Walking in a Winter Wonderland! A winter thematic unit Winter is a beautiful time of year- icicles glistening from the rooftops, snowflakes falling all around, and the possibility of an unexpected snow day! Within this unit are several activities, crafts, and links which are used in my room to celebrate the beauty and fun of winter. I have also included winter poetry, songs, and fingerplays for you to enjoy. So, check it out- there's s-"no"-w telling what you will find!  Art Projects Snowman Surprise One of the first art projects we do at the beginning of winter is construct a snowman. This fine poem, courtesy of Tia's Poetry Links, is a perfect frame for this project. To complete this project, you will need: 1 3x3 white square 1 4x4 white square 1 5x5 white square 1 2x7 red rectangle 1 1x4 black rectangle 1 3x3 black square 6 1x4 brown rectangles 1 small orange triangles 1 blue piece of construction paper 1 black magic marker DIRECTIONS 1. Have children round edges of 5x5 white square with scissors in order to make a circle. Glue to bottom of blue construction paper. 2. Next, round edges of 4x4 white square. Glue on top of 5x5 circle. 3. Round edges of 3x3 square. Glue to top of 4x4 circle. 4. Glue 1x4 black rectangle to bottom of 3x3 black square. Glue to top of snowman head. 5. Cut 2x7 red rectangle in half vertically. Glue one piece across snowman's neck. Attach the other horizontally from one end. 6. Attach one brown rectangle to each side of the 4x4 white circle. 7. Attach three brown rectangles to end of each of the snowman's arms. 8. Glue orange triangle to top white 3x3 circle. 9. Use black marker to draw face on snowman. If you choose, children can also draw or paint a background to picture; glue buttons on snowman, etc. Be creative!     Here are a few of my favorites which we completed in class. The kids really get into the facial details-check out those sunglasses!   Cotton-ball Santas These cute Santas will decorate your room with Christmas cheer! In order to make these adorable Santas, you will need: 1 4x5 red rectangle 1 4x4 red square 1 2x2 red square 1 4x4 pink square 3 2x4 white rectangles 1 3x3 white square 1 piece blue construction paper 4 cotton balls 1 black marker DIRECTIONS 1. Have children use scissors to round the top edges of the 4x5 red rectangle. Glue to bottom of blue piece of construction paper.This will be Santa's shoulders. 2. Use scissors to round edges of 4x4 pink square. Glue on top of shoulders. This will be Santa's head. 3. Round edges of 3x3 white square. Glue to bottom of pink circle. This will be Santa's beard. 4. Round edges of 3 2x4 white rectangles. Glue one on each side of Santa's head, and one on top of white beard. These are Santa's hair and moustache. 5. Round edges of 2x2 red square. Glue on top of white moustache. This is Santa's nose. 6. Make vertical cuts into 4x4 red square in order to form a triangle. Glue to top of pink circle. This is Santa's hat. 7. Glue 3 cotton balls to bottom of Santa's hat and one to the top. 8. Use marker to add eyes. HO! HO! HO! Deck the halls with happy Santas!   Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer This wide-eyed Rudolph idea was borrowed from my fellow teacher, Debbie Wilson. In order to create these cute Rudolphs, you will need: 2 3x4 white rectangles (for eyes) 2 brown ovals (for ears) 2 2x2 black squares (for eyes) 1 2x2 red square (for nose) 1 5x6 brown rectangle (for face) 2 4x4 brown squares (for antlers) DIRECTIONS 1.Use scissors to make 2 diagonal cuts on 5x6 brown rectangle. Student should be left with what looks like a house. This is Rudolph's face. 2. Glue 3x4 white rectangles onto Rudolph's face. These are the whites of Rudolph's eyes. 3.Use scissors to round 2 2x2 black squares. Glue onto center of white rectangles. These are the inner parts of Rudolph's eyes. 4. Have children trace handprint onto 2 4x4 brown squares for ears. Cut out and glue to top of reindeer head. These are Rudolph's antlers. 5. Glue 2 brown ovals to sides of reindeer head. These are Rudolph's ears. Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!   Handprint Snowflakes In order to create these simple snowflakes, all you need is: 1 5x5 blue square white poster paint glitter DIRECTIONS 1. Paint child's palm white and stamp on blue paper. This forms the center part of the snowflake. 2. Paint index finger white and make 8 fingerprint stamps around the white handprint circle. These form the outer edge of the snowflake. 3. Connect outer fingerprint stamps with inner circle with a paintbrush. 4. Have child sprinkle glitter on snowflake while paint is still wet and allow to dry. Voila! Suddenly it's snowing...INSIDE! Literacy Connections Interactive Word Wall For each theme in our classroom, I create an interactive word wall for my children to use in their writing. Each vocabulary word has a picture card and a card with only the written word. The child can come up to the chart and select whichever card he/she needs for journal work. What you see in this picture is a partial list of the words which I use in our winter unit. Other words you may want to include are: snowman   penguin   snow  Santa  present  sled   ornament   tree   star  bow   wrapping paper   lights   Christmas   Hanaukkah   Kwanzaa   Old Man Winter We read a book about Old Man Winter and discuss who he is. The children's answers are a riot- when I asked this past year, they all thought he was some sort of farmer! After the kids have come up with sufficient answers and I have written them down, I send them to their seats with a blue piece of construction paper on which they will draw what they think Old Man Winter looks like. While they are drawing, I call them over to my computer and ask them if they were Old Man Winter, what would they say to boys and girls in the winter time. I type it out and print it up. Later, I will cut the answers apart and attach them to the children's pictures. In order to add a special touch to the children's pictures, I mix together 1/2 cup of water and epsom salts. When used to paint over the children's pictures, it dries to a glittery, almost frosty, finish. Really cool-the kids love adding that extra touch and I keep the frost a secret. You will hear lots of oohs and aahs when the pics dry!   Winter Poetry All poetry is courtesy of one of my FAVORITE educational sites, Tia's Poetry Links! January In January it's so nice while slipping on the sliding ice to sip hot chicken soup with rice. Sipping once sipping twice sipping chicken soup with rice. The Snow Blanket Beautiful feathery flakes of snow Over the woodland and field they go, Making a blanket so warm and deep, Over the flowers that lie asleep. Snow Song I like to walk on fresh fallen snow The kind that whispers and speaks. It sings a song as I walk along With crackles and scrunches and squeaks. December In December I will be a baubled bangled Christmas tree with soup bowls draped all over me. Merry once merry twice merry chicken soup with rice. January January Now is here - - A fine new start For a whole new year. In January, When there's snow We get our sleds And away we go. January sparkles. January's bold. January huffs and puffs. January's cold. Mittens Thumbs in the thump place Fingers all together, This is the song We sing in mitten weather. When it is cold It doesn't matter whether Mittnes are wool or made of finest leather. Mittens Mitts for te snow time When the world is white. Mittens for my two hands, Mittens left and right. Mittens left and right. Mittens with a thumb place, Mittnes make me feel like A bug inside a rug! Thumbs in the Thumb - Place Thumbs in the thumb - place Fingers all together! This is the song We sing in mitten - weather. When it is cold, It doesn't matter whether Mittens are wool, Or made of finest leather. This is the song We sing in mitten - weather: Thumbs in the thumb - place Fingers all together. Snowflakes I like snowflakes. Ask me why. Why? Because they fall from the sky, Because they seem to dance and fly, Because they pile up so high, Because they are so white and dry. Because they melt in my hand, Because they're quiet when they land. Because, because, because, That's why, I like snowflakes! Snow Snow makes whiteness where it falls, The bushes look like popcorn balls, And places where I always play, Look like somewhere else today. The Snowman and the Bunny A chubby little snowman Had a carrot nose. Along came a bunny, And what do you suppose? That hungry little bunny Looking for his lunch, Ate the snowman's carrot nose Crunch, crunch, crunch. Crick! Crack! Crick! Crack! Wind at my back. Snit! Snat! Snatched off my hat. Whew! Whew! It blew and it blew. Snapped at my ears, Flapped at my shoes, And now I've got only One mitten to lose. Snowflakes Snowflakes are falling Are filling the air. Look at the footprints I see over there. Was it a rabbit Or was it a bear? Come let us follow it Back to its lair. January January Now is here A brand new start For a brand new year! Icicles We are little icicles Melting in the sun. Can you see tiny teardrops Falling one by one? Snow The snow fell softly all the night It made a blanket soft and white. It covered houses, flowers and ground, But did not make a single sound. First Snow Snow makes whiteness where it falls. The bushes look lie popcorn balls. And places where I always play. Look like somewhere else today. Snowflakes The snowflakes are falling By one and by twos. There is snow on my jacket And snow on my shoes. There is snow on the bushes And snow on the trees. It's snowing on everything Now, if you please. The Snowman First the body Then the head. A stove pipe hat, A scarf of red. Sticks for arms, And coal black toes. Pebbles for eyes And a carrot nose. Snowflakes Snowflakes, snowflakes, Twirl around. Snowflakes, snowflakes, Falling down. Snowflakes, snowflakes, Touch my tongue. Snowflakes, snowflakes, My song is sung. Snowflakes, snowflakes, Twirl around. Snowflakes, snowflakes, Falling down. Snowflakes Snowflakes are falling On the ground, On our houses and In our town. Oh, oh, oh, out we go, Oh, oh, oh, in the snow Making snowmen, Sliding too, There are lots of Things to do! The Snowman First you make 3 snowballs Big and fat and round. Then you roll the snowballs All along the ground. Then you build the snowman One - - two - - three. Then you have a snowman Don't you see? Then the sun shines All around, And melts the snowman To the ground. Snow Snow, Snow, Lots of snow, Everywhere we look and Everywhere we go. Snow in the sandbox, Snow on the slide. Snow on the bicycle Left outside. Snow on the steps, And snow on my feet. Snow on the sidewalk. Down the street. The Snow Fell On the Houses The snow fell on the houses, The snow fell on the houses, The snow fell on the houses, it covered all I could see. And all that I could see, and all that I could see, Was snow on everything, Snow on everything, Snow on everything Was all that I could see. Snowflakes The snowflakes are falling By one and by twos. There is snow on my jacket And snow on my shoes. There is snow on the bushes And snow on the trees. It's snowing on everything Now, if you please. Great Links Thematic Units/Theme Ideas Snow Fun-includes books, storytelling, songs, and much more! Nuttin' But Kids-includes center ideas, games, songs, poetry! Poetry, science, great craft ideas! Teel Family Snow Unit- literature, science information, and lots of terrific thematic ideas! P is for Penguin mini-unit Lessons and Activities Curious George in the Snowby H.A. Rey lesson What Do Salt Trucks Do? Snowballs by Lois Ehlert lesson Meltdown snow melting activity Make Icepops Ice Cream in a Baggie Frost Snow, Water, Ice Winter Math Literature Activities Check out Jan Brett's website for activities for all of her winter books! More to come! Check back soon! Our baubled, bangled, Christmas tree!