Preschool and Kindergarten Winter Lesson Plans and Theme Unit

In the link below you will find an emergent reader printable book that can be reproduced into a big book, displayed on chart paper or overhead transparency for a shared reading experience. It can also be used for guided reading.

Winter Emergent Printable Reader

Predictable Chart

Printable Kindergarten Activities

A predictable chart could be used to model the reading process. The chart would read as follows:

In the winter..

I see snowflakes.

I see a snowman

I see snow fort.

I see a sled.

I see skates.

I see a snow shovel.

I see warm clothes.

I see a scarf.

I see boots.

I see a hat.

Note: Accompanying pictures found in the "Seasons" theme unit or in the member's area.

Sample Page of the Corresponding Emergent Readers

Sample Page in Color

Sample Page in Black and White

Follow-up Activity

Picture Sorts for Kindergarten and Preschool

Discuss activities and clothing worn when it is cold/cool or warm/hot. Discuss the vocabulary terms. Have children sort pictures (you can use magazines or catalogues) according to where they belong like displayed in the photograph. You will find both black and white and colored pictures in the members' area or "Seasons" theme book,

Kindergarten and Preschool Snowman Craft

Paint or use chalk to color the base of the picture. Children cut and glue the circles on accordingly. Color, cut and glue on the hat and other features.

Snow Globe Craft

Instructions (all templates found in the members' area or "Seasons" theme book)

Paint the globe
Color, cut, assemble and glue the snowman when the globe is dry
Paint dots of white for the snow. Spread on glitter glue.
Add pretzel sticks for arms

More Winter Lesson Plans for Kindergarten and Preschool

Story Retelling - Printables with "The Mitten'

The story 'The Mitten' adapted and illustrated by Jan Brett is a delightful winter story. You will find a simple retelling shape book of the story in the members' area. This is great for a shared reading and an instructional activity. The text is simple, predictable and repetitive. The children are to find, cut and match the animal in the story line.

The text reads - Third, a hedgehog made a home in the mitten. The story repeats this throughout, only the ordinal number and animal change in the text. The children complete the book by finding the matching picture found in the text.

Sample Page from the Emergent Reader

Using a Big Book or Predictable Pocket Chart for a Shared Reading Experience

The enlarged pictures and text or photographs could be used to make a big book for a shared reading experience. The pictures would be cut and glued to bristol board, laminated and bound to use year after yea (shown above). The pictures from the emergent reader could be used for the pocket chart.

Follow-up Craft

Children can paint, cut and decorate their own mitten. Two mittens can be glued or laced together to form a mitten. The animals from the story could be placed inside.

Related Math Activities

1. Have matching pairs of mittens (at least 10 pairs). Place these in the center of the circle. Have children estimate how many there are. Count and confirm their estimations. Introduce the concept of pairs. Have children match the pairs. Estimate how many pairs there now are. Count and confirm their estimations.

Math - Preschool and Kindergarten Introduction to Ordinal Numbers

2. Make duplicate copies of the animals that entered the mitten (pictures with the emergent reader). Pass these out. What animal came first? (for younger children you may have to hold the picture up). The group of children with the picture of the animal that came first would come forward. Discuss ways these animals could move. Continue this activity until the last animal has come forward, focusing on the ordinal placement. After, this activity could be relocated to the math center where the children can place them in a mitten, verbally telling a partner their ordinal placement.

Literacy Activities - A follow-up to the story

The children can match the alphabet mittens according to the same letters (for younger children) or match upper-case to lower-case (older children). If you are matching the same letters, duplicate copies of the sheets would have to be made. The children could also organize them in alphabetical order. Templates found in the theme book or member's area.

Preschool and Kindergarten Science Projects

After reading the book and emergent reader to the story "The Mitten", children can view pictures of each of the animals mentioned. Sample page found in the link below:

Sample Page of the Facts Sheets

Story Retelling - 'Sadie and the Snowman'

'Sadie and the Snowman' by Allan Morgan, Illustrated by Brenda Clark is another delightful and favorite story to read for the winter theme. After reading the book, a simple retelling of the story (shown to the left) could be used as a shared reading experience and valuable learning opportunity. The text reads, Who ate the cookies? - Birds. The children are required to find the picture, cut and paste it on the page to complete the book. This is a great review and comprehension activity of the book.

Follow-up Craft Activity - Dressing for Winter

The template of the snowman above could be used as a follow-up activity.

The children could dress Sadie (or themselves) for winter (as shown in the photograph to the left.) In the members' area you will find two versions of the dress-up person.

Version 1 - the children color, cut and add the clothes to the dress-up person. This is a great activity, even though the clothes have been specifically designed to be easy cutting, this would likely require adult intervention.

Version 2 - the clothes are on the dress-up person, the children just color and add the facial features. A more simple version.

Penguin Craft - Follow-up to story 'Plenty of Penguins'

After reading the story 'Plenty of Penguins' by Sonia W. Black, Turi Maccombie, the penguin craft displayed would be a great follow-up activity.

Instructions

Use the penguin template found in the members' area, trace this on black construction paper. The children could also paint the outline.
Cut the shape
Cut and glue on the added features

Literacy - Letter 'Ss' for Snow

The children are given 7 pictures. They are to sort the pictures and find 5 pictures that are winter activities that start with the letter 'Ss'.

Math - Preschool and Kindergarten Number Activities

Children are to draw or place real buttons on the snowman to show the correct amount.

All the above templates (plus more) and story retelling to complete the projects are found in the Member's Area or "Seasons" theme book

Information on How to Gain Access to This Theme Plus