Ideas for the Seasons: WINTER

Consider how you could explore the classic images of each season, and focus on using all of your senses. It should be a really rich and joyful main lesson!

Brainstorm ideas for the season of WINTER:

read My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray and brainstorm images of Winter

drink hot chocolate

make Chocolate Play Dough (PDF)

read Winter, Awake! by Linda Kroll; do wine cork stamped ladybug art

read Winter Lullaby by Barbara Seuling; build forts out of sofa cushions and blankets; snuggle up with lovies and pillows; play board games

read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats; do Snowy Day artwork with bubble wrap printing

read Winter poetry such as "Velvet Shoes" by Elinor Wylie; enjoy sensory play with shaving cream and baking soda snow

read Bear Snores On by Jane Chapman; pop popcorn

roll beeswax candles

read Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven or The Unbeatable Bread by Lynn Littlefield Hoopes; bake bread

read The Emperor's Egg by Martin Jenkins; make ink blot penguin art; watch March of the Penguins

read Arctic Dreams by Carole Gerber; make Aurora Borealis artwork using chalk pastels or watercolor pencils

do tack punch Constellation Cards

make Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm... MMMMMM

This is expensive if you're making it for the first time, but after that you can churn out batches of lip balm with very little expense. And I really like the cute little 1/4 oz. lip balm tins ! We simply write our names on the bottom with a Sharpie but you could always decoupage art onto them to personalize.

The recipe calls for

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon beeswax pastilles
• 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
• 12 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops vitamin E oil

BEE SAFE and melt in a double boiler! Combine and melt the first four recipe ingredients over simmering water, then remove from the heat and stir in the last two ingredients. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. Allow to cool completely before placing the lids on the containers.

read Too Many Mittens by Florence and Louis Slobodkin; knit a cozy hat, mittens, or a scarf (a simple mitten pattern is in Making the Children's Year)

This post contains affiliate links to materials I truly use for homeschooling. Qualifying purchases provide me with revenue. Thank you for your support!