| Break free of the winter doldrums with some | | | | activity turned science lesson for the preschool set. |
| hands-on crafting fun geared toward preschoolers. | | | | Have the children decorate a Styrofoam cup with a |
| Rare is the child who does not delight in glue and paint, | | | | silly face using magic markers. Fill the cup about 3/ 4 |
| so snap on the smocks and get started. The four | | | | of the way full with potting soil and place a dried bean |
| easy winter crafts below will keep preschoolers | | | | into the dirt. Place the cups in a warm place that |
| occupied and learning at the same time. | | | | receives light and watch for the beans to sprout. The |
| Puffy Snow People | | | | children love drawing the faces on their cups and |
| Combine a handful of fluffy white cotton balls, a stick | | | | getting dirty in the soil while the teacher has an instant |
| of glue and a snowman shape cut from construction | | | | lesson plan in hand. |
| paper for this fun and easy craft. Children will enjoy | | | | Mitten Memories |
| gluing cotton balls on their snow person and teachers | | | | It is never too early to have children tell of things that |
| will enjoy the low-mess glue sticks. For a jaunty cap | | | | they remember, and the winter is full of fascinating |
| cut a top hat from black construction paper that can | | | | memories and stories. In this simple craft the children |
| be glued on after the cotton balls are adhered. Small | | | | will trace from a pattern and cut out two mitten |
| circular pieces of construction paper can be used for | | | | shapes from construction paper. On each mitten they |
| buttons if so desired. Use the puffy snow people as a | | | | can recite to the teacher a fun winter memory that |
| tie in to a discussion about the science of snow. | | | | she will write onto the cut out. After a memory has |
| Symmetry Snowflakes | | | | been written on each mitten the child can decorate |
| Teaching symmetry starts in the preschool years. It | | | | them on the blank side and tie a length of yarn to |
| can be made easy with a simple snowflake craft that | | | | connect the two pieces. For very young preschoolers |
| will allow the children to practice their fine motor skills. | | | | assistance may be required with tying the yarn. Hang |
| Have them take a sheet of white construction paper | | | | the mittens around the room or on a classroom bulletin |
| and fold it in half lengthwise (like a hot dog bun) and | | | | board for display. This activity is great to integrate into |
| then again in half widthwise (like a hamburger bun). | | | | story time or show and tell. Consider sending the |
| Prepare a snowflake quarter template for them to | | | | completed mittens home with a note asking parents to |
| trace onto the folded paper after it has been neatly | | | | share their favorite winter memories with their children. |
| lined up along the folded sides. Safety scissors will help | | | | Crafts provide a wonderful opportunity to integrate |
| them cut out the pattern. Once the snowflakes have | | | | other subjects into a lesson. They do not have to be |
| been cut out, open them to see the symmetry. Add | | | | overly messy or expensive to be effective and fun. |
| coloring, glitter or glue on sparkles to make the | | | | Allow children the freedom to express their ideas and |
| snowflakes stand out. | | | | memories this winter with the easy craft projects |
| Silly Seedling | | | | above. |
| Bean plants grow year round and are a great craft | | | | |