Winter
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Finding Joy in the Winter
On Monday I shared tips for surviving the winter in the classroom. We can go a bit further today and think about ways to really bring joy into your daily moments even when it’s cold and gray outside. The words winter and joy don’t always go together for me. I can definitely find that joy in December when everything is lit up for the holidays and I’m excited about the first snowflakes, but by the time we get into January and February it all feels bleak and dreary. There are a few things that I can always count on to spark that joy and wonder though. The first things that…
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Surviving Winter in the Classroom
These winter months are always the most difficult for me, and I know I’m not alone in that. They come with all of the cold and challenging weather that makes it so hard to get outside, which means children have tons of energy and way less opportunity to use it. That energy often comes out in unanticipated ways. Winter also brings us shorter, cloudier days which has a major impact on moods. Finally these months at the beginning of the year follow the excitement of the holidays and can feel like a bit of a let down after the lead up and excitement that is the rush of Halloween, Thanksgiving,…
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Snow Toys!
We’ve gotten a ton of snow lately and my daughter could not be more excited to play in it. Here are my favorite snow supplies for home and the classroom. All links are affiliates. Snow Brick mold Bulk knit gloves Indoor snow balls Spray bottles Snowball tool Snowman decorating set Sleds
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Snow Play Ideas
We’re supposed to have the snowiest winter in many years – according to local meteorologists – so I’m making sure that I’m prepared with all of the supplies we need to enjoy it fully. Here are some of my favorite snow play ideas so that you can get in on the fun with us! Spraying colors on the snow – Fill spray bottles with water and add food coloring to each bottle. Take them outside and make your snow beautiful! Eye droppers and colored water – This similar activity is better for indoors. fill a bin with snow and offer bowls of colored water and eye droppers. Mittens, gloves, and…
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Printable Holiday Decorations
I’m all about making the holiday season a little easier, that’s actually what inspired these printable decor sets! Being able to print off decorations that I can use in the classroom has saved me so many times. They’re perfect for the last minute, and once they’ve been printed I can easily store them in a file folder for next year – they don’t take up a ton of space. Each printable classroom decoration set includes a bunting banner, door decor, name tags, cupcake picks, treat bag toppers, and a craftivity. Here are a few sets that would be perfect to add a little holiday spirit to the classroom. Click on…
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Favorite Sick Day Products
I think we’ve finally gotten rid of the germs that invaded us last week, but ugh, it was definitely a WEEK! Here are some of the products that we couldn’t do without while recovering (all links are affiliates). Pedialyte Freezer Pops – Popsicles are an everyday staple in our house, but even morse so when sore throats are present. These popsicles from pedialyte have the added bonus of the trusted hydration formula. Lolleez Sore Throat Suckers – These are a safe way to give little ones the relief of a cough drop, without worrying about the potential chocking hazard. They also feel like a special treat that kids only get…
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Snow Day Ideas and Traditions
We got hit with a nasty ice storm this week, which led to our third snow day of the year (the first two were for an extreme cold snap). Since I work from home, snow days mean that my daughter is home with me. I thought I’d share some of our favorite ways to spend a snow day – but before we get to that, If you’re in a program where you end up getting more children on a snow day, here’s a post that might be helpful! Now to the fun stuff! I’m a huge fan of leaning into the absolute relaxation of a snow day. Sometimes a surprise…
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Easy Snowball Pompoms
Yarn pompoms are one of my all time favorite crafts, I’ve been making them since I was in elementary school! You can’t deny how much these white poms look like snowballs, which makes them absolutely perfect for this time of year. Yarn pompoms are so easy to make that even young preschoolers can do this with a little help. Follow these steps and make sure to scroll all the way down to see all of the different ways that the finished pompoms can be used in the classroom! You need three simple supplies to make these poms: Start by taking one end of the yearn and wrapping it around the…
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Paper Snowflakes – Elevated!
It’s been COLD here, so I’ve been spending all of my time inside. For me, that always leads to crafting! My daughter wanted to cut paper snowflakes, so we got out the paper and scissors and went to town. I feel in love with a couple of my surprise designs and wanted to take them a little farther. It turned into a fun, calming project that would be great for children of any age, so of course I had to share it here. I started with a simple paper snowflake, here’s one before opening it up – which is always the best part! And the the dramatic reveal of what…
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Warm Weather December Themes
I’ve always lived where we get to experience 4 distinct seasons and the changes in weather that come with them. That’s played a role in my lesson planning for sure, because all of these seasons are relevant to my students. What do you do when this isn’t the case? Maybe your students only experience one or two different types of weather, does it make sense to teach preschoolers about snow when your temperatures never dip low enough to get any of the white stuff? There are two schools of thought here. One would say stick to what the children in your class will personally experience. I tend to agree with…
