Choosing Engaging Winter Learning Activities
So, what does it take to engage students through the winter months? Well, in my opinion, one of the best ways to get kids excited about learning is with fun themes. In the winter months, especially after the holidays, it can feel like some of that "winter sparkle" is gone. But trust me, there's still plenty of fun to be had! Try focusing on activities with fun themes like snow, snowmen, hot cocoa, and polar animals. These themes will make typical learning activities more fun and relatable to the season.
You might consider weaving these themes in with seasonal books, informational videos about winter, special crafts, and games. Anything you can do to put a winter spin on learning is a great way to snag and keep attention! I also like to use fun activities and centers during the winter months to tie into our themes. This makes it fun and easy to practice key math and literacy skills all winter long while maintaining student buy-in! Speaking of which, let's take a closer look at six winter learning activities that fit the bill perfectly.
1. Winter Place Value Write the Room
If you're a primary teacher, you already know how important it is to practice number sense activities, like place value, daily. The challenge is how to weave these activities into your day in a way that's actually fun for students! One of my favorite ways to do so is with Write the Room Centers.
Write the Room is great because it allows students to get out of their seats and move around the classroom. This comes in especially handy in the winter if we're spending more time inside due to inclement weather. I just provide my kiddos with a clipboard and recording sheet, and they're ready to "hunt" around the room for task cards to complete.
In this Winter Place Value Write the Room set, students will determine the number represented by the base ten blocks on each card. As they find their answers, they record them on a sheet. There are a total of 24 task cards and 3 different recording sheet options to choose from. We often use these cards in the traditional way, but they're also perfect for a good game of Scoot! as well as a seated center option. I love prepping the cards and recording sheets ahead of time so that we're always prepared with a quick and easy place-value practice activity!
2. Winter Subject Verb Agreement Activities
Do you like teaching grammar? When I first started teaching, I'll admit it wasn't my favorite. But, as the years went on and I understood more about student learning, I grew to really enjoy it! One of the things I've learned about grammar is that we absolutely must provide many different types of learning activities because children learn in so many different ways. What makes sense to one kiddo might not click for another. When we use lots of different methods to teach something, we've got a much better chance of ensuring everyone will get the most out of the lesson.
For example, in my Winter Subject Verb Agreement Activities, you'll find tons of great activities to teach this topic. Start out with the informational posters and sorting game as a group. Then, use the clip cards and practice worksheets during center time. Finally, finish up the unit with a writing craftivity that allows students to use subjects and verbs in a winter-themed sentence.
You can devote a whole block of time to work on these activities in depth or split them up over a few days. Either way, this unit is the perfect way to appeal to many different learning styles and have fun while working on grammar!
3. Winter Math Mystery Puzzles
I'm a big fan of having some go-to practice worksheets on hand in my room. Especially in the wintertime, there always seems to be a need for just one more activity or something to fill a few minutes of our day. The important thing, though, is that the work we use during this time be meaningful. I don't want to fill valuable class time with fluff!
That's why I love these Winter Math Mystery Puzzles. They're highly engaging to students, require no prep, and are easy to pull out at a moment's notice. Not to mention, my kids will get some practice with important first-grade topics like 2D shapes, time to the hour, teen numbers, and more!
To use, students will cut apart the puzzle and then glue them down to their page to record their answers. The great thing about these puzzles is that they are self-correcting. If students answer incorrectly, the puzzle will be a jumbled-up mess. When a full picture is revealed, they know they have answered correctly. Each one shows a fun winter scene, that the kids love to color after the pictures dry. I have them use gluesticks lightly so they don't have to wait too long for this final step.
4. Winter Phonics Color by Code
Next up on my list of fun winter learning activities is another no-prep option that's great to keep on hand. These Winter Phonics Color by Code Pages will help your students work on important skills such as CVCE words, digraphs, and 'silent e' words in a fun way. These activities aren't your typical color by code activity either... students will need to crack the secret code!
To use, students will write the letter for the beginning sound in each picture shown to reveal the secret word. Then, they will use the code to color the picture accordingly. This extra step is great for keeping their engagement and focus as they work. The kids are always eager to solve the code and reveal those secret words! As an added bonus, each page features a fun winter picture!
I like to use these for my fast-finisher tub, center time, homework, and any time we need a fun winter learning activity to fill some space in our day. The students love them and I love how easy they are to use.
5. Winter Place Value Centers
Remember how I mentioned that we're practicing with place value daily? Well if this is the case in your room too, I know you'll love these Winter Place Value Centers. They offer one more way to give your students the practice they need with place value in a fun and engaging format.
With this resource, students will use one of their favorite center activities - poke cards! These are a fun, hands-on twist on traditional task cards. To use, students will solve the math problem on their card and "poke" their answer with a small straw or coffee stirrer. Then, they turn the card over to see if they answered correctly. My kids love this and I love that the self-correcting nature of the cards allows them to try again if they answered incorrectly.
This resource also includes some extra practice pages that are great for additional center activities and homework. I think we can all agree that the more practice opportunities our kiddos have with place value - the better!
6. Winter Ending Blends Write the Room
Last, on this list of winter learning activities, I've got another activity I know you will love. This Winter Ending Blends Write the Room set is perfect for weaving some phonics practice into your day. This set includes 2 different sets of task cards to allow you to differentiate as needed. The first option shows a picture and part of the word. Students will fill in the missing ending blends to complete the word. The second option shows the picture and word boxes that students will fill in to write the word. There are also 2 recording sheet options for additional customization as well.
I like to use this resource as a Scoot! game when my kids need a little boost to stay on task. Scoot is played by laying out 1 card on each desk and giving each child a recording sheet. You'll set a timer and students will complete the task card on their desk. When the timer goes off, they "Scoot!" to the next desk and repeat the process. I find that when my kids seem a little less engaged than I'd like, the use of the timer really helps them perk up and focus. They like racing the clock! Try this activity in the winter in your room when kids need a little pick-me-up.
Have Fun with Winter Learning Activities
So, which one of these winter learning activities was your favorite? It can be hard to choose, but the good news is that you don't have to! You can find all of these fun winter activities in my TPT shop, along with many more. Try weaving some winter-themed activities and centers into your learning routine to maintain student interest and mix things up. And don't forget, many of these activities can be used in multiple ways, making them great for lots of different classroom uses. Have fun planning engaging winter learning activities in your room!
Looking for More?
Check out these posts next for more winter learning activities and lessons!
- Winter Math and Literacy Centers Your Students Will Love!
- January Lesson Plan Ideas for First Grade
- Winter Activities for First Grade
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