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Resources for Winter Fun Studies
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The opportunites for learning about winter and related topics are great! Study the arctic animals and native peoples, learn about the science of weather and snow, read about how our ancestors in this country handled the cold weather and more! Take a look at the links below to get you started. Be sure to review the book suggestions too. You may not find a book you want to buy- but reviewing the suggestions may help you come up with your own ideas about what to study during the winter season. Have a great January!
Mom's Picks:
SnowCrystals.com - This site offers an absolutely fascinating look at snow. Up close photographs of actual snow crystals that are truly amazing. Here you'll also find information about how snowflakes are formed, the physics of snowflakes, activities for the kids and much more! Definitely worth a visit on a cold winter day.
Enchanted Learning Winter Theme Page - There is lots to choose from here, including information about winter, the seasons and weather in general. Plus you can find snowman and snowflake crafts and cards, a poem, a go along craft for "The Mitten" and winter printable books and worksheets. Mini unit studies on the arctic and antarctic are available as well. Some of these materials are available free of charge, others can only be accessed by members. But there are plenty of resources here whether you are a member or not. Also, download a 2007 Calendar featuring various artists throughout the yaer. Several other printable calendars are available as well.
Mrs. McGowan's Winter Fun! - A teacher created site with recipes for snow dough and snow soup, instructions for making snow people, internet projects, online winter activities a list of winter books to read and more.
Education World's Winter Lesson Ideas - This site offers a "blizzard" of winter lessons. More than 50 cross-cirricular activites are provided. Several activities focus on the winter solstice. Plus there are crafts, activities and recipes.
Science Made Simple - Read excerpts from "How Do Animals Spend the Winter?" about hibernation. The site includes 4 projects you can do to learn more about animals in winter. The site advertises the monthly "Science Made Simple" newsletter.
Free Snow Lapbook by In the Hands of a Child
Other links:
Winter Solstice Page at Science World - This site offers an introduction to the definition of the winter solstice and a QuickTime movie illustrating the Earth's equatorial plane relative to the sun.
Jan Brett - 3,921 pages of free activitites, coloring pages and projects many related to author Jan Brett's characters. The site offers coloring pages, online activities, videos, contests and more.
Kids Domain - There are lots of things to do at this site. You copy clip art, print out activities, find a list of winter books to read or tips on staying occupied inside and out. This site is ad heavy.
DLTK's Holiday Activities - In addition to Martin Luther King, Jr.s birthday on January 15th, A.A. Milne's birthday falls on the 18th day of January. Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756. January is also National Thank You month, Australia Day is January 26th and National Puzzle Day is January 29th. Click on the link to see DLTK's entire list of upcoming events and holidays during the first 3 months of the year.
Windows XP Winter Fun Screensavers - Get into the spirit of things with a frosty screen saver.
Kidz Corner - Learn to make a simple bird feeder plus get information on what specific types of birds eat at this site. Follow the "Stuff to Do" links to get directions to build a bird house too.
National Bird Feeding Society - This site has tips on creating a bird-friendly backyard. Use the identification search engine to find out what birds you've seen this winter. Register to receive the Wild Bird News e-newsletter or view a copy online.
DLTK's Winter Activities for Children - Note: You will have to allow pop-ups to see this page. The site offers free winter themed coloring pages, crafts, games and puzzles, printables, poems, recipes and lots more!
Snowflake Generators: (caution, I can't verify the safety of the downloadable programs offered at some of these sites)
Books for the season:
Click here  the latest Winter-themed books for children and teens at half.com.
Winter books for childrenat Christian Book Distributors
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Winter
By Maria Rius
When winter arrives, boys and girls bundle up against the cold, then hurry outside to run, slide, and play in the falling snow. The test is easy enough for beginning readers--or parents can read the story aloud to delight preschool children. A two-page section at the end of this book speaks to parents and teachers, suggesting additional things they can explain to very young children about the change of seasons.
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Little House on the Prairie Series #6: The Long Winter, Full-Color Collector's Edition, Softcover
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
The special Collector's Editions of the Little House on the Prairie series features Garth Williams interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.
The old Indian in Harthorn's store warned that the coming winter would have seven months of blizzards. The first one strikes in October, and the town of De Smet is soon snowed under. Laura and her family move to town to weather out the winter, but once the trains stop running, the food supply dwindles. When Almanzo Wilder volunteers to go search for wheat, the townspeople anxiously hope that he will succeed. This beautiful full-color collector's edition will be a treasured possession for many years. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. A 1941 Newbery Honor book.
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Winter Lullaby
By Barbara Seuling
As the natural world changes when winter approaches, young children worry about the creatures they see around them. Where do the ducks go? Will they find shelter from the cold? Will they be safe? In Winter Lullaby, Barbara Seuling's reassuring, gentle verse reveals what animals do to survive the changing seasons. Greg Newbold's stunning paintings illuminate what happens when the outside world turns cold, and creatures--as well as children--seek warmth and safe refuge from the coming of winter.
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Winter on the Farm, My First Little House Books
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Winter on the Farm introduces Almanzo Wilder, the young boy from Farmer Boy who would one day marry Laura Ingalls. Almanzo goes through his afternoon barn chores, and then sits down to eat a hearty farm supper with his family. In this first book about Almanzo, young readers are able to share in the warmth and joy of another Little House family and celebrate new Little House adventures.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now the youngest readers can share in her adventures in these very special picture books adapted from the beloved stories. Recommended for ages 3 to 8.
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Winter Days in the Big Woods, My First Little House Books
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
In Winter Days in the Big Woods, Laura has many adventures during the winter days in the little house in the big woods. She helps Ma and Pa make the little log cabin snug and cozy for the snowy days ahead.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers. Now the youngest readers can share in her adventures in these very special picture books adapted from the beloved stories. Renie Graef's warm, color paintings, inspired by Garth Williams' classic Little House illustrations, bring Laura and her family lovingly to life. Recommended for ages 3 to 8.
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Exploring the Science of Nature: Winter
In winter, the days are short and cold. Snow can fall, so plants an animals must take precautions. Why exactly are the days so short and cold? What is snow, and why does it fall? How do plants and animals survive in winter? The answers to these and may more intriguing questions are brought to light in Exploring the Science of Nature.
Science is everywhere in our world, even in nature. Learning about the science of the natural world is increasingly important as Earth's nonrenewable resources become rarer. Exploring the Science of Nature provides young readers with vital information to expand their knowledge of the natural world and help them gain the awareness to respect and conserve it. Recommended for ages 5 to 9.
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Animals and the Seasons
By Susanne Riha
Where's the best place to see birds on a sunny February day? Who's that singing in April's ponds? What's the field mouse up to in August? Featuring lovely, detailed illustrations for each calendar month, this wonderful storybook reveals how animals live in spring, summer, winter, and fall. 30 pages, hardcover from Blackbirch.
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Sisters In Time Series: Rebekah In Danger, Peril at Plymouth Colony (1621)
It's no exaggeration to say that Rebekah and her family are in mortal danger. The first winter at Plymouth Colony is bitterly cold, many of the pilgrims are sick, and food is in short supply.
Ten-year-old Rebekah does her part to help, taking on long hours of chores and tending to the weak. She'll do all that she can to keep herself and her family strong - but what if she fails? She prays that God won't allow her, or her parents, to fall sick and die as so many others have.
Let the Sisters in Time series take you back to 1621--where you may find that Rebekah Cunningham isn't that much different than you! Historical fiction for girls, ages 8-12.
This story is based on (and very similar to) Plymouth Pioneers from the American Adventure Series.
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Thomas Gets a Snowplow
By Rev. W. Awdry
Winter is coming and Thomas, being a small engine, needs to put on his snowplow. Thomas hates his snowplow; he thinks it makes him look funny, and when he has it on, the other, bigger engines tease him. But Thomas saves the day when a big storm comes up and Toby is stuck on his branch line.
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Annie and Bo and the Big Surprise
By Elizabeth Partridge
Annie and Bo are best friends. Tomorrow they are going ice skating. Bo has decided that he wants to give Annie a wonderful, big surprise. But what can he give her? His new drawing is too scary. He needs all his marbles for himself. And he would get cold without his yellow tail sock. Then Bo sees the moon shining on the snow, and it gives him an idea. The next day Bo worked hard and fast. He makes a big mess. Will Bo be able to keep his surprise hidden from Annie? Will Annie like her present? Even though things don't turn out as planned, both Annie and Bo enjoy a big surprise - not to mention the warmth and fun that friendship brings.
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The Bravest Dog Ever
By Natalie Standiford
It is one of the worst storms ever--the snow has not stopped for days and it is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of his sled team. And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. He is their only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story! Recommended for ages 6 to 9, grades 1 to 3.
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Snowflake Bentley
By Jacqueline Briggs Martin
From the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike; and each one is startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature. "Of all the forms of water the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied." -- Wilson Bentley. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. The 1999 Caldecott Medal winner.
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Kathy and the Big Snow
By Lee Burton
Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.
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Best Book of Polar Animals
By Gunzi
Penguins, polar bears, puffins, walruses, and other fascinating animals of the polar regions await discovery in this colorful and engaging book. Large and detailed full-color spreads, complemented by clear, concise text, introduce children to the lives of these highly adapted animals, while detailed illustrations and captions explore their habitats and behavior. An illustrated glossary and an index are included to sharpen young readers' reference skills. Ages 5-8. Hardcover.
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Living in a World of White: Where Survival Means Blending In
By Tanya Lee Stone
Sometimes survival means blending in to avoid the gaze of an enemy. Other times, camouflage enables an animal to lie in wait for a surprise attack on its prey. No matter how an animal uses its special appearance or abilities, each creature has adapted its behavior to perfectly suit the world in which it lives.
The Living in a World of series offers a unique view of how animals are shaped by their habitats and how they have adapted to survive within them.
- Arctic hares actually change the color of their fur to match the season
- Decorator crabs cover themselves with seaweed and other materials that make them nearly invisible on the ocean bottom
- Chameleons at rest blend with their surroundings, but they can change the color of their skin at will -- displaying bright yellows and oranges to attract a mate or scare an enemy
These are just a few of the many incredible ways that animals use camouflage to survive in their habitats.
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Arctic and Antarctic
By Barbara Taylor
A publishing phenomenon! Say the words "reference book" and most people think of something boring. But DK Eyewitness Books proves that doesn't have to be the case by showing readers in pictures what other books only tell them in words. What makes DK Eyewitness Books so compelling is a "lexigraphic" design style developed by Peter Kindersley. He created a design approach that integrated words to give meaning to the pictures. Rich with content, Eyewitness Books use a lively mix of full-color photographs and illustrations, cutaway and cross-section views, 3-D models, and maps to help the reader visualize the subject. Parents and educators quickly embraced the lexigraphic approach. The rest, as they say, is history.
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Arctic Peoples
By Mir Tamim Ansary
Come along with us as we meet some of America's first peoples. Turn the pages of Arctic Peoples to discover: how a house of snow can be warm and comfortable, what clothes we wear today were invented by Arctic peoples, how Arctic sled dogs can swim without getting wet. Each book in the Native Americas series explores a different area of our country and the people who first lived there. Find out how these people lived long ago, what happened when Europeans arrived, and how Native Americans today are keeping their cultures alive. Each book includes: colorful maps, photos, and illustrations, a section on famous Native Americans, a list of books to show you where you can learn more. 32 pages, softcover.
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Adventures of an Arctic Missionary #1, Mik-Shrok
By Gloria Repp
The year is 1950, and Alaska Territory is still a vast wilderness, unsettled and unexplored. Steve and Liz Bailey arrive at the small town of Koyalik with troubling questions. What has happened to Peter, the veteran missionary? How can they work with the Eskimos when they don't know the country and can't speak the language? If only they had a dog team, Steve thinks, they could haul their own wood and water and perhaps travel to other villages. He and Liz pray for a good team of huskies, and the Eskimos watch to see what the white man's God will do. For ages 9-12.
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Adventures of an Arctic Missionary #2, Charlie
By Gloria Repp
The black spec was a dog. Beside it was an overturned sled. Steve's heart caught in his throat. Don't think. Just run. Get there in time.
Mikki was crouched over something beneath the led. He looked up as Steve and whined.
A bundle of furs drifted with snow. Charlie
Treacherous journeys and a disturbing newcomer bring high adventure into the lives of missionaries Steve and Liz Baily and their well-loved dog, Mik-Shrok. New doors open up for them in the challenge of spreading the gospel across the Alaska Territory, but they soon discover that their fiercest battle is for the heart of a boy. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.
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Adventures of an Arctic Missionary #3, 77 Zebra
By Gloria Repp
When missionaries Steve and Liz Bailey return to Alaska, they bring with them new advantages against old enemies. Superstition, alcoholism and greed still trouble Koyalik and surrounding villages. However, a new airplane and a fresh promise from God's Word energize the young couple and help them expand their outreach. But little does anyone realize how much that promise will mean when a brutal wilderness storm lands Steve and young Charlie in a fight for survival. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.
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Draw Write Now, Book 4: The Polar Regions, The Arctic, The Antarctic
By Marie Hablitzel
Explore the world with, Draw Write Now, a collection of drawing and handwriting lessons developed by an elementary school teacher and tested by over 800 children. The contents include: Colorful easy to follow drawing lessons. Text for practicing handwriting. Theme related questions, answers and book lists. A child friendly format. And countless ideas to spark children's imagination and creativity! In Book Four, children explore The Polar Regions, The Artic and The Antartic. One of eight books in the Draw Write Now Series by authors, Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer Barker Creek Publishing.
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Seasonal Centers: Winter
Ready-to-use reproducibles allow busy teachers to set up centers with very little prep time. Creative, hands-on activities motivate students to reinforce skills in all areas of the curriculum. Topics include Winter Holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa), Winter Weather (Snow, Snowmen, Snowflakes), Winter Clothes, Arctic Animals and more. 144 pages, softcover. PreK-1.
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Inuit Indians
By Caryn Yacowitz
Turn the pages of this book to learn about Inuit Indians. Find out how the Inuit live through cold arctic winters. Discover the sun goggles that they used to wear. Read about how the Inuit build snow houses, or igloos. In this book you will see how the Inuit hunt for seals, learn about the dog sleds that the Inuit use, discover how the Inuit use string figures to tell stories. 32 pages, softcover.
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