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Volume 4, Issue 1
January 9, 2006
Winter Arts
WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Every other week, I'll share some
ideas on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new
twist on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like
most of activities I suggest.
Tell a friend about us! Invite them to sign up for their own FREE subscription at http://www.educationworld.com/maillist.shtml#childhood
 It's a brand
new year -- a time when many of us entertain thoughts of new goals, new ideas, or new experiences.
Bring some "newness" into your classroom by incorporating the arts into your activities
and lessons. We have provided some ideas and suggestions to help you get started. Instill in your
children the love of music, drama, art, movement, literature, and more as you welcome in 2006!
Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
WINTER DANCE
Have an outdoor dance festival centered around a tree. Play music and help children move to it as
they wave scarves or streamers. Encourage children to let the music determine their movements --
they can go slowly when the music slows down or rapidly as the tempo picks up.
MOVE TO THE WORD
Ask children to tell you what activities or actions they think of when they hear the word "winter."
List their words on a chart. Write each motion or movement word such as slip, slide, or skate on
a card. Invite different children to choose one of the word cards, and then ask the group to demonstrate
each word's movement with their bodies.
SPECIAL VISITOR
Invite an artist to visit your classroom. The artist can be anyone who has a special talent whether
it is painting, making jewelry, creating pottery, weaving, cooking, or dancing. Start by surveying
parents' hobbies and talents, or locate a special visitor(s) in your wider community. When you have
arranged a visit, encourage your artist to include a hands-on activity to use with the children;
that activity should consider your students' characteristics and attention spans. Follow the special
time by having children draw pictures to show their thanks, or have them record their voices to
create a special Thank You tape or CD.
WINTER WEAR
Read to children The Jacket I Wear in the Snow (Harper Trophy), by Shirley Neitzel. Extend your
reading by talking about the kinds of clothing worn in winter weather. Then fill your Dramatic Play
area with winter clothing for children and dolls. Display pictures of people and dolls in winter
apparel. Finally, invite children to find pictures of winter clothing in magazines. Use those pictures
to create a class mural.
WINTER WHITES
Obtain copies of Norman Rockwell's works. (Your school or local library is sure to have books by
or about Rockwell.) Share with children his winter-themed paintings and have them take turns describing
what the paintings show and what the artist may have been thinking as he painted. Provide children
with a variety of white art supplies such as white tempera and finger paint, white chalk, white
glue, and scraps of white paper and encourage them to create their own winter pictures.
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
Read to children The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Puffin Books), and The First Snowfall by Anne
and Harlow Rockwell (Aladdin Books). Talk about the characters in each book. Invite children to
imagine what the characters might say to each other if they met. Then let children use toy phones
to create conversations between the The Snowy Day's little boy and The First Snowfall's little girl.
Check out the following Web sites for more background and activities.
 Music
Coloring Pages
Introduce your children to all the musical instruments with these great coloring pages.
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/coloring-pages/music/index.htm
Preschool Art Lessons: Color
Children can mix and experiment with color in all sorts of painting activities submitted by teachers.
http://www.kinderart.com/littles/litles.html#artcolor
Dramatic Play Activities
Try some of these imaginative ideas for your dramatic play area.
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/dramaticactivities.html
Musical Shakers
Let your children make these colorful music shakers!
http://www.kinderart.com/littles/little26.shtml
"The Tortoise and
the Hare" Fable Crafts
Introduce fables to your students. Begin with the story of "The Tortoise and the Hare"
and related craft activities.
http://www.first-school.ws/activities/fable/turtlehare.htm
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