Sledding

AREA SETUP

Thematic poster-Sledding

(Open thematic poster-Sledding) Print, laminate, and display in your daycare.

Stickers for rewards

(Open stickers for rewards-Sledding) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create a collection of unique stickers. Use them to reward children throughout the theme.

Educa-theme-Sledding

(Open educa-theme-Sledding) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and children’s parents) while decorating your daycare.

Educa-decorate-Sledding

(Open educa-decorate-Sledding) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

Giant sledding garland

Simply hang colorful sleds on any hooks you have installed on walls.

Winter visual calendar

(Open visual calendar-Winter) Print, laminate, and display the calendar.

SPECIAL TOOL

This tool was created in response to a special request we received. (Open poster-Winter clothing) Print and display where parents will see it.

CIRCLE TIME

Let’s chat-Sledding

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) Print and laminate the flashcards in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation with your group. Ask children questions about winter activities and if they have ever gone sledding.

Circle time sleds

Set different types of sleds on the floor in your circle time area. Add checkered or fake fur blankets and encourage children to sit in the sleds. The larger your sleds are, the more children each one can contain. If you prefer to “separate” the children in your group, use saucers instead of longer sleds. If you wish, press strips of Velcro under the sleds or saucers and on the floor so that they stay put.

Animated discussion-Sledding

(Open picture game-Sledding) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a conversation with your group. Ask children questions about sledding.

Clothesline

Invite children to draw or cut pictures of winter clothing items, sleds, etc. out of catalogues or flyers. Using clothespins, let them hang the items on an indoor clothesline. This activity can last all week.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group.  Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Sledding) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.

Memory game-Sledding

(Open picture game-Sledding) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY AND WRITING SHEETS

Activity sheets are provided for each theme.  Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Sledding)

Writing activities-S like sledding

(Open writing activities-S like sledding) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Educa-spots-Sledding

(Open educa-spots-Sledding) Print for each child. Use bingo markers to add color to the different circles. If you don’t have bingo markers, children can add stickers or cereal inside the circles.

Tracing words-Sledding

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print several word flashcards. Glue them on pieces of paper, laminate them, and arrange them in a binder. Show children how they can trace the words using dry-erase markers. If you wish, leave room under each word so children can try to write the words without tracing the letters.

Stationery-Winter

(Open stationery-Winter) Print. Use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing area, or even to identify your thematic bins.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) snow slide, sledding, sled, snow, mountain, snow tube, snow saucer, snow carpet, toboggan, cold, winter clothing, family

Let’s chat

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a flashcard and take turns presenting the item to the group. Discuss each item to see what children know about the theme.

Reinvented scrabble

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print many copies of the word flashcards and encourage children to use scrabble tiles to write the words. Manipulating the small tiles represents a great fine motor skill exercise. At the same time, children will notice which letters make up the different words.

Word association-Sledding

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print two copies of several different word flashcards. On a large piece of cardboard, stick one copy of each flashcard vertically to create a word column. Cut the second copy of each word flashcard so you have the word on one side and the illustration on the other side. Attach Velcro behind each part as well as to the right of the uncut flashcards (on the cardboard). Arrange the cut flashcards on the table and encourage children to look at your flashcard board to identify a matching word and illustration. When they succeed, they may stick them next to the corresponding flashcard, on your board. This exercise will help children associate words with pictures.

Word tree-Sledding

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print several word flashcards. Use a hole-punch to make a hole at the top of each flashcard. Thread a ribbon through each hole and tie a knot. Bring the word flashcards outside and encourage children to use them to decorate a tree. Every time a child adds a flashcard, invite him/her to “read” the corresponding word. Children will be happy to repeat this activity many times. Eventually, they will learn to recognize the words.

Scene-Snow tube fun

(Open scene-snow tube fun) Print, laminate, and cut out the items. Children use them to decorate the scene.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Illustrated steps for getting dressed in winter

(Open steps for getting dressed in winter) Print, laminate, and press Velcro behind each piece. Position the steps on the wall like stairs, with the first clothing item children should put on at the top and the last clothing item at the bottom.

How to use this illustrated routine

• To begin, present it to your group. Explain how the steps will help them know the order in which they must add clothing items when it’s time for outside play. Name each clothing item together.
• To foster learning, get dressed at the same time as your group. Add clothing items in the proper order and remove the corresponding illustration after each step is completed. Once children have acquired experience, you can permanently display the illustrations.
• Review each step with your group, asking them to add the corresponding clothing item.
• To evaluate children’s comprehension, you could ask children to explain each step.
• Even once children have mastered the art of getting dressed for winter outdoor play, continue to display the steps so that children can refer to them if necessary.
• Once a child can identify which step he is on, review all the previous steps, asking him if he put on his hat, his coat, etc.

Cleanup sleds

Purchase a few small plastic sleds that have a rope that can be used to pull them around. Glue pieces of felt under each sled so that they easily glide over your daycare floor. When it’s time to put toys away, invite children to fill the sleds with toys. They will love pulling the sleds around to return each toy to where it belongs. This is a great way to make cleanup fun and link this everyday routine to your theme.

Comfortable sleds

Set sleds in your reading corner or circle time area. Set a large fake fur or checkered blanket in each sled. Children will like to sit in the sleds to look at books or chat with their friends. The larger your sleds are, the more children each one can contain. If you prefer to “separate” the children in your group, use saucers instead of longer sleds. If you wish, press strips of Velcro under the sleds or saucers and on the floor so that they stay put.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Modeling dough activity placemats-Sledding

(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Sledding) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

String activities-Sledding

(Open string activities-Sledding) Print for each child. Children trace the outlines with white glue before covering them with colourful string.

Bowling-Sledding

(Open bowling-Sledding) Print and use the stickers to create games. Press them on empty plastic bottles to create bowling pins. Arrange the bottles on a table and have children try to make them fall using a tennis ball. Give each child 3 tries.

Pyramid-Sledding

(Open large stickers-Sledding) Print and use the stickers to create games. Collect empty metal cans (different sizes). Decorate them using the stickers. Build a pyramid by stacking the cans on a table. Children try to make the pyramid fall by tossing a frisbee towards it. Give each child 3 tries.

Fine motor skills-Crumpled sledding shapes

(Open shapes-Sledding) Print for each child. Have them crumple tiny pieces of tissue paper. Next, children fill the shape they prefer with white glue and press the tiny balls of paper all over. Use their artwork to decorate your daycare.

Giant snow slides

Cut a long piece of waxed paper. Children use it to create a large slide on the floor or on a wall. They will have fun sliding figurines down their slide.

Sled hideout

Fill a sled with packed snow and hide tiny figurines in it. When you give the signal, children search for the figurines in the snow. Every time they find one, they can slide it down an indoor slide, into a snow-filled bin. Once all the figurines have been found, hide them in the snow again and repeat as long as children are having fun!

Stop and slide

Create a slide using a gutter section, setting one end on the floor and the other end on a table to create a diagonal surface. Gather a variety of objects that are made of fabric or other materials. Some ideas are stuffed animals, rubber bath toys, small books, plastic figurines, puzzle pieces, etc. Encourage children to deposit one item at a time at the top of your improvised slide to see if it will stop or slide.

Cardboard slide

Provide boxes in different sizes and shapes and let children use them to create an indoor slide.

Snowstorm

In the centre of the daycare, empty several bags of cotton balls on the floor. Let children have fun throwing cotton balls in the air, rolling around in them, lying down on top of them, etc. They may use them to build snowy streets too.

I am sliding

Arrange several empty plastic bottles on the floor, leaving a certain distance between them. Children will have fun pretending they are sliding between the bottles. They mustn’t make the bottles fall.

Sled race

Divide your group into 2 teams. The goal is to be the first team to reach the finish line. The first child from each team walks on his hands, with his feet on the shoulders of the child who is behind him and so on. The last child from each team simply crawls behind his teammates.

Winter hula hoops

Set several hula hoops on the floor, leaving approximately 12 inches between them. Give each child 3 chances. They must try to throw balls inside the targets. Variation: You may also associate a certain number of points with each hula hoop and add up children’s points to determine a winner.

Sled racing

Divide your group into 2 teams. Give each team a sled with a rope attached to it. Line the sleds behind a start line. Draw a finish line approximately 10 metres away. Have one child from each team sit in their sled. One teammate pulls him to the finish line where both children trade places before returning to the start line. The first team who completes the challenge (every child pulled a partner and got pulled back to the start line) wins.

Sledding stuffed animals

Divide your group into 2 teams. Set several stuffed animals throughout your daycare or yard. You can hide them somewhat to make the activity more challenging. Give each team a sled. When you give them the signal, they pull their sled around and set the stuffed animals they find in it. Once all the stuffed animals have been found, count how many each team collected.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Game-Colorful sled

(Open game-Colorful sled) Print a sled for each child as well as a die. Assemble the die. You will need red, blue, green, and yellow Popsicle sticks. They can take turns rolling the die. If, for example, the die lands on “red”, the child who rolled it must add a red Popsicle stick to his sled. If he already has a red Popsicle stick in his sled, he must skip his turn. If the die lands on a face with more than one color, the child can pick a stick corresponding to the color of his choice, depending on the colors he is missing. Encourage children to name the colors as they play. The first child who fills his sled wins.

I am learning to count-Sledding

(Open I am learning to count-Sledding) Print, laminate, and display at children’s eye level. Using Velcro, children associate the correct number of items to each number.

Color by number-Sledding

(Open color by number-Sledding) Print for each child. Have children color the picture per the color code.

Educ-pattern-Sledding

(Open educ-pattern-Sledding) Print and laminate. Children use the cards to complete the patterns. Use Velcro or adhesive putty to stick the cards in the squares.

Puzzles

(Open puzzles-Sledding) Print, laminate, and cut the puzzle pieces. Children must place the puzzle pieces correctly to recreate the scenes.

Educa-letters-Winter

(Open educa-letters-Winter) Print the series twice and use the illustrations as a memory game or, if you prefer, print and laminate the cards and display them on a wall to decorate your daycare for the theme.

Educ-pairs-Sledding

(Open educ-pairs-Sledding) Print. Children must draw a line to connect identical items or, if they prefer, they can color them using the same color. For durable, eco-friendly use, laminate for use with dry-erase markers.

Educ-intruder-Sledding

(Open educ-intruder-Sledding) Print and laminate the document. Children must find the 6 items in the scene.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Miming words-Sledding

(Open word flashcards-Sledding) (Open giant word flashcards-Sledding) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Deposit several word flashcards in an opaque bag and use them for a mime game. Children can take turns picking a word and using gestures to help their friends guess the word. For example, if a child picks the word “snow tube”, he/she can pretend to spin around on an imaginary tube. The child who guesses correctly can be the next one to mime a word.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Frozen bubbles

Blow bubbles outside on a cold winter day. The bubbles will freeze. Children will love breaking the thin ice.

Frozen tag

Select a child who will pretend to be a snowman. All the other children are polar animals. The snowman tries to catch the animals. When he succeeds, the child who is touched must stop in his tracks and remain perfectly still, like a statue. The game continues until all the animals are frozen. The first child who was touched becomes the snowman for the next round.

Hooray for snow

Set several baskets on their side in the yard and encourage children to roll snowballs towards them. You can divide your group into teams. After a pre-determined period of time, count the snowballs in each team’s basket to determine a winning team.

Sled targets

Fill a few spray bottles with water and add drops of food coloring or the felts from old washable markers. Use the bottles to paint targets in the snow, at the bottom of a small hill children use for sledding. Let children slide down the hill. Encourage them to try to “drive” their sled so that it stops on one of the targets.

Snowball sled

Divide your group into 2 teams. Set 2 sleds at one end of your yard, one for each team. The object of the game is for children to throw as many snowballs as possible in their sled. Set a timer for a pre-determined period of time, for example 3 minutes.

Winter jumps

Invite children to perform long jumps in the snow.

EARLY SCIENCE/MANIPULATION/EXPLORATION

Snowflake textures

Catch snowflakes with your group and provide magnifying glasses children can use to observe them. Encourage them to identify differences in terms of their texture.

Snowstorm balloons

You will need one inflated balloon per child (no need to inflate it completely, but the surface of the balloons must be firm). Using a hole-punch, create several tiny white circles of paper. Invite children to rub their balloon on their hair to create static electricity before holding it next to the tiny circles. The paper circles will be attracted to the balloon.

Snow

Fill a container with clean snow. Invite children to build a snow castle. Children will realize that snow melts quickly. It is transformed into water. Next, pour the water obtained from the melted snow into an aluminum pie plate. Leave it outside and show children how water becomes ice.

Winter white

Prepare a sugar, salt, flour, or rice bin. Let children play in it with figurines, small cars, etc. They will discover new textures.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Mobile-Sledding

(Open mobile-Sledding) Print for each child. Have children color and decorate the various shapes and assemble them to create a mobile. The items can be hung from a clothing hanger, a perforated plastic container, or a paper plate.

My sledding hat

(Open educa-decorate-Sledding) Print and cut out. Glue the shapes around a hat or headband.

Personalized snow saucers

Purchase a snow saucer for each child in your group. Provide permanent markers that children can use to write their name on their saucer. Encourage them to draw objects that represent them all over the surface. They will love sledding with their decorated saucer.

Recycled miniature sleds

Fill a veggie tray (that has several sections) with a variety of small, recycled objects. For example, one section could contain small plastic lids that children can use to represent snow saucers. Another section could contain Popsicle sticks that children can glue together to create sleds. Buttons, pipe cleaners, felt scraps, Fun Foam shapes, etc. can also be provided. Children will have fun exploring the material and creating original sleds.

Window decorations

You will need several clear plastic document protectors. Let children paint on them. When they are done, moisten the back of each pouch and press them on a window.

Puppets-Sledding

(Open puppets-Sledding) Print the models on heavy paper. Ask children to cut them out and decorate them with various arts & crafts materials. Glue a Popsicle stick behind the models to complete your puppets.

Models-Sledding

(Open models-Sledding) Print the models and use them for various crafts and activities throughout the theme.

Salt dough snow slides

Provide salt (or modeling) dough and invite children to use it to represent a snow slide and sleds. Leave their creations out to dry. Children will love playing with figurines.

Stormy sky

Give each child a piece of dark paper and have them draw on it with white chalk, white waxed crayons, or white wooden pencils.

Cotton ball painting

Encourage children to use cotton balls to paint on dark paper. They can simply dip the cotton balls in white paint and then press them on the paper.

Winter snow slide

On black paper, draw a large hill using a glue stick. Sprinkle the drawing with flour and shake the paper over a garbage can to release any excess flour and reveal a snowy slide.

COLORING PAGES THEME

(Open coloring pages theme-Sledding) Print for each child.

Have fun!

The educatall team