Chestnut Grove Academy: The Snowy Day Unit Study

Here is a sneak peak at the preschool curriculum I’m working on!

It is titled -

Montessori Inspired, Manipulative Rich, Literature Based, Hand’s On Preschool Curriculum for ages 2-5

by Jennifer Altman MEd/ECE

Each Month there will be several suggested books as well as many suggested activities. Since the curriculum is designed for ages 2-5, you will not do every activity each week. Just pick the ones that interest you and your child and are on your child’s level. The themes for each month tend to go together, so activities can carry over from week to week as well. Here is a sneak at one week for January -

(Click image to go to book website)
Other books: The Snow Day by Keatts, The Mitten by Brett

Letter Recognition: Letter S Box/Tray – Fill with items that start with the letter S.

Cooking: Make Snow Cones

Lots of snow themed snacks http://www.childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/seasonal/267-snow-activities.html?start=3

Cognitive: Snowflake Match (see attached)

Provide several pairs of gloves and/or mittens for your child to try on and match.

Science: Freezing – fill a small plastic bag half full with water (or have your child do it) and put in the freezer to see what happens, after frozen remove it and observe the ice melt. You can even put toys or fruit in it before freezing and then try to get the objects out of it when frozen. Watch Sid the Science Kid MY ICE POP - http://www.pbs.org/teachers/includes/content/sid/change/frozenfruit.pdf

Make Borax Snowflakes http://chestnutgroveacademy.blogspot.com/2011/08/alaska-state-study.html#.UPtz1CdZWSo

Hot or Cold File Folder Game

Sensory - Sand & Water Table – Fill the water table (or a large basin) with snow (bring in from outdoors if you have some) or blocks of ice (freeze in a variety of sized containers) if snow is not available or fill a bin with InstaSnow Use mittens to stay warm. Provide Artic animals for play.

Fill the Water Table with sudsy water and white puff bath sponges http://mysmallpotatoes.com/2012/11/29/weekly-kids-co-op-bubbly-bowl-of-snowballs-a-wintery-themed-sensory-activity-for-babies-and-toddlers/

Put some plain shaving cream on the table to play in. (It’s great for cleaning the table too!)

Freeze colored water in ice cube trays and then paint on white paper with them

Art: Paint with white paint on blue paper to make snowy pictures

Draw with white chalk on black paper

Make Snow Glitter Puffy Paint – Mix 1/2c Flour, 1/2c salt, 1/2c water and put in a squeeze bottle. Squeeze onto paper. It dries 3D and sparkles! You can paint over it after dry for another effect.

Use a Q-tip as a paint brush (dot paint) to make a wintery snow scene

Make snow paint and paint a snow man (or other winter scene) – it’s made from glue and shaving cream http://hojosteacherstore.blogspot.com/2012/01/finally-completed-pinterest-project.html

Make snow globes with small jars (Stage 3 baby jars are perfect) use a small tree or other winter type object, add water and glitter then seal the lid with hot glue http://chestnutgroveacademy.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-activities.html#.UPtk_ydZWSo

Fine Motor – Using coffee filters or white paper and scissors your child can cut out snowflakes

Look through magazines find and cut out pictures of things you would wear in cold weather. You could also look for pictures of things to wear in warm weather and sort them. Or use the Hot or Cold – What to Wear cards from Montessori Print Shop

Snow Dough – add rock salt to playdough for texture, or make frosty fluff snow with cornstarch and shaving cream

Courtesy of Keepin’ it Kool in Kinderland

More Snowy Playdough Recipes and Ideas http://livingmontessorinow.com/2013/01/14/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-winter-playdough-activities/

Salt Tray Writing – Put some salt into a tray, or shoebox lid (or something else similar). Your child can practice writing with his/her finger or using a craft stick. Depending on their age and ability, use the Prewriting cards in the printable links below for them to copy the forms in the salt. So for younger kids, have them make lines (curved,straight, diagonal), when they master that move onto letters. When forming letters have them start at the TOP.

Snowman Playdough Mats http://www.prekinders.com/2011/12/snowman-play-dough-mats/

Math: Cut snowflakes of various sizes and have your child put them in order by size

Using wagon wheel pasta or honeycomb cereal as snowflakes, count out the number of snowflakes as the number on the snowman card (use could also use cotton balls or white pompoms). For older children they can add the numbers. (see attached)

Make snowmen and/or snowflakes using pattern blocks http://www.prekinders.com/2009/11/christmas-pattern-blocks/

More Snow Themed Math Ideas http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com/2013/01/montessori-inspired-winter-math-activities.html

Music and Movement: Play Musical Freeze – Play the music, when it stops FREEZE

Dance with white scarves and pretend to be snowflakes

Play “Hot and Cold” Hide and Seek – Hide something and then give clues of Hot and Cold to say if they are close or not close to the object.

Let your child ‘ice skate’ in his/her socks on an uncarpeted floor surface
Have an indoor snowball fight http://frugalfun4boys.com/2012/12/21/indoor-texas-snowballs/

Printables on the web:
The Mitten Printables http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2013/01/the-mitten-printables/
More Mitten Printables http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/01/printables-for-mitten-by-jan-brett/
The Mitten Odd and Even Number Sort http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2013/01/the-mitten-even-and-odd-number-sort/
The Snowy Day Printables http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2013/01/the-mitten-even-and-odd-number-sort/
Winter Themed Pack http://3dinosaurs.com/wordpress/index.php/free-winter-pack/
Snow and Ice Pack http://www.2teachingmommies.com/2012/01/snow-ice-expanded.html
Winter Fun Pack http://www.2teachingmommies.com/2012/01/winter-fun-expanded.html
Winter Themed Tot Packs http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/WinterFunTotPack.html