The Boston area’s first snowfall of 2024 is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by turning those white flakes into a flurry of educational fun for our little learners in your preschool classroom? (A more fun way might be school closures so you can have a day off but it does not look like that is in the cards this time as the snow is coming Saturday night into Sunday.

So when you are back to work Monday (assuming the roads are plowed and the MBTA is working to allow you to get to work) , snow offers a magical opportunity to engage young minds in a captivating array of activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and a love for nature. So, bundle up your kiddos, grab your mittens, and get ready to dive into winter learning.

Let the Story Begin:

Start your snow celebration with a cozy circle time. Snuggle up and bring the magic of winter alive with a classic snowfall story like "Katy and the Big Snow" by Virginia Lee Burton. As the story unfolds, ask open-ended questions that encourage imaginative thinking. In addition, point out the features of the book like the map of the town at the start which names a variety of town buildings or all the photos of difference vehicles that Katy works with along the edges in the early pages. This is a great way to build vocabulary, get children interested in, and can possibly lead to children being inspired to make their own maps of the area near where they live or their school. After you read the story in circle time you can leave in your library and offer to read it to small groups of children where you pause after reading each page to go back to the map at the start of the book and find the location where that page’s action is taking place.

Frigid Frolicking:

Now, it's time to step into the story! Gear up your little adventurers in their warmest layers and venture outside for a sensory extravaganza in the white wonderland. Let them stomp, slide, and giggle – let the snow tickle their noses and crunch under their boots. This firsthand experience with snow is invaluable for early development, igniting curiosity about the world around them and building fine motor skills through snow play.

From Frozen Flakes to Fantastical Illustrations:

Back inside, warm hands can turn into creative minds. Provide drawing materials and invite children to capture their snowy adventures on paper. Did they build a magnificent snowman? Did they engage in a snowball fight with giggling friends? Encourage them to draw their experiences or even create a fictional scene in their snowy imagination. As they bring their artistic visions to life, ask descriptive questions: "What colors are in your snow picture?" "Who is playing in your snowy land?"

Capture the Stories:

Once the masterpieces are complete, gather around and invite each child to tell the story behind their artwork. Listen with enthusiasm as they weave tales of snowy fun and fantastical winter worlds. Then, become scribes and write down their narratives right under their pictures. These precious stories and accompanying artwork become cherished keepsakes, capturing the wonder and joy of this snowy day.

Extending the Blizzard:

The learning doesn't have to melt away! Bring the snow indoors with a water play table transformed into a miniature winter wonderland. Add in plastic snowflakes, glittery ice pieces, and even some arctic animal toys like polar bears and penguins. This sensory play area invites exploration and imaginative storytelling, allowing children to revisit the magic of snow even when the real flakes have disappeared.

A Blizzard of Vocabulary:

Throughout your snowy adventures, sprinkle in a blizzard of new vocabulary! Words like "blizzard," "icicle," "freezing," "melting," "temperature," "condensation," and "crystal" will naturally find their way into your conversations. Don't be afraid to get playful with silly snow-themed word games and songs. The more engaging and fun you make it, the more these new words will stick!

So, Boston friends, embrace the first snowfall as an opportunity to create a blizzard of learning for your little ones. From cozy story times to frolicking in the snow and capturing wintery wonders in art, make this winter wonderland a feast for your children's senses and a playground for their minds. Let the snow spark imagination, build curiosity, and create memories that will warm their hearts long after the last white flakes have melted away.