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snow

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

December 2, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

A cup is just a cup unless you turn it into a fun paper cup snowman or one of a bunch of great paper cup ideas, which I have found for you. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook and look at my How to Homeschool Preschool.

You don’t need an expensive box curriculum or stacks of worksheets to teach preschoolers, you just need a little creativity.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

If you’re going with the winter or snowman theme and you need some great ideas to touch on all the subjects.

So today I have you covered with crafts, games, math, science, snacks, and language arts.

Too, I have an adorable snowman alphabet match game using just cups and markers.

You can create the cutest snowmen for your preschooler to practice identifying and matching letters.

Even if you don’t live in an area with snow, the snowman is just an iconic part of winter and very recognizable by even the youngest children.

Books about Snowman

Then learning about snowman is a fun subject for all ages.

Include your older kids with some of these fun books as literature or as a read aloud.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Next, look at more paper cup snowman crafts.

Paper Cup Snowman Crafts and Activities

Before we jump into covering different subjects for preschool let’s look at a few more great uses for paper cups using our snowman theme.

You can get a pretty good-sized pack from Dollar Tree and really get your money’s worth out of them by using them for all sorts of activities and crafts.

  1. Turn some of your extra cups into a snowman community with this Paper Cup Snowman Craft idea.
  2. Get out some of their energy and giggles with a Snowman Slam craft and game rolled into one.
  3. Pom Pom Popper Snowman –While this one may seem just for fun it can actually help your child develop that pincer grasp and fine motor skills while playing, excellent for prewriting practice!
  4. No snow? No problem when you can make an entire adorable Snowman out of plastic cups.
Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

 Yes, I know this is not a snowman but look how precious this one is, I had to give it an honorable mention while you are stocked up on paper cups! Paper Cup Hot Chocolate Craft

More Snow and Winter Crafts

  • 10 Toilet Paper Roll Winter Crafts | Make An Adorable Toilet Roll Winter Village
  • Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter
  • 10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle
  • 6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft
  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers
Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

Finally, look at how to make this fun stacked paper cup snowman.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game 

You will need:

  • Foam coffee cups
  • Markers
Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

First, you will need two coffee cups for each letter that you want your preschooler to practice.

Flip your coffee cups upside down.

On the bottom, which is the top rim when it’s right side up you’re going to want to write a capital letter on one.

Then write the matching lowercase letter on a second coffee cup.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

Now, you and your preschooler can go crazy, creating snowman faces, buttons, and arms with the markers.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

Helping to create their own game is going to make it a lot more fun for your little one and this snowman mob is going to teach them so much.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

To play:

Unstack the matching cups and mix them up.

Let your preschooler find and stack them to match.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

Some cool variations to this snowman match are:

Practice the letters that spell out their name.

Stacking numbers in order.

Stack one set of letters in ABC order. 

They store well too, just stack them up and put them away until next time.

Fun Paper Cup Snowman Game Matching Upper and Lowercase Alphabet Letters

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: alphabet, homeschool preschool, homeschoolanguagearts, language arts, letter sounds, preschool, reading, snow, snowman, winter crafts, winter season

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

November 18, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an adorable Q tip painting snowman. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

It is wall-worthy but also helps develop fine motor skills, improve grasp, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination, and helps calm a dysregulated child.

Then there is the slant to use it to explain and recreate Pointillism to your child and the artist most known for it George Seurat.

Besides, young children should be introduced to different painting techniques and artists.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Before you think that this technique is just for preschoolers, look at the 10 additional Q-Tip painting ideas I found that cover preschool through middle school.

Even adults can enjoy them.

The techniques are varied as well as the end results.

Sometimes they call for single dotting and others use bundles of q tips to create different looks.

Pointillism is completely filled in with dots over the entire canvas.

However, you can choose to not have your child do that much or do your project over time.

I don’t know about you, but I love a quick and easy-to-set-up, inexpensive but still adorable art project.

And all you need for this Q-tip painting snowman is Q-tips and paint, as well as a cute little artist.

4 Facts About Seurat and Pointillism Painting

Then add some facts for your children about art.

  1. Pointillism is a painting technique where tiny dots or strokes are painted close together. They’re so close that from a distance, they visually blend to create an image.
  2. Even Vincent Van Gogh showed his appreciation for this style, in his 1887 self-portrait he used very short brush strokes rather than dots, but it is still pointillism, Starry Night is an example as well.
  3. George Seurat is best known for his painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It was painted from 1884 to 1886.
  4. In his short lifetime, Seurat created seven large-scale paintings, hundreds of drawings, and sketches, and about 40 smaller-scale paintings and sketches.
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

You can show your child many examples of Seurat’s work here on wiki art, print their favorites, and use them for inspiration for their own art projects.

Books About Winter

Also, add some other fun resources to make this a winter and art unit study.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

10 More Fantastic Q-Tip Painting Ideas

  1. Make this beautiful Field  Of Tulips Q-Tip Painting. This can be done and enjoyed by all age levels and you will get unique results.
  2. This Cotton Swab Flower Painting is a great challenge for older kids and gives them different techniques for using the q tip, shading, and adding a 3-D dimensional look.
  3. A simple but pretty way to introduce your preschooler to Roy G. Biv is this Q-Tip Rainbow Painting Craft.
  4. Learn How to Make Name Art With Pointillism for a craft that your kids will love to display in their room or hang on their door to let everyone know it’s their space.
  5. This Easy Q-Tip Painted Heart Art is so pretty and a great way to brighten up someone’s
  6. Here is a great Georges Seurat Pointillism Art Lesson for Kids where they can recreate their favorite painting of his.
  7. Perfect for winter, this Pointillism Snowflake Art project comes with a free printable template and is a beautiful way to bring winter inside even if you have no snow.
  8. How sweet is this simple Cotton Bud Dandelion Craft?
  9. While this one isn’t a painting idea I couldn’t let it go without mentioning when I saw it, so many uses when you learn How to Dye Q Tips For Play and Learning.
  10. Kids Art Project: Q-Tip Star Art.
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Finally, look how to make this q tip snowman.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

You will need:

  • Q Tips
  • Craft paint
  • Construction paper
  • 3 different sized round objects
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

First, create your snowman outline by tracing 3 round objects of varying sizes (like cups, bowls, cookie cutters, etc.) onto your construction paper with a pencil.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Place a small amount of white paint into something like a little paper disposable cup.

It makes for such easy cleanup and no paint brushes to wash either.

Give your child several Q-tips and demonstrate to them, if needed, how to follow the outline.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Have them dot to fill in the circles.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Continue until all three circles are filled in.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

They can also add snow falling down or a blanket across the ground.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Once the white is filled in, allow it to dry.

This is a great time for a cocoa break and a book.

Once the white is dry your child can add touches like buttons, eyes, a scarf, hat, and nose with any color craft paint they like.

Be sure to give them one q tip per color, again use cheap disposable cups from Dollar Tree for easy clean up.

Now at this point you can be done, or you can have your child completely fill in their page with dots to include sky, trees, etc.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, snow, snowman, winter crafts, winter season

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

November 10, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Look at these easy and fun Over And Under The Snow activities I have gathered to create a fun and free literature unit study for preschoolers (or even kindergarteners ). Also, you’ll love more ideas on my pages Winter Season Unit Study Free Lapbook & Hands-On Ideas, Best Homeschool Unit Studies and How to Homeschool Preschool.

Preschoolers can benefit from a literature unit study.

And you can easily turn it into a fun week-long theme that covers everything from language arts to science and even math.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

You will want to start each day by reading the entire book from start to finish.

You can choose the order you do these activities.

It is totally up to you and what works for you and your child.

Besides the book and some plastic animals, you can put this entire week together with less than $5 in supplies.

I picked up the pack of styrofoam balls, shaving cream, and baking soda that made up 3 of the week’s activities for $3.75 at Dollar Tree.

I have also included a few more ways to use these items to stretch the fun, learning, and budget.

Language Arts Day 1

The act of reading alone is a wonderful language arts activity.

As you read through the book you stimulate their imagination and expand their understanding of the world.

Reading aloud helps them to develop language and listening skills and is an important pre-reading activity to help them understand the written word.

But there are some places you can be intentional.

Throughout the book, some words will be brand new to your child. Take some time to go over them a bit before you read so that your child can understand and learn the new vocabulary.

Here are some new words that you might pick a couple from to focus on:

  • Glide- To move with a smooth continuous motion.
  • Flash- A quick view of something.
  • Tracks- A mark or line of marks left by a person or animal.
  • Huddle- To crowd together closely.
  • Morsels– A small piece of food.
  • Shelter- A place that gives temporary protection from weather or danger.
  • Gnaw-To bite or nibble something persistently.

Point out letters your child is already familiar with on the cover or throughout the book and have them name the letter.

New letters should be told to the child over and over until they have it down.  But make it fun! Talk about what letter f-f-fox starts with or o-o-over.

Finally, the shaving cream that you will be using later in the week can be squirted right onto the table and smoothed out a bit to practice drawing and writing letters with little fingers.

Sensory experiences like this often stick much better than dozens of tracing worksheets.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Also, add some of these books for a fun read aloud.

I lean toward living books then like to add in reference book when possible.

29 Winter Books to Read to Kids and For Kids Who Love to Read

Add in a few books to make your winter unit study complete. Add books for all ages.

Winter Is Coming

Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter.

As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins.

Hanna's Cold Winter

Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.

The Snow Day

A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow.

Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

Miss Maple's Seeds

What happens to seeds that don't sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them.

Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths.

Breadcrumbs

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen,"

Brave Irene: A Picture Book

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene.

Icefall

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle.

Poetree

The poem is indeed about the yearly cycle in the life of a tree. But it is also an intriguing poetic concoction.

The initial letters of each line in each stanza spell out a word that pertains to that tree's life cycle - SEED, GERMINATE, SHOOT, ROOTS, LEAVES, FLOWERS. It's a kids' acrostic.

Moominland Midwinter

Everyone knows the Moomins sleep through the winter. But this year, Moomintroll has woken up early.

So while the rest of the family slumber, he decides to visit his favorite summer haunts. But all he finds is this strange white stuff. Even the sun is gone! Moomintroll is angry: whoever Winter is, she has some nerve.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Blessed--or cursed--with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been seen as strange.

And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants

If Polar Bears Disappeared

The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals.

They can be Strong, like a walrus Tough, like a lemming Resilient, like an arctic fox.

But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear.

The Very, Very Far North

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making

The Longest Night

It is the longest night of the year, and the snow lies deep. All through the forest, animals long for dawn's warmth.

Strong and clever creatures boast that only they can bring back the sun. But the wind knows better.

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage

Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says.

The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig.

Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life.

Wolf in the Snow

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

The Snowflake Sisters

Crystal and Ivory snowflake take full advantage of this beautiful snowy evening in New York City as they travel to the park, fly through Time Square, journey past the Statue of Liberty, and more before coming in for their final landing of the day.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.

One Snowy Night (Percy the Park Keeper)

Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives.

But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.

Dog Driven

From the author of Ice Dogs comes a riveting adventure about a musher who sets out to prove her impaired vision won't hold her back from competing in a rigorous sled race through the Canadian wilderness. Perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy (Nature)

Forest animals, awakened by the birds' warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise.

Owl Moon

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream.

Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.

Here Comes Jack Frost

One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south.

When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!

Twelve Kinds of Ice

With the first ice—a skim on a sheep pail so thin it breaks when touched—one family’s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streambed, through sleeping orchards and beyond.

Blizzard

With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow.

Grandmother Winter

Grandmother Winter lives all alone with her snow-white flock of geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why?

To bring snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. To the woodland and all of its creatures, the arrival of winter is a gift.

Wild Child

Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed.

And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve.

Next add geography or history or both.

Geography Day 2

In preschool, this is focused on the study of people and how they relate to their world.

This means transportation, community helpers, family, emotions, and caring for our world.

You can talk about the relationship between the little girl and her father in the book.

And explain how they each felt throughout their exploration of the woods and ways that we can take care of the world we live in and the animals by respecting them during walks.

Who are helpers in places like this?

Park rangers and game wardens are likely brand-new community helpers to your child.

Explain to them what each does and how they help our world.

You can also focus on the geography of the animals throughout the story.

Where would you find red squirrels or voles for instance?

Next, add in some fun art. Here are some ideas.

Art Day 3

Create a fun puffy sensory paint by combining white craft paint with a little bit of shaving cream.

Then for an easy over and under the-snow activities use it to create a winter scene with areas for creatures over and under the snow.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study


Use a marker to draw trees in the background, encouraging your child to recreate the cover of the book if they like. Both free art and gently directed art are important parts of development.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Once the paint has dried your child can add animals above and below the snow to re-enact the book.

You can use plastic animals, print out small pieces of paper of winter animals, or let them draw some in.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

You do not need or want a full math curriculum at this age. Simply focus on number sense to begin with.

Math Day 4

As you read the book, have them count with you the number of animals on different pages.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Number sense includes counting and identifying quantities, number recognition, subitizing (glancing at small numbers and knowing the number).

One-to-one Correspondence- This is simply making the connection between a number and a physical item.

It involves the act of counting each object in a set once, with one touch per object.

 A simple activity you can do to help develop number recognition is to get multiples of an object.

For example, you can grab small styrofoam balls or white buttons to go along with the snow theme of the book and a single dice (two if they are working on higher than 1-5).

Let them roll the die and match the number with the correct number of objects.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Use positional words like over, under, inside, outside, behind, etc. and have your child move an object to demonstrate them.

This simple spatial activity is a precursor to geometry and measurement.

You can use styrofoam balls for all kinds of counting and adding and subtracting.

More Over and Under the Snow Activities

  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime
  • Over and Under the Snow Building Activity
  • Kindergarten Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting
  • Over and Under the Snow – A Storytime Activity
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids

Science Day 5

The science possibilities are wonderful in this book.

You can study specific animals and their habits, winter weather or both. I have an activity suggestion for this that gives you a concrete example of both.

You can take a deep dive into learning about the creatures above and below the snow by watching short videos on various animals.

Pouring over your favorite zoology books, observing these animals in nature in your own backyard, or at the zoo.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Or with fun hands-on activities like this Over and Under the Snow sensory bin with two ingredient snow as its base.

Over and Under the Snow Activities – Two Ingredient Snow

You will need:

  • Baking soda
  • unscented/sensitive shaving cream
  • Blue construction paper
  • Paintbrush

To create the 2 ingredient snow, combine baking soda with unscented shaving cream until a snowlike texture is reached.

If it’s too dry add more shaving cream, too wet, more baking soda.

I find that it is easiest to mix it with your hands. If it just holds together when squeezed it’s a great texture.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Fill the bottom of your chosen shallow container for the sensory bin with the “snow”.

Add small pinecones, twigs, etc. as well as plastic animals mentioned in the book like foxes, squirrels, beavers, frogs, black bears snowshoe hares, and owls.

The sensory bin is used for dramatic small-world play, fine motor skills, and as a wonderful base to work in science learning about animals as well as snow.

Over And Under The Snow Activities For a Free Literature Unit Study

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, life science, science, snow, unit studies, unit study, winter crafts, winter season

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

November 2, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a fun styrofoam snowman art activity to celebrate the wonders of winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Even if you don’t have much or any snow on the ground where you live you can still enjoy a sweet little indoor snowman that never melts as part of your unit study.

When studying winter, frigid temperatures, snow, snowflakes, and all that comes with it you will want a great hands-on activity or two to go along with it.

This is a great snowman art activity for teens but can be adapted to a simpler technique for any age with some help from you.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

I got the main pieces that I used in the activity from Dollar Tree, so it is super inexpensive.

I also bought 2 floral foam packs and Epsom salts for $3.75 with plenty of Epsom salts left over to use for crafts or soaking.

Add a few books like Nature Anatomy to study snowflakes, some winter facts, and another snowman craft or two and you have the makings of a fantastic winter study for the whole family to enjoy.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Don’t forget to include a yummy cup of hot cocoa loaded with marshmallows to make your lesson even more special.

5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

  1. Snow occasionally falls in unexpected places like Hawaii or the Sahara Desert. In 2011 the Atacama Desert in Chile got almost 32 inches of snow due to a rare cold front from Antarctica.
  2. When rain reaches the freezing point, which is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it turns into snow.
  3. Chionophobia is the persistent fear of snow, especially the fear of becoming trapped by snow.
  4. The highest snowfall ever recorded in 24 hours in the United States was 6.3 feet of snow and occurred in 1921 in Silver Lake, Colorado.
  5. There are an average of 105 snow-producing storms in the United States in a typical year, they typically last about 2 to 5 days.
Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Too, you’ll love these books about the winter season.

I always lean toward living books when I can find them then add in non-fiction books for reference.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

More Snowman Crafts for Winter

  • Here are Snow and Snowflake Facts for Kids and a Fun Hands-on Exploding Snowman activity.
  • Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime.
  • Crafts for Winter An Easy and Fun Polar Bear Fork Painting.
  • Let me show you How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts.
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments.
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity.
  • These Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities For Preschoolers are a great tool for open-ended play but also can encourage your child to develop their imagination and storytelling skills.
  • Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study.
  • Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers.
  • Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten.
  • Fun Selfie Salt Dough Gingerbread Kids Activity for Long Winter Nights.
  • Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids.

Finally, look at this snowman art activity.

Snowman Art Activity

You can have everyone in the family create a unique snowman to put a whole grouping on display.

You will need:

  • Styrofoam balls
  • Foam disk
  • Felt or fabric scraps
  • Skewer or dowel
  • Sticks
  • Buttons, beads, or beans
  • Epsom salt
  • Glitter-optional
  • Tacky glue, craft or School glue
Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

First, pour Epsom salts and some glitter to give it a little extra shimmer into a large shallow container and set aside.

Cover 3 styrofoam balls and the styrofoam disc in glue.

You can use school glue but I really like the tacky glue that I linked above.

It is nice and thick and holds very well.

To use the glue, squeeze some out into a container and use a paintbrush to coat the entire surface thickly.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Roll the balls in the Epsom salts until completely covered, gently tap off excess, and repeat to make sure all the glue is covered.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Do the same thing with the disc but leave the underside without glue or Epsom.

How to Make A Snowman Art Activity

Set aside and allow it to dry for several hours or overnight.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

While waiting for the glue to dry you can cut a long scrap of fabric or felt for a scarf, fringe the edge by making close little cuts in the end.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

I didn’t measure for the hat and your styrofoam balls may be a different size than mine so just eyeball it by wrapping felt around it to make sure it will fit.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Then bunch the top, tie it off with string, and make a little fringe, fold up the bottom edge once or twice, and then hot glue it.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Paint a small piece of stick orange to use as a carrot.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

You may at this point want to add a coat or two of either clear spray sealer or some Mod Podge to the covered styrofoam pieces to help everything stick together for long-term storage.

Push small sticks into the sides for arms.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Hot glue buttons down the front.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Push in buttons or beads for eyes and a smile.

Assemble the balls on top of your styrofoam disc using a short skewer or dowel roll pushed down through the base. Then push each layer down on top of that.

Press in the nose and hot glue the hat on top.

Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, snow, snowman, winter crafts, winter season

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

January 20, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for more winter craft ideas for kids, you’ll love this snow slime inspired by the book Animals in Winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Slime has been a hot sensory activity for years and it shows no signs of slowing down.

So, when I looked for a fun winter craft idea for kids, I looked no further than the box of borax to turn it into a wonderful stretchy slime as a base for winter animal play.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Even older kids love the relaxing and appealing texture of slime sliding through their fingers.

Playing with slime is a great way to take up some time on a long winter afternoon when you are stuck indoors.

In addition, it can be very calming as well.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn it into a simple lesson by adding a book and some winter animals.

This slime as I mentioned was inspired by Animals in Winter, Let’s Read and Find Out.

These books are great for younger elementary and teach concept in simple way without talking down to kids.

Winter Books and Snow Resources

When you add in more hands-on activities learning sticks.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. 

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and Under the Snow

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivean zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.

Then, add in ideas for studying about animals in the winter.

You can focus on one animal or just ask general questions about animals survive in the winter.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Animal Themed Questions

Talk about and explore the answers to some winter themed questions using books or the internet while your child plays with their snow slime

  • Why are some animal coats white?
  • What is hibernation?
  • Which types of animals hibernate?
  • How do animals get ready for winter?
  • How do animals not freeze in winter?
  • What is adaptation?
  • What is migration?
  • Do animals in your area hibernate or migrate?
  • What makes it snow? Does it snow where you live?

Besides the craft aspect of snow slime this is a great opportunity to talk about the science behind slime.

Slime is simple chemistry, and it is made through a chemical reaction between two main ingredients which are polyvinyl alcohol (glue) and borate ion (baking soda or borax).

Try dividing your mixture and adding more and less borax to it.

Then ask, what happens to the texture of the slime.

Additionally, here are more winter unit study resources.

More Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

  • Snow and Snowflake Facts for Kids and Fun Hands-on Exploding Snowman
  • Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
  • Cardinal Birds in Winter and Birch Trees Easy Watercolor Kids Activity
  • Cute and Simple Snowman Story Stones Winter Art Activities
  • Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers
  • How to Make an Adorable Toilet Roll Snowman for Winter Crafts
  • Easy and Fun Pinecone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 21 Hands On Homeschooling Ideas to Keep the Winter Chill Off {Activities for Tots to Teens}
  • Free Winter Copywork for Middle School – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
  • Fun Winter Craft Ideas for Middle School Homeschool

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Finally, let’s make some fun snow slime.

How to Make Snow Slime

Here is a list of supplies:

  • 8 oz bottle school glue
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 1-2 teaspoons borax
  • Blue glitter
  • Craft paint-optional
  • Bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon for stirring
Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

First, pour the school glue and half of the water into a large bowl and stir to combine thoroughly.

In a second container dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of borax into the other ½ cup of warm water.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Mix in as much glitter as you like, you could also add a little paint at this point if you wanted to color it. Blue would be so pretty.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Add the borax mixture to the glue mixture just a teaspoon or two at a time until your slime has the right consistency.

It may take a minute for each addition to mix in well and reduce the stickiness.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

You want it just a bit sticky but not enough to make it hard to get it off your hands.

Two to three tablespoons seemed about right for us and you can always add more borax but once you add too much it’s hard to fix it.

Now, add bowls, plastic animals, winter themed cookie cutters, craft sticks for cutting, and other small play items to your slime to keep the fun going for hours.

Store slime in an airtight container between uses.

Remove slime from bowl and knead for 1 minute to combine. Heads up: Children should wash hands well after each use.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, physical science, science, slime, snow, winter crafts, winter season

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