In this blog you will find plenty of resources, along with some fun winter activities for Pre-K and kindergarten.
5 Nonfiction Winter Books Perfect for your Pre-Schooler or Kindergarten Child
Nonfiction books are great when teaching winter to kindergarten. A great book for this is The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons. Other topics I teach during the winter unit are animals in winter, winter clothing, winter activities, winter weather and of course SNOW! Here are some of our favorite nonfiction books about winter: Animals in Winter, written by Henrietta Bancroft, Helen K. Davie, and illustrated by Richard G. Van Gelde; The Story of Snow by Jon Nelson and Mark Cassino; How Do You Know It’s Winter? by Ruth Owen. We also included affiliate links for each of these books below.
Here are some nonfiction books which are read online. I’ve only included books where the copyright has not been infringed upon.
Story Time: Over and Under the Snow (6:09): This is a very good online version of Kate Messner’s book, Over and Under the Snow. This book brings everything I teach about winter together in one beautiful story where a child learns all about what is going on under and over the snow, while cross country skiing with her father. It has added animation and background music, and the illustrations really pop.
All About Winter Read Aloud | Winter Read Aloud | Winter Non-fiction Read Aloud | Books About Snow (1:52): This nonfiction online read aloud is from Mr. Corder’s Kid Book Read Alouds, it’s a brief overview of the winter season with real winter photographs. It was written by Mr. Corder, a kindergarten teacher. Great for preschool
It’s Winter Time | Winter Read Aloud | Winter Nonfiction Book | All About Winter | Books About Snow (3:34): Another nonfiction book Mr. Corder’s Kid Book Read Alouds. This book discusses winter as a season, when it begins, the cold weather, snow, hibernation and trees. It has a vocabulary page for the words bare and evidence. There is also a main idea discussion page at the end of the book. You can get your own online copy of the book It’s Winter Time.
The Snowy Day Read-aloud, an animated story (3:28): No winter unit would be complete without reading A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. The EJK Foundation has created a delightful version of this popular read aloud. There is added animation, along with music. I know it’s fiction, but it’s a classic.
Fun Winter Activities for Kindergarten
More Winter Activities for Kinder
- Take a winter walk. When you return inside, have your child discuss and draw what they saw.
- Keep a record of daily temperatures. Look for patterns. Compare a week’s worth of temperatures in the winter to a week’s worth taken in the fall.
- See how long it takes a cup of snow to melt.
Puffy Snowman Art
No list of winter activities in kindergarten would be complete without a winter art project. Here’s an adorable puffy snowman your children will love to make. For the puffy snow, mix equal parts of glue and shaving cream. First, have your kids draw a snowman with a white crayon. They can also draw a winter background at this time, if they choose. Next, have them use a spoon, paintbrush or their hands to apply the puffy snow. Finally, add cut-outs such as eyes, buttons, hat, etc. to complete the snowman. Pair it with a fun book like Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick and you have a really FUN winter art project.
Winter Cut Out Book
This adorable winter book will have your students using their cutting skills a lot! They cut out each page, then layer them to create a beautiful winter scene. From the circle cut out on the front, you can see every page in the book.
Let us know below if there any Christmas crafts you enjoy making with your own kids or if you have a favorite holiday classic you enjoy watching.
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