Preschool and Kindergarten Winter Lesson Plans and Theme Unit

The video below demonstrates how the emergent readers within the theme unit can be used for a shared reading experience. It also demonstrates the interactive component in the reader "The Mitten - A Story Retelling".'

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Emergent Reader 1 - "Winter Fun" - This reading is a simple retelling of the book "Mouse's First Snow". It outlines the activities that can occur during the winter season. The reader is used to teach beginning reading skills.

Emergent Reader 2 - 'The Mitten - A Story Retelling". On the last two pages of the reader there are black and white picture cards that can be used in the pocket chart or color photographs are also provided. These would be placed beside the printed text on the pocket chart. The book could also be displayed on the smartboard. This would be used for a shared reading experience.

Research Follow-up - Connection to Science

As a follow-up activity the children could research information about the animals mentioned in the story. Using the photographs provided the children can observe the pictures and identify the individual characteristics of each of the animals.

Preschool and Kindergarten Centers

Preschool and Kindergarten Games

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Seasonal Sorting Pictures - Literacy Centers

The seasonal sorting picture cards would be used to introduce the children to activities that take place in the winter season. These could also be used in the Literacy Center or Math Center. All the cards would be placed upside-down. Each time they draw a picture representing the Winter season, this would be placed on the sorting mat. The first person to have their sorting mat completed would be the winner. This activity is demonstrated on the video.

Enlarged "s" and "b" Picture Cards

The focus sound in this theme is "s" for "snow" in Week 1 Plans and in Week 2 Plans is "b" for bear. The enlarged pictures related to the sounds would be used for vocabulary building and phonemic awareness. Specific details are outlined in the theme unit.

Sound Probability Game

The children would shake a die. If they land on a picture representing the focus sound this would be marked off on the game board chart . How to play this game is demonstrated on the video.

Picture Mnemonic Activities

Letter "s" for Snow.

The letter "s" for snow would be copied, painted or colored blue, and white cotton balls for snow would be added.

Letter "b" for Bear

The children would paint, color and assemble the letter "b" similar to the one displayed in the photograph.

Writing Center

The children print or the teacher scribes what they like best about Winter. After, the mitten would be cut and decorated.

Printing Ideas

Ideas for the children to practice printing letters can be found in the link below:

Printing Ideas

Preschool and Kindergarten Math

Week 1 - Estimating and Measuring

In Week 1 the children will be using the snowmen templates of various sizes and estimating how many snap cubes or playdough snakes long they are.

Week 2 - Focus on Ordinal Numbers, Measuring Volume, Number Recognition and One-to-One Number Correspondence

In Week 2 the focus will be on verbally saying ordinal number placement, measuring volume using nonstandard measurement units, estimating, reviewing number recognition and one-to-one correspondence.

Preschool and Kindergarten Crafts and Literacy Connections

Craft Tips

When painting, use painter's masking tape to hold down the paper on cardboard. This prevents the paper from curling.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 1 - Winter Mouse Craft.

The book Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson would be read to the children. This book provides a good introduction to activities the children can participate in during the Winter season. As a follow-up, the children would complete the mouse craft displayed in the photograph. The paper would be held down using painter's masking tape. The mouse template would be painted over with a thin color of blue paint. After, it would be sponge-painted white. Eyes, nose, mouth would be added as shown in the photograph.

The mouse template is found in the theme unit.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 2 - Snow Tree Craft

The book It's Winter by Linda Glaser is another good book to read for the purpose of introducing the children to the changes that occur in the winter. The snow tree craft would be a follow-up to reading the book. The tree template would be painted brown, the sky blue and the base would remain white. Cotton balls would be added to complete this craft project.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 3 - Bear Hibernating Craft Crayon Resist

The book It's Winter also touches upon the concept of hibernation. The children could complete the "hibernating bear" craft as a follow-up. The bear and tree would be colored with black wax crayons and painted over with a thin layer of blue paint. The wax crayon will resist the paint. After, the children can add birds flying to warmer climates.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 4 - Snowman Craft

After reading the book The Biggest, Best, Snowman by Margery Cuyler the children would complete the snowman craft project. Painter's tape would hold down the paper. The sky would be painted blue with white sponge-painting on top to represent snow. The ground would remain white. The snowman would be colored, cut and assembled and glued on top. Eyes, nose, buttons, arms (pretzels) and hat would be added to complete the project.

The snowman, hibernating bear and tree templates are found in the theme unit.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 5 - The Mitten Craft

After reading the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and the retelling of it in the emergent reader, the children would color, cut and decorate their own mitten.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 6 - Snow Globe

After reading the book The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming to the children, the snow globe would be used as a follow-up activity. The snow globe template would be painted blue with white drops of white for the snow. After it dries, the snowman's hat and scarf would be colored and cut. The snowman would be cut, assembled and glued on the snow globe. Glitter glue could be added as a final touch.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 7 - Dressing for the Winter Craft

The book The Jacket I Wear by Shirley Neitzel is a great book to use for a base in discussing proper clothing worn in the winter. The craft project outlined below is a great follow-up to reading this book.

Version 1

The children color or paint the clothes on the body. The body is cut (this would likely require adult intervention). The child's head shot would be cut and added (this would require cropping to fit the body). The children would color and cut the hat, scarf and assemble it to the body.

Version 2

The children would color the clothes on the body. They would also add facial features (eyes, nose and mouth) to the head. After, the body would be cut. The children color the hat, scarf and cuit it out. This would be added to the body

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 8 - Polar Bear Silhouette Craft

The book The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett introduces arctic animals. As a follow-up the children would complete the polar bear silhouette. Strips of yellow, orange and green would be added for the background. Black construction paper would be added for the base. The bear template would be cut and glued on to complete the project.

Preschool and Kindergarten Craft 9- Penguin Craft

The book Emperor Penguin's New Clothes by Janet Periman is a humorous story that the children will enjoy. After, the children will complete the penguin craft as a follow-up. The paper would be taped down using painter's masking tape. The background sky would be painted blue and sponge-painted white for snow. The ground would remain white. The penguin template would be traced and cut on black construction paper and glued to the paper. The beak, feet, eyes and stomach would be colored, cut and added to the penguin template.
Science Connection

The photographs and information about the animals that made the mitten their home would be the focus here. The children will be discussing and researching these animals Further research about acrtic animals and how they adapt could also be a great teaching and learning opportunity in relation to this theme.

All templates to complete the activities are found in the "Seasons" theme book or in the member's area.

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