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5 Engaging Winter Literacy Activities

Do you ever feel like the months between winter and spring break are extra long and grueling?? It may seem like time is ticking slow, but that might only be because you aren’t having enough FUN! 

literacy winter fun blog post

I decided to forget the winter blues and really ICE things up with these engaging, hands on, winter themed literacy activities! In this post, you’ll find FIVE exciting literacy activities to help your students practice important skills that you can use during small group instruction, centers, or as independent practice. No matter how you use it, your students are sure to have FUN while learning. 

Did you know that when students learn through play they more quickly understand concepts and skills?  

“Scientists have discovered that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain, unless it is done in play, in which case it only takes 10 to 20 repetitions.”

You can learn more about the importance of play HERE but let’s get into our own fun! Check out all the activities below!!

Count and Sort

Understanding how to break words into chunks, or their syllable is crucial in helping students quickly and correctly decode words. Mastering syllables is a great way to help students not only read more fluently, but accurately. It can get tricky at times so in order to lessen the frustration, we instead bring in the fun! Help your students practice this skill with this super fun count and sort activity. 

Have students lay out their hot chocolate cups that represent the amount of syllables in a word. They will then sort through their marshmallows, reading and determining the amount of syllables before placing them under the correct chocolate mug. Talk about fun AND learning!

winter syllable activity

winter counting syllables

Winter Syllable Activity

Feed the Blends

Feed the blends is EXACTLY what it sounds like: a fun feeding frenzy!! Students will LOVE sorting their picture card blends into the mouths of various winter animals. They will be super engaged and it’s perfect practice for blending sounds in the process! 

These cute animals are constructed by reusing a few tissue boxes so the planet is also thanking you with this fun activity! Students will randomly choose a picture card to read. Once they decipher what animal matches the blend of their word, they can feed it to them and repeat!

winter initial blends activity

Winter Initial Blends

winter final blends activity

Winter Final Blends

Short and Long Vowels

Learning about short and long vowels is essential to helping students successfully decode and read. With these activities students can practice CVC and CVCE words in tons of hands-on fun ways! 

Students will have a blast sorting snowflakes, determining what pictures have short or long vowels. They can sort them on a winter mat or inside some adorable snow globes! Do you have kids that love matching games? These short and long vowel mittens are just for them! There is also a fun board game for those little competitors who can race each other to the end of the Winter Vowel Wonderland by correctly reading CVC and CVCE words. No matter what game they like, they are sure to master this skill AND have all kinds of frozen fun!

winter long vs short vowel activities

long and short vowel sorting mats

winter vowel board game

long and short vowel mitten puzzles

vowel sorting snow globes

Long vs Short Vowel Activities

5 hands on literacy activities for winter

Textured Tracing

Of course there was SNOW way I could share all of these with you and not give you guys a freebie! To thank you for subscribing, check out this un-BRR-lieveably fun letter tracing activity to kick away all the winter woes!

We know how important it is for students to learn how to correctly form letters. Tracing with pencil and paper is cool and all, but how about adding a little texture to the mix? Simply add rice, shaving cream, or sand and let students have a blast while practicing this important skill! Double cool points for you from your little learners that THRIVE with that sensory aspect.

hands on letter tracing

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Assembling in the Artic

This activity let’s our little learners build the cutest penguin posse you’ve ever seen, while mastering those important high frequency words. Committing those sight words, heart words, or other “non-decodable” words to memory are crucial for students while reading. Mastering these can really help with fluency, prosody and overall comprehension. 

With this activity, students will LOVE practicing spelling, reading, and mastering all kinds of important words with these adorable penguins. Kids will grab a glacier, read the word, and get to constructing their team of penguins to correctly spell the word. This activity includes FRY’s First 100 Words AND a bonus editable version for you to add your own words!

editable hands on sight word activity

Hands On Editable Sight Word Activity 

I really hope you enjoyed learning about some fun and engaging winter themed literacy activities! If you love these, you can grab the jam packed bundle HERE!

winter literacy activities

Winter Literacy Bundle

I really hope you enjoyed learning about some fun and engaging winter themed literacy activities! Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the winter digraph FREEBIE! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me  @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.

To follow me on TPT and get all the latest updates on HALF OFF new products, click HERE!

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Comments

  1. Lori Moldenhauer says

    November 22, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    Where do you purchase the tray with the sorting circles?

    Reply
    • sweetnsauerfirsties says

      November 24, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      I got those in the Target Dollar Spot!

      Reply

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A fun place to be apart of the educational journey. Full of all things teaching! The good, the bad, and even the ugly. Join my experiences and subscribe to my email list to get the most up to date tips and tricks.

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It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳 Grab thi It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳

Grab this adorable and no prep color by code activity.

It’s an easy and engaging QUIET activity that students can enjoy as morning work, a time filler, fast finisher, or even as homework!

Grab your FREEBIE now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!

When is your 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️
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Y’all I am SO in love with this new dress from @ Y’all I am SO in love with this new dress from @shop_rbc!!

It’s cute and even more… It’s comfortable!! 

I will definitely be getting more dresses from their shop and they have adorable teacher tees too. Check out all the beautiful items now @shop_rbc! 😍

Have you gotten one of their pieces before? Let us know below! ⬇️ 
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Bahahah accurate! 🤣 • • • • #elementar Bahahah accurate! 🤣
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Have you ever tried using stations for the 100th d Have you ever tried using stations for the 100th day of school?!

They can help make what could be a chaotic and overwhelming day really fun and well planned out. 

There are so many engaging station ideas that are easy and low prep like 

🌟Reading 100 books
🌟 Writing 100 words we know
🌟 Building with a 100 items
🌟 And so many more! Swipe left to see some examples!

Not only do the students love every second but it gives you more time to go around and be with each group of kiddos as they go through the stations and reflect on all their great learning in the first 100 days of school!

Learn more now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!

Have you ever tried stations for the 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️ 
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Have you tried would you rather with students?! I Have you tried would you rather with students?!

It’s an easy, engaging, and NO PREP activity for the 100th day. 

You can easily build in movement by having students jump for answers or run to a side of the room for their choice. 

This is a great activity that can be used as a morning meeting activity or as a timer filler throughout the day. 

The students LOVE the 100th day themed prompts and have a BLAST!

Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile or drop a 🥳 and I’ll share the link!

Thanks for capturing this @mrs.rappsclass 😍
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This though. ❤️ • • • • #elementarytea This though. ❤️
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Want an easy and super engaging activity for the 1 Want an easy and super engaging activity for the 100th day?!

Have students practice recognizing,  writing numbers, and seeing patterns within 120 with a pocket chart seek and find game. 

There’s a special hidden picture students have to work together to find. (Swipe left to see) they LOVE it and get great practice!

This could easily be a whole class activity or a 100th day station.

Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile. You can also drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link with you! 
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We are so in love with these adorable winter theme We are so in love with these adorable winter themed books from @scholasticbookclubs! 

They both have a wonderful story and a great message for children. 

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Check out these adorable books now @scholasticbookclubs! 😍
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Bahaha I am definitely teacher number 2! 😂 Whi Bahaha I am definitely teacher number 2! 😂

Which are you?!
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Lindsay Sauer

14 hours ago

Lindsay Sauer
It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳Grab this adorable and no prep color by code activity.It’s an easy and engaging QUIET activity that students can enjoy as morning work, a time filler, fast finisher, or even as homework!Grab your FREEBIE now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!When is your 100th day? Let us know below! ⬇️••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #numbersense #makelearningfun #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #colorbycode #teachershare #teacherinspiration #100thday #100thdayofschool ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

23 hours ago

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Bahahah accurate! 🤣••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #teacherquotes #teachingtips #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherhumor #teachershare #teacherinspiration #teachermemes #teacherfunny #classroommanagement ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

2 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
Have you tried would you rather with students?!It’s an easy, engaging, and NO PREP activity for the 100th day. You can easily build in movement by having students jump for answers or run to a side of the room for their choice. This is a great activity that can be used as a morning meeting activity or as a timer filler throughout the day. The students LOVE the 100th day themed prompts and have a BLAST!Learn more about this and other easy and engaging 100th day activities with the link on my profile or drop a 🥳 and I’ll share the link!Thanks for capturing this @mrs.rappsclass 😍••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #teacherhacks #teacherideas #teachingtips #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teachershare #classroomcommunity #teacherinspiration #makelearningfun #100thdayofschool #100thday ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

2 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
This though. ❤️••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers #teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teachingideas #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #primaryteaching #teacherblogger #teachermomlife #teachermom #teachershare #teacherquotes #kindergarten ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

4 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
Kids love celebrating with crowns! 👑 They are a great quiet or morning activity that students love to decorate. The best part is they can wear them around and show them off all day. Bonus!! They are also a great keepsake to take home to remember the special day. 🥰Learn more easy and fun 100th day activities now with the link on my profile or drop a 🤩 and I’ll share the link!••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #kindergarten #igconnect4edu #teachershare #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #100thday #classroomfun #makelearningfun #100thdayofschool #classroomcommunity ... See MoreSee Less

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  • Do you hear indoor recess and get nervous? Today, I’m sharing my best teacher tips and tricks! These indoor recess ideas in elementary are easy things like GoNoodle brain break or hands on activities. You can easily get play dough activities, pattern blocks activities, or drawing for kids. Don’t forget your childhood favorite games too! Elementary students love freeze dance game for kids, Simon Says game, four corners game, Heads Up 7 Up game, and more. Set your classroom expectations too!
  • Are you looking for ways to teach kindness to kids in the classroom? Today, I’m sharing my favorite teacher tips on helping your early elementary students understand kindness in the classroom. Some of my favorite kindness activities for kids is setting expectations and modeling kindness. We love reading, How Full Is Your Bucket? By Tom Rath and more. It’s important to role play ideas for kids in the classroom. Kindness anchor charts are great to create during whole group and small group lessons.
  • Do you need some ideas about teaching money to your first grade students? Check out my favorite teaching tips on money for kids. First, have your students watch some BrainPop Jr. videos and books about money for kids. Money anchor charts are fantastic to use during math whole group to better K-2 students' understanding. The CRA Math Model is perfect for understanding money for kids. I also share my favorite math centers like money puzzles, money bingo, and math money games!
  • Have you been looking for end of year classroom community activities? These classroom community building activities are perfect for your K-2 classroom! I love creating an end of year anchor chart so students can write down their favorite memories of first grade. K-2 students will love the balloon bulletin board countdown with themes. Early elementary students enjoy creating a reflection writing craft, first grade end of year memories, would you rather end of school year game, and much more!

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