December, January

Winter

Books

Ages 0- 3

- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, PBA

Ages 4- 8

- Jeremy’s Muffler by Laura F. Nielsen, RSGN Jan 2001

- *Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, 1987, PBA

- *The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, 1978, PBA

- *Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch, 1989, RSGN Jan 2001

- When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan, RSGN Dec 2000

- *White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, 1988, PBA

Activities

- Ice Crystal Picture, PBA

o Materials: spoon; ¼ c hot water; 4 tbsp Epsom, table, or rock salt; small bowl; crayons; black, purple, or blue construction paper; paintbrush; (clear contact paper)

o Mix water and salt in bowl with a spoon until salt dissolves.

o Use crayons to draw a nighttime forest scene on paper.

o Brush drawing with salt solution. Stir salt water each time you dip brush in to keep it the salt well-distributed.

o Let painting dry completely. Salt will create a snowy effect.

o You may cover with contact paper afterwards to prevent salt crystals being brushed off.

- Finger Play: Mr. Owl, PBA

o Mr. Owl sits high in a tree. Bend arms and hold them close to body like wings.

o He blinks and blinks his eyes. Blink eyes.

o He sees and hears most everything. Form eyeglasses with hands, then cup hands behind ears.

o That’s why he’s so wise. Tap temple with index finger.

- Cotton Ball Snowman, PBA

o Materials: scissors, clear contact paper, stapler, construction paper, cotton balls

o Cut 3 circles from contact paper. Circles should have 3 different diameters, from 1 ½ in to 5 in.

o Staple circles (adhesive side up) to construction paper to form snowman shape.

o Peel contact paper to expose adhesive. Stick cotton balls to the contact paper to cover snowman.

o May cut additional features (hat, carrot, etc) from construction paper and glue onto snowman.

- Snow Paint, PBA

o Materials: eggbeater or wire whisk, 1 c soap flakes, ½ c cold water, popsicle stick or paintbrush, heavy paper or cardboard

o Beat or whisk soap and water until mixture is stiff

o Spread paint on paper or cardboard using popsicle stick, paintbrush, or fingers. Then let dry.

- Snow Painting, PBA

o Materials: spray bottle, water, food coloring

o Fill bottle with water and add a few drops of coloring

o Dress warmly before going outside to paint the snow

- Make Your Own Snow Globe, RSGN Jan 2001

o Materials: baby food jars with screw lids, small toys, hole punch, white paper, water.

o Punch a lot of holes from the white paper and save the holes.

o Put toy in the jar. Add in the punched-out holes.

o Fill jar with water and tighten the lid. Shake jar and watch snow fall.

Snacks, (www.about.com)

- Marshmallow Snow Sculpture Snack

o Ingredients: marshmallow (large and/or small), pretzel sticks

o Create sculptures or snow people out of marshmallows, using pretzels to hold them in place.

- Snowman Cookies

o Ingredients: 3 vanilla wafers per child, white frosting, raisins, red hots, M&Ms, chocolate chips, shoe string licorice, pretzel sticks.

o Layer 3 wafers in a row with edges touching. One for the head and the other 2 for the body.

o Spread white frosting over wafers.

o Use licorice for mouth and pretzels for arms. Other food can serve as decorations for eyes, nose, buttons, etc.

- Oatmeal Play Dough (www.thefamilycorner.com)

o Ingredients: 1 part flour, 2 parts oatmeal, 1 part water, (optional: paintbrush and paint)

o Mix all of the ingredients together and have fun sculpting wintry shapes, then eat!

o If desired, can be painted when dry. Do not eat after painting.

- Cool Mints (www.thefamilycorner.com)

o Ingredients: 1/3 c soft butter, 1/3 c light corn syrup, ½ tsp salt, 1 tbsp flavoring and/or coloring, 3 ½ c (1 lb) sifted confectionary sugar, refrigerator access, bowl, mixing spoon, glass, plate

o Stir all ingredients in a bowl until stiff.

o Knead dough until it is smooth.

o Pinch off pieces of dough and roll into balls. Then press them lightly with the bottom of the glass.

o Refrigerate for 30 min.

- Polar Ice Cap, (www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/ice/ice_snacks.htm)

o Ingredients: pre-prepared blue Kool Aid, ginger ale, vanilla ice cream, straws, clear plastic cups.

o Keep Kool Aid and ginger ale cold. Fill each cup half way with Kool Aid and the other half with ginger ale.

o Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy the combo through a straw.