Winter (Cold Weather) Animals - December Wk 2

Preschool aged children just love to learn about animals! This week we will talk about some animals that live in the cold regions of the world and can incorporate snow and cold weather in as well.


Letter - W (winter)  

Letter W activity - You can use the above color sheet or print a large W on a piece of construction paper. Give the kids snowflake stickers and have them place the stickers over the letter.

Color - Grey


What are winter animals?  Animals that live in cold areas of the world, or places that stay cold most of the time. These animals are penguins, polar bears, fur seals, and caribou. There are also animals that live in places that are warm sometimes but are cold other times. They are rabbits, foxes and wolves. The animals that have to survive in the cold have thick layers of fat and fur to keep them warm.



SCIENCE

How do winter animals, like polar bears, stay warm in the cold?

Materials Needed:

Bucket or large bowl

Ice cubes
Thin gloves (like latex)
Vegetable Oil
Large plastic baggie

Make a bucket of ice water. Have each child put their bare hand in the ice water, but just for a second! Feel how cold it is. Now put a glove on one hand. Put vegtable oil into the plastic baggie and then place their gloved hand into the baggie. Make sure the oil isn't so deep that the oil goes into their glove! Place their hand with the oil baggie around it back into the ice water. Feel the difference! The oil (like the fat on the animals) helps to protect their hands from the cold.

It is also why we wear more clothing like sweaters and jackets when it is cold outside. The extra layers help to keep our bodies warm.



MUSIC & MOVEMENT

Walking through the artic (echo)
And what do you think I saw (echo)
A great big polar bear
He said Sta-and UP! (everyone jump up)
And shake, shake, this way, shake, shake that way (everyone shake)
Shake, shake, this way and then sit down (sit down)

(Explain that the polar bears shake the water off their fur just like a dog does)

MATH

Winter animal matching game. Print out the images and cut up into individual animal cards. There should be at least 2 of each animal. Place all the cards out on the table face up and make sure they are well mixed up. Begin by showing them how to play. Pick one animal card and place it next to yourself. Then show them how to find the match and place it on top of the first card. Next allow the children to match cards in turns. Discuss the animals while playing the game.

GROSS MOTOR

Follow the footprints game!  Draw a few different types of footprints on paper. Or you can print some out HERE.  It is also helpful to make each set a different color. Once you have your prints, lay each set out in a trail. You can criss cross different tracks across each other. This is best set up while the children are napping! Have the children pick a trail to follow! It is even more fun to have a special sticker or something for them to find at the end of their trail. Once they have followed the trails, you can then discuss what animals might have made the different tracks.

MUSIC & COUNTING

1 little, 2 little 3 little penguins
4 little, 5 little, 6 little penguins
7 little, 8 little, 9 little penuins
10 little penguins in the snow!

10 little, 9 little, 8 little penguins
7 little, 6 little, 5 little penguins
4 little, 3 little, 2 little penguins
1 little penguin in the snow!

(This could be an excellent felt board activity!)




ART

Cotton Ball Bunnies!

Materials Needed:
White Construction Paper
White Cotton Balls
Glue

Print out the TEMPLATE.  Cut out as many bunnies as needed. Provide the children with a supply of cotton balls and glue. Talk about how the bunnies are white in order to hide in the snow.

You could add touches such as googley eyes, black pipe cleaner whiskers, and a button nose!

COOKING

Peanut Butter Snowballs

Ingredients:

Peanut Butter (creamy works best)

Dry Milk Powder

Honey

Coconut

Empty peanut butter into bowl. Add 1 TBSP honey and ¼ cup dry milk. Add more milk until it has playdough consistancy. Roll into balls and roll in coconut.

The children can help by rolling the balls and then rolling into the coconut. Lots of fun and very messy!



FINE MOTOR
Playdough Animals

This is just as it sounds! Give the children playdough and have them create animals with it! Great fun.