeze into ice. When the temperature warms up, the ice will melt!

Books:
Frozen Noses--Jan Carr, Dorothy Donahue
Hello, Snow--Hope Vestergarrd, Nadine Bernard Westcott
First Snow--Emily Arnold McCully

Songs:

I'm a Little Ice Cube
(tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little ice cube, frosty and square,
I make things icy cold everywhere.
If it gets too warm, I better watch out,
"Cause I will melt, there is no doubt.

Activities:

Ice Cube Painting

The day before place water in ice cube trays. Cover the tray with aluminum foil. Cut small slits in the foil and place ice cream sticks or craft sticks through the slits in the foil covering the ice cube trays.

Give the children heavy paper with powdered tempera paint sprinkle on it. Have the children run their ice cubes over the powdered tempera paint. Lay folded paper towels on the table for the children to lay their ice cubes onto.

COLOR ICE - Colors
In ice cube trays, make ice cubes tinted separately with red, yellow, and blue food coloring. Set out clear-plastic glasses of water. Then let your children try making three new colors by dropping two different colored ice cubes into each glass. Lead them to see that mixing red and yellow makes orange, mixing red and blue makes purple, and mixing blue and yellow makes green.

Talk with children about some of the colors that are considered "cool" colors--blues, greens, purples. Let children practice mixing colors to create a icy, winter scene.

Ice Cube Racers

Use food coloring to make different colors of water. Place the colored water into ice cube trays. Set up an ice cube race track by placing a smooth board on a chair. Set out the ice cubes. Let the children choose their ice cube, put it at the top of the race track and watch it race down to the bottom.

Melting Experiments

Directions:

• Use several ice cubes to study ice melting patterns. Stick one ice cube outside, one ice cube in your classroom, one in a refrigerator (or ice chest) and one in a blender. Have your children predict the order in which the ice cubes will melt. Observe the ice cubes and compare the results to your children's predictions.

Slippery Roads

Directions:

• Fill an 8x12" pan with water and freeze. Place it on your science table with toy cars. Let your children drive the cars across the ice. You can also sprinkle salt or sand across the ice to see how it affects the road conditions.

Frosty Windows

Directions:

• Help your children create frosty windows in your classroom. Provide your children with 1/2 hot hot water mixed with 1/2 cup Epsom salt and a paint brush. The mix will dry leaving crystals and snow design on your classroom window.

Ice Skating

Directions:

• Cut two 12" square pieces of wax paper for each child in your class. Punch two holes, on opposite sides from one another on each sheet, tie a piece of string through each hole and tie it around your child's shoe smooth side down. Play some classical music and watch your children ice skate around the carpet.

Frosty Bubbles

Directions:

• Refrigerate your bubble solution until you are ready to go outside, to tempreatures at or below freezing. Take the bubbles outside and use a wand to make bubbles. Watch as crystals form on the bubbles.

Cold Palentologist

Directions:

• Freeze small toy dinosaurs (or other toys) into Ice cubes and then let your children use a small mallet to break them out. OR Fill several compartments of an ice cube tray with water. Let your children help drop a different small object, such as a stone, a paper clip, a penny, or a pasta piece, into each of the compartments. Place the tray in the freezer. When the cubes have set, ask the children to try guessing which object is in each cube. Then let them melt the cubes with warm water to check their guesses.

Snacks:
Igloo Snack

Ice Cube Snacks--Pour water into ice cube trays and let children drop a small piece of fruit into each compartment. Put the tray in the freezer until frozen solid. At snack time, serve cubes in glasses of ginger ale, flavored water, or juice.

Winter: Day Two

Snowflakes

Snow falls from the sky in as frozen flakes. Each snowflake is unique.

Books: Winter is for Snowflakes--Michelle Knudsen, Denise Fraifeld
There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow--Lucille Colandro, Jared Lee

Songs:

Dance Like Snowflakes

(to the tune of: Are You Sleeping)

Dance like snowflakes,
Dance like snowflakes,
In the air, in the air.
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Here and there, here and there.

Snowflakes

(to the tune of: Grey Squirrel)

Snowflakes, snowflakes, falling on the ground.
Snowflakes, snowflakes, falling all around.
I am bundled to my chin.
See my footprints where I've been.
Snowflakes, snowflakes, falling on the ground.


Fingerplay:
Five Little Snowflakes
One little snowflake with nothing to do.
Along came another and
Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes laughing with me.
Along came another, and
Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and
Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.
Along came another, and
Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and
Then there were none!


Use these images to print out a book for each child to take home of Five Little Snowflakes. (I made it into a flip book, so you can lift up one snowflake at a time.


Activities:

Snowflake Matching Game: Use the cards to match the identical pairs of snowflakes.

Magnified Snow

Directions:

• Use a blender to crush some ice. Spread it on black paper sand have your children examine it with microscopes or magnifying glasses.

Pretend To Be a Snowflake:

Directions:

• Play classical music for your children and have them dance around like a snowflake in the sky.

Crafts:

Paper Punch Snowflake

Snowflake Past Bracelet/Necklace

Citrus Snowflakes

Materials:

• Oranges
• White Paint
• Blue Paper

Directions:

• Cut an orange in half horizontally. Have your children dip the orange into the paint and then press onto their paper. The orange will make a pretty snowflake print.

Sparkly Snowflakes

Materials:

• Paper Doily
  
• Glue
• Pom-Poms
• Ribbon
• Beads
• Buttons
• Stickers
• Sparkly Glitter
• Spray Glue

Directions:

• Have your children decorate both sides of a doily with your classroom art treasures. Once the doily is dry spray it with an adhesive and sprinkle iridescent glitter on it. You can hang these from your ceiling or in front of windows to create a snowy effect.

Snowflake Lacing Project

Use this snowflake pattern to make a snowflake chain, a glittery snowflake, a center in a paper plate wreath, etc.

Snack:
Snowy Muffins--frost muffins in white icing. Let children sprinkle tops with coconut "snowflakes."

Winter: Day One

Snowy Winter

Learn about what makes winter such a special time of year.What are some of the characteristics of the winter season? When is winter?

Read Everything for Winter--Kathy Charner and Dream Snow--Eric Carle. Talk about how you know it's winter in these books. What are some signs that it's winter? (SNOW!!!)

Do this Fingerplay:

Falling Down

Snow Snow
Falling Down (move hands, like falling snow)
Quietly, quietly (move finger to mouth-shhhhh!)
It covers the ground (move hands back and forth and smooth).

It Is Snowing

(to the tune of: Are you Sleeping)

It is snowing, it is snowing,
All around, all around.
Whirling, twirling snowflakes
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Touch the ground, touch the ground.

Snow is Falling

(to the tune of: Twinkle twinkle little star)

Snow is falling all around,
Falling, falling, to the ground.
I catch snowflakes on my tongue.
Building snowmen is such fun.
Snow is falling all around
Falling, falling, to the ground.

One sign of winter is that the weather turns cold and you may see snow!

Snow Paper Punch: Give each child the word SNOW and some paper-punched snowflakes. Let them glue the snow flakes onto the letters.


Snow is white and cold. It's frozen water. You can play in it and use it to make snowballs.

Sing:
Snowball

(to the tune of: Are You Sleeping)
Make a snowball, make a snowball. (Act like making a snowball)
Throw it now, throw it now. (Use Throwing Motion)
Make a snowball, make a snowball. (Act like making a snowball
Throw it now, throw it now. (Use Throwing Motion)

Snowball Toss

Directions:

• Fill several white balloons with white rice (a funnel is very helpful when doing this) and use them as bean bags. Your children can toss them to one another or try toss them into a laundy basket. OR Have an indoor snowball "fight" with cotton balls or crunched up paper.
  

Collecting Snowballs Game

Make Snow:
Start by putting several cups of ice into the blender. Pulse until you have SNOW! Let children play with the snow, making snow balls, feeling the cold temperature, etc.

Melting Snow
Give each child a plastic container. Have the children fill the containers with snow. Let them bring the containers inside and place them around the room. Have the children check their containers periodically to see what is happening to their snow. What is snow made of? As an additional experiment, try adding different drops of food coloring to the snow to see what colors as formed as it melts.

Crafts:

3D Snow Picture

Materials:

• Styrofoam Peanuts
• Glue
• Dark Paper

Directions:

Have your children glue styrofoam peanuts (you can use the ones form your water table play) onto their paper to make a 3D snowy picture.

Snow Globes

Materials:

• Small clear jars with lids
• Mineral Water
• Crushed Egg Shells (from hardboiled eggs)
• Small Toy

Directions:

• Glue a small object to the inside lid of a jar (glue guns work best.) Add mineral oil and crushed egg shells (with the filmy part removed) to your jar. Run a line of glue around the inside of the jar rim and screw on to lock in place. shake up the jar to create a snow globe scene.

Q-tip Snow Pictures

Materials:

• Q-tips
• White Paint
• Dark Paper

Directions:

Let your children create a snowy picture using Q-tips to paint a white snowy picture.

Snow On The Roof

Give each child a piece of paper with the shape of a house drawn on it.
Lay out small containers of glue with paint brushes. Have the children dip the paint brush into the glue and brush the glue on the roof and along the ground of their picture.

Give the children cotton balls to place onto the rooftop and along the ground of their papers for snow.

Snow Day Book

Playdough Snow

Snack:

Snowy Gelatin

Make gelatin. Distribute styrofoam cups to the children. Pour 1/2 cup of gelatin into the individual cups. Let each child add marshmallows to his/her own gelatin cup, counting as he/she puts them in. Let the gelatin harden in a refrigerator. Then enjoy the gelatin as a snack.

Thanksgiving: Day Five

Thanksgiving Crafts and Games

Read Thanksgiving Books and sing songs from the week.

Play Pin the feather on the turkey
Draw a picture of a featherless turkey on a large piece of poster board. Attach the picture to a wall. Put loops of masking tape (sticky sides out) on the backs of paper feathers and place the feathers on a table close to the turkey picture. Have the children take turns choosing a feather from the table and then closing their eyes while they try to "pin" the feather on the turkey.

"Gravy" Sensory Activity
Set out bowls (or a water table) with warm water, ladles, turkey basters, measuring cups, bowls, etc. Have your children stir, mix and cook the gravy (you can also die the water brown with bath tub tints for an added effect)

Popcorn Study

Pour unpopped popcorn into four different Ziploc gallon bags. Squirt a different color of paint into each bag. Have your children take turns squishing the popcorn and paint together in the bag. Once the popcorn is coated, lay it out to dry. While you wait for the popcorn to dry ask your children if they think the popcorn will stay colored once you pop it. Once the popcorn is dry pour it into an air popper and watch and see what happens. The popcorn will pop out fluffy white. You can use this popcorn for art or to fill your sensory table.

Indian Corn

Materials:

• Corn on the cob cut out
• Pop Corn
• Tempra paint powder
• Glue
• Corn husks

What to Do

• Pop some air popcorn; while it is still hot place it into three Ziploc bags. Add a different color of tempra paint powder into each bag. Shake the bags to spread the powder. Once the popcorn has cooled set it out to make Indian corn. Have your children put glue on the corn cutout and then stick the popcorn on. Once they are done staple real corn husks on. This makes beautiful Indian corn creations. (be sure to watch your children with the popcorn.)

Berry Painting

Materials:

• Fresh berries
• Paper

Directions:

• Before starting this activity show your children pictures of art created by Indians. Discuss how they used berries and other natural products to paint with. Set out berries and encourage your children to rub them across their paper to make pictures.

Macaroni Stringing

Dye macaroni and have your children string them onto a cord with colored pieces of paper, and beads to make a Thanksgiving day necklace. Encourage your children to form patterns to increase math skills.

Thanksgiving Drums

Use oatmeal tubs, one for each child. Cover the outside of the container with tan paper and have your children decorate with paint and feathers.

Thanksgiving: Day Four

Thanksgiving Feast

On Thanksgiving Day, let children help you with the food preparations. Read some books about the kinds of food that were eaten on the first Thanksgiving Day.

Make Place Cards for the dinner Table and set the table. Make sure to include a decorative centerpiece, maybe something the child has made this week, like the Good Deed Turkey.

Make Butter
Talk about how Pilgrims and Indians did not have a grocery store to buy butter. They made it from the cream that came from milking the cows. Give each child a baby food jar filled half full with whipping cream. Have them shake it until butter forms. Add salt. Use the butter on corn bread or rolls for the Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving Plates
On a paper plate, let your child glue pre-cut pictures of food (or color in their own food) in anticipation of the upcoming feast. Plan out what he will eat for Thanksgiving.

Sing
Thanksgiving Time (Farmer in the Dell)
Thanksgiving time is here,
Let's give a great big cheer,
For food and friends and family,
Thanksgiving time is here.


Let's be Thankful for this Day
(tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Let's be thankful for this day,
For our friends and our play.
Let's be thankful, let's be glad,
For our food and the things we have.
Let's give thanks for you and me,
And our home and family.

At the Thanksgiving Feast, go around the table and have everyone say what they are thankful for.

Pumpkin Pie
Paint a paper plate with orange
paint mixed with white glue.
Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice
(or cinnamon & allspice).

Thanksgiving Easel Painting

Materials:

• Paint (fall colors)
• Nutmeg
• Allspice
• Cinnamon
• Easel paper

What to Do

• Sprinkle a different spice into each color of paint. As your children paint the spices will mix together to make a yummy pumpkin pie smell.

Pumpkin Pie in a Bag
Click Here

Thanksgiving: Day Three

The History of Thanksgiving

Read books about the first Thanksgiving such as: Pilgrims First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern and Elroy Freem or This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura Krauss Melmed and Mark Buehner or The Story of the Pilgrims by H.L. Ross

Visit Scholastic for More Info on the First Thanksgiving
Click Here

Thanksgiving Feast Book
Click Here

Thanksgiving Crafts
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages: Click Here
Toilet Paper Roll Puppets: Click Here
Stick Puppets: Click Here
Cut and Paste Pages: Click Here

Thanksgiving Play
Make Native American and Pilgrim costumes and act out the first Thanksgiving

Native American Vests

Materials:

• White T shirts
• Tea
• Fabric markers

What to Do

• Cut the sleeves off of the t shirts and cut down the center to make a vest. Explain to your class that Native Americans used natural products to dye their clothing. Place the tea bags and hot water into a bucket and add the shirts. Stir the shirts around and let them soak. Hang to dry. The next day your children can use fabric markers to decorate their vests. You can also cut the bottom into strips and add beads. These are great to wear to a Thanksgiving fest.

(Another option is to make vests out of brown paper bags and decorate them with markers and paint.)

Native American Head Band
Click Here

Pilgrim Costumes
Click Here or

Thanksgiving: Day Two

Turkeys

Read 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

A major part of Thanksgiving is the feast, and we usually have turkey.

Sing

I’m a Little Turkey

(to the tune of I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little turkey
Fluffy and brown (Rub Tummy)

My wings flip-flop
When I turn around (Flap arms)

I have lots of feathers,
On my back (Bend down and wave hands over back)

And a big orange beak (Use hands to clap)
That goes “click clack”

Did You Ever See a turkey

(to the tune of “Did you ever see a lassie”)
Did you ever see a turkey, a turkey, a turkey
As he struts around the farmyard with feathers so bright?

With red ones and brown ones and yellow ones and orange ones,
Did you ever see a turkey with feathers so bright?

*Reinforce color recognition with this song. In advance, cut out a class supply of red, brown, yellow, and orange construction paper feathers. Give each child one feather. As the class sings the song have each child hold up his feather when the color is mentioned.

Turkey Color Book
Click Here

Turkey Thanksgiving Cards
Make cards for friends and loved ones. Make several brown hand prints with the child; let dry. Cut out paper feathers and triangles for the beaks. Print out a small picture of the child and this Hand Turkey Poem: "This isn't just a turkey, as you can plainly see. I made it with my hand, which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love, especially to say: "I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!" Glue the handprints down for the turkeys, placing feathers behind. Draw on an eye with a black marker and add a beak. Glue the picture and poem on the card as well. Send out to loved ones!!!


More Turkey Crafts--
Make a few of these turkeys and use them for:

Five Turkeys
Five big turkeys sitting on the gate.
The first one said, "It's getting late."
The second one said, "Who goes
there"?
The third one said, "There are farmers
everywhere."
The fourth one said, "Let's run, run,
run."
The fifth one said, "It's just
Thanksgiving fun."

Then Gobble Gobble went the wind.
And out went the lights.
And the five fat turkeys were out of sight

Maple Leaf Turkey
Pine Cone and Feathers Turkey
Many, Many more ideas from DLTK!
Turkey Crafts from Making Learning Fun