January Mini-Blog: Launching 2023 – Play Learn Grow Together

Learning Together Joyfully:

Happy New Year to educators, parents and grandparents! January is a perfect month to try new activities, to let go of the old, and begin afresh. Be sure to discuss how animals have been making changes and hibernating. With this in mind, parents and educators may be asking children to reflect on their past year, to set new goals at school and at home. It is important that children maintain a positive mindset as they learn that through hard work they can manage challenges and focus on the possibilities. As you make changes, you may wish to review your existing family routines around bedtime, mealtime, and screen time. Research confirms the importance of structure and stability for children. Regular routines in the classroom also contribute to a child’s sense of well-being and productivity. During these chilly January days, bring some lightness and joy to your children: discuss and imagine where, which animals are hibernating; visit your local library to sign up for a library card; play outdoors in the winter rain or snow; celebrate and do something special during some of the unique January holidays all in an effort to lighten the grey, cold days! Enjoy reading and doing activities with children to celebrate Chinese New Year, Winnie-the-Pooh Day, and Robbie Burns Day. Who knows, as you start off the year, January could become your most enjoyable month, filled with fun-filled activities that improve everyone’s mood and attitude, as you play, learn, and grow together with your children!

QUICK LINKS:

Use these links to quickly navigate to specific sections within this blog!

Read and Sing Together
Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
Explore, Engage & Interact together
Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning

1. Read and Sing together 📚

WINTER BOOKS – Embrace the cold and snow or rain as a learning opportunity with children to learn facts about Winter. During circle time in the classroom, or at home, encourage children to share observations about the weather and brainstorm a list of Winter Facts. At a young age, kids recognize changes in weather patterns and distinguish the different seasons. You can extend their curiosity with fiction and non-fiction books, poetry, songs, outdoor exploration, and writing activities during this cold, snowy, and/or rainy season. You can find these titles at your school or public library or you may wish to simply enjoy clicking on the links below and reading the books together with your children.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. This Caldecott winner is a non-fiction introduction to Wilson Bentley who loved snowflakes from his very earliest years and spent decades figuring out how to photograph them discovering that no two snowflakes are exactly alike and they are startlingly beautiful. His story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children insight into a soul who had not only a scientist’s vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.

Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes. This picture book about winter celebrates the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings. The striking text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the winter season.

Here comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara. A little boy is desperate for someone to play with as all the animals head off to hibernate and the birds fly south for the winter. Winter seems like a complete drag until Jack Frost appears and not only helps him discover how wonderful winter can be, but also brings the friendship Winter Lullaby Winter Lullaby he’s been longing for.

Good Morning Snowplow by Deborah Bruss. As the rest of the town settles into bed, one man, his dog, and a trusty truck and snowplow get ready for a night’s work. Follow them through slick roads and swirling drifts in this charming rhyming book.

Winter Lullaby by Dianne White. Geese are calling, a chilly wind is blowing, and the sky is turning gray. Winter is on its way. For Mama Bear and Small Bear, that means it’s time to tuck into their den for a long sleep. But Mouse is scurrying by, and Chipmunk is still gathering nuts beside the lake. And look at Hare and Skunk, still romping through the leaves! Why can’t Small Bear stay up, too? To each question, Mama Bear responds with the coziest of answers, finally painting a dreamy picture of the brightening colors and new adventures that will greet Small Bear in the spring. But first comes sleep, in this irresistible invitation to drowsy little cubs everywhere.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal. Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book exploring the subnivium zone reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.

Winter Sleep; A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, Cinyee Chiu. In this cozy bedtime story, follow a child and his grandma through a winter landscape to explore how the Earth goes to sleep for winter. Spot the sleeping animals as the tale unfolds, then learn about their hibernation habits from the information pages at the end. In the frosty, quiet forest, the snow blankets the ground and the trees have shed their leaves. Where have all the animals gone? Are they asleep too? In each cutaway scene, see what the child cannot—that underground below his feet are dens with sleeping creatures, and within the hollow trunks of trees, animals are nesting. After the story, annotated illustrations explain the hibernation facts for each animal and what they will do when they wake up for spring.

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft & Richard G. Van Gelder. Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can’t survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don’t like cold weather either, but they don’t migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

Winter Eyes by Douglas Florian. Snowballs, ice skating, sledding! Frozen toes, icy slush, runny nose. Well, winter’s not all fun and games. But well-loved, best-selling poet Douglas Florian will melt your doubts about Mother Nature’s chilly grip with twenty-eight winter-inspired poems accompanied by his crisp, trademark watercolor illustrations. Young readers are sure to warm up to the uniquely keen vision of this wholly original volume.

Snow Is Falling by Franklyn Branley. Snow is wonderful—for sledding, for skiing, and for building snowmen. But did you know that snow can actually keep things warm? Find out how snow helps plants, animals, and people to survive. But when a blizzard blows, watch out! The snow that is so useful can be dangerous too. This is a clear and appealing science book including experiments and activities for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom.

Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar. Little Red Riding Hood straps on ice skates in this fractured fairy tale! A figure-skating enthusiast, Little Red has worn out her skates and must win a pairs competition to earn new ones. But who will be her partner? The Dish is already skating with the Spoon, and Hansel has Gretel. You won’t believe what big eyes, sharp teeth, and furry paws her partner has . . . all the better to spin her with!

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright. B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”. Hilarity chills the air with playful mixed-media illustrations by Stephen Gilpin as Sneezy attempts to warm himself with some silly results.

It’s Snowing! by Gail Gibbons. Small, soft flakes fall quietly from above. It’s snowing! People like to sled and ski in it, but what exactly is snow? How does it form? Included in this crystal clear introduction to one of winter’s wonders is information about different types of snowstorms, regions where snow falls, and how to prepare when a snowstorm approaches.

Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid. A perfect snow has fallen, and first-grader Scott and fourth-grader Jim have been daydreaming the morning away, making plans, doodling sketches of snowmen and snow forts, all in anticipation of recess and the endless possibilities of this perfect snow. Barbara Reid uses her signature Plasticine style and blends it with ink wash panels to create a unique mixed media masterpiece. Drawing inspiration from the schoolyard of her own Toronto childhood and the ones she visits today, she manages to create authentic images to which readers of all ages will relate. Perfect Snow is a timeless Canadian tale that will beautifully enhance any snowy day!

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

While celebrating the new year with your children, the following books may assist children to set New Year’s Resolutions or goals and most importantly, develop a positive growth mindset for the upcoming year. A growth mindset is the belief that a person’s basic abilities can be improved through hard work and determination. Adopting a growth mindset allows adults and children to enjoy learning, persevere and be more resilient as mistakes are reframed and viewed as learning opportunities. Download this ABC’s of making mistakes with a Growth Mindset Poster

Or encouraging phrases for adults to use as they build resilient children.

You can find these titles about resilience and resolutions at your school or public library or you may wish to simply enjoy clicking on the links below and reading the books together with your children.

I Need a New Butt by Dawn McMillan is about a boy who thinks his butt is broken and he wants to find a new one. It’s a humorous book that can be connected to goal-setting because it shows a child spending so much time trying to change something that doesn’t need to be changed. If you have students who struggle to set realistic, worthwhile goals, this book may help them. DISCLAIMER: The illustrations inside show a few pages with different booties. Your kids will have full-blown laughing fits!

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats works great for New Year’s goal-setting because of its theme of perseverance. Willie doesn’t give up on his goal of learning to whistle, which offers a great message to children about not giving up.

After the Fall; How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat. This book is perfect for setting goals for the new year with its growth-mindset theme. Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s poignant tale follows Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favourite place to be is high up on the city wall, that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear? This book helps children see that no matter how things start–no matter how bad you fall–you can get back up again.

Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller shows kids what it really means to make a resolution. Squirrel knows that New Year’s Day is a great day for making resolutions! But what does it mean to make a resolution, anyway? As she makes visits around the forest she learns about New Year’s resolutions and helps her friends get started on theirs. If only she can think of a resolution of her own…Squirrel gets help from her friend Bear to learn what resolutions are and how to help her friends set their resolutions too.

Every Month is a New Year by Marilyn Singer is an engaging collection of original poems that shows that not all “New Year’s” celebrations happen in January and children get to see how different people celebrate New Year’s. This lively poetry collection highlights sixteen well-known and less familiar festivities. Every month of the year, somewhere in the world people celebrate with joy and good wishes for a happy new year.

CHINESE NEW YEAR’S JANUARY 22, 2023 – YEAR OF THE RABBIT

For a fresh start to the Chinese New Year, houses are often cleaned and decorated with lucky colors, red and gold. In addition, Chinese lanterns and banners have messages of fortune, happiness, wealth, and longevity! Food is also a huge part of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China’s most important festival as people celebrate the coldest days of winter coming to an end. It is a time to highlight the beginning of a new year and to honor gods as well as ancestors. It is also a time to feast and to visit family members. Many families enjoy dumplings, noodles, and tuan yuan, just to name a few favorite dishes. Regional customs and traditions vary widely but share the same theme – ushering out the old year and bringing forth luck and prosperity for the new one. You can find these titles at your school or public library or you may wish to simply enjoy clicking on the links below and reading the books together with your children.

Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin. This bright story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. A perfect introduction to this holiday for young readers which includes pronunciation of New Year’s terms.

The Runaway Wok; A Chinese New Year Tale by Ying Chang Compestine. (10:54 mins.) When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they will eat for dinner. But then the wok rolls out of the poor family’s house with a skippity-hoppity-ho! and returns from the rich man’s home with a feast in tow! With spirited text and lively illustrations, this story reminds readers about the importance of generosity.

Maisie’s Chinese New Year by Lucy Cousins (4:38 mins.) Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, and Maisy’s friend Tiger is coming home for the occasion. Tiger has brought some beautiful gifts, some with a special symbol that means good luck. Maisy has asked all her friends to her house to celebrate with a delicious feast, and Penguin and Ostrich are handing out lucky red packets with money inside. But the best is to come on New Year’s Day, when Maisy and all her friends take part in a dragon dance! Vivid with red and gold, this book features a simple visual glossary of common Chinese New Year’s objects including the Chinese zodiac.

SONGS: Consider these many reasons why involving children in music makes sense whether at home or at school.

WINTER

CHINESE NEW YEAR

ROBBIE BURNS

Auld Lang Syne (2:05 mins.)

WINNIE THE POOH

Winnie the Pooh song (1:48 mins.)
Now We Are Six – poetry by A.A. Milne (34:41 mins.)

GROWTH MINDSET

Growth Mindset for Older Children (3:59 min.)
Sesame Street Growth Mindset (4:25 min.)

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Hello New Year
New Year’s Song with actions (2:35 mins.)
Sesame Street: Elmo’s New Years Resolution (ignore year)
Happy New Year Dancing Song

2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩

Celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh day on JANUARY 18TH, 2022 (author A.A. Milne’s birthday) and enjoy some of the following activities either in the classroom or at home throughout the month of January. Check out the Pooh books from your school or local library.

Children can observe their natural surroundings as they take a walk to find natural materials such as rocks, sticks and leaves to create their piece of art to create Art from Nature. Have them take a picture with their brain or a camera as this art is meant to be washed away by the weather
Read some background information about A.A. Milne, his books and 10 inspirational and funny Winnie the Pooh quotations.
Children will enjoy singing the Winnie the Pooh song (1:48 mins.)
Enjoy listening to the poetry and songs during the reading of Now We Are Six – by A.A. Milne.
Here are fun activities to celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day!
Download a map of the Hundred Acre Woods to see where Pooh’s friends live.
Download Two Poems from the Pooh book either for the classroom or at home.
Decorate your Reading Corner or bedroom by downloading these graphic cutouts of friends from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Enjoy this drawing activity with children from 4 – 11 as Pooh helps them explore their senses or complete a Maze to find Pooh’s honey pot or enjoy completing a Winnie-the-Pooh Crossword puzzle.

WINTER ACTIVITIES:

Wondering what to do to keep children busy? Consider these 50 Fun Things to do this Winter OR check out this family guide of bucket list of Winter activities to enjoy with children.
Download a free Wild About Winter Poster OR Wild About Birds Poster.
Learn how to download the iNaturalist App and record your wildlife observations and contribute to conservation in Canada.
Scissor practice? Have children cut and construct this Picture Mix-Up or have them draw, colour, and cut to create their own puzzle.
When children need to relieve stress or do an activity to calm themselves, consider these colouring pages:
Consider playing bingo and downloading these free Snowman Bingo (Crazy Little Projects) OR Emotion Bingo (Carrieelle.com)
Are you finding that the holidays brought out some difficult emotions for your children, such as disappointment or anxiety, which they found challenging to regulate? Did this impact their ability to express gratitude and be thoughtful during the holidays? Have the family join in to play this Social Skills Card Game to help children rehearse Tricky Holiday Scenarios. (Alexandra, Big Life Journal)
Put your thinking cap on and figure out this Winter Wildlife Tracks Quiz.
Need more ideas? Enjoy these Do-It-Yourself Winter Outdoor Activities.
Download this free Winter Scavenger Hunt (The printablesfairy)
Have children create a Winter Mitten suncatcher.

Follow the directions and have Children create a Snowflake Suncatcher

Create these fun Snowmen Playdough with your children.

Create a snow maze – When playing outdoors, have children create a maze. Kids should stomp down the snow to create multiple pathways. They will probably need to go back and forth a few times, depending on how deep the snow is. Encourage kids to make plenty of dead ends in the maze. Once the maze is finished, mark the beginning and the end. Then, the whole family or class can try to make it through the maze.

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

Celebrate Robbie Burns Day on January 25th, 2022 and involve children in some light-hearted fun:.
- Play Robbie Burns’ famous song Auld Lang Syne sung around the world to celebrate the start of the New Year.
- Read some of Robbie Burns’ poems including Auld Lang Syne and other poems.
Watch a video to learn more about Robbie Burns Activities for kids.

Celebrate Chinese New Year’s:
- Read Maisie’s Chinese New Year , watch The Myth behind the Chinese Zodiac and sing the Chinese New Year’s Song (2:25 mins.)
- Watch how to make simple Origami Fortune Cookies and then discuss the positive messages in this downloadable Fortune Cookie insert. After discussing this, children can create their own messages.

Consider discussing New Year’s Resolutions at home and/or in the class. Resolutions for kids might include:
- Give a compliment a day;
- Do one random act of kindness a day;
- Unplug for a certain amount of time each day
- Read a book every day and parents…include a cuddle a day with your child.
- Read the book Every Month is a New Year so children understand how different people celebrate New Year’s around the world.
- Read the book Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution and then sing the following New Year’s Songs:
  - Hello New Year OR Sesame Street: Elmo’s New Years Resolution (ignore year) OR Happy New Year Dancing Song.
- Consider having children create a list of their New Year’s Resolutions for home and school. See samples above and in Reflect or download these free samples for children to draw or ask them to complete My Year in Review or their 2023 New Year’s goals.
- Encourage children to have fun filling in this New Year’s Placemat.
- If they are space enthusiasts – they may also enjoy downloading this 2023 NASA Science Calendar.

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. Encourage children to play and be active outdoors as they explore and learn in their natural surroundings.
With the shorter days of winter, have your children learn how to trace their shadows.
Winter is a magical time for hiking! In this outdoor activity, your little explorers can go for a hike and look for animal tracks to help them learn about the creatures living in the area.
Read Over and Under the Snow OR Winter Sleep; A Hibernation Story OR Animals in Winter. Following that have a discussion with children to record and create a Hibernation Fact Sheet.
As you celebrate the New Year, your children will enjoy singing and dancing to this collection of catchy tunes!
Get children up to enjoy these movement songs:

NUTRITION: When cooking children learn many math skills including counting, fractions, sorting, money (cost of food), sequencing (first, second, third), weighing, measuring and shapes.

Involve your child in shopping and the chopping of vegetables as you create a Robbie Burns dinner of Veggie Scotch Broth OR your child can peel the potatoes to create some Haggis Potato cakes (you may wish to skip adding the haggis!) And finish the dinner with the Selkirk Grace!
Of course, although not perfectly nutritious, when you celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh day, have your children join in to make honey cookies.