Montessori and Preschool Activities for Winter

Preschoolers really enjoy winter activities! The winter season is a great opportunity to introduce children to new experiences, concepts and skills. Below you’ll find some great resources from around the web to help you create a winter theme for your classroom and provide fun and engaging preschool activities for winter.

Montessori and Preschool Winter Activities

Montessori Preschool Activities for Winter: Hands-on Learning

In Montessori education, we aim to give children experiences with real life as much as possible. Preschoolers will enjoy practical life activities such as shoveling snow, scraping ice from the window pane, scrubbing boots and learning how to put on winter gear (snow pants, boots, coats, mittens, scarves!) These activities are not only fun but also help children to develop fine motor skills, coordination and independence.

Preparing simple treats like hot cocoa is another fun activity for preschoolers. Not only do children get to enjoy a warm and delicious drink, but they also learn about following instructions, measuring ingredients, and kitchen safety.

Shoveling snow
Scraping ice from the window pane
Scrubbing boots
Learning how to put on winter gear (snow pants, boots, coats, mittens, scarves!)
Preparing simple treats like hot cocoa

Montessori Language Area: Winter Vocabulary and Sequencing

For the Montessori Language Area, create nomenclature cards for common winter vocabulary such as clothing, winter animals, and winter activities. These cards can be used to introduce new words, build vocabulary and encourage children to express themselves.

Sequencing cards are another great tool to help children understand the order of events. Create cards with step-by-step instructions on how to get dressed, make a snowman, and make hot chocolate. Children can practice following the sequence and retelling the story in their own words.

Nomenclature cards for common winter vocabulary such as clothing, winter animals, winter activities etc.
Sequencing cards such as how to get dressed, making a snowman, making hot chocolate
Try these winter phonics and literacy activities on your shelves
Read the book, The Mitten by Jan Brett, and work on some phonemic and phonological awareness skills

Montessori Science and Cultural Area: Winter Nature and Animals

For the Montessori Science and Cultural Area, try making bird feeders for winter birds. This is a great opportunity for children to learn about different types of birds and their needs.

Observing and recording the activity of winter birds and animals is another fun activity. Children can use binoculars, bird identification charts, and journals to record their observations.

Learning about what animals do in winter is also an interesting topic. Children can learn about hibernation, migration, and adaptation. This Animals in Winter pack has everything you need to get started.

Finally, learning about how ice is formed is another fascinating topic. You can experiment with freezing water in different containers, observe the formation of ice crystals, and learn about the temperature at which water freezes.

Making bird feeders for winter birds
Observing and recording the activity of winter birds and animals
Learning about what animals do in winter
Learning about how ice is formed

All these activities will help children to understand and appreciate the winter season while having fun and developing new skills. Use these resources to create a winter theme for your classroom and provide fun and engaging preschool activities for winter.

Winter Activities from Trillium Montessori

These are some of the additional activities we have had in our class over the years during the winter months. Click the images to go to the blog post for more details.