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Learning Together Joyfully: January Beginnings.

Welcome back parents, grandparents, educators and caregivers. January is a month of new beginnings: new goals, new ideas and new beginnings. January is also a time to refocus our efforts on play-based learning. There are many books recommended to encourage this. Books and joy go hand in hand. They not only spark joy for us but also help teach children how to find joy long after we close the covers. Enriched pretend play helps children learn new concepts, develop interpersonal skills, improve motor skills, and gain independence. There are also recommended books to promote dramatic play. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a US national holiday celebrated on January 15th. It gives us an opportunity to focus on Dr. King’s message of peace, justice and cultural diversity. This national holiday commemorates him and gives us an opportunity to reflect on his valuable teachings that are still meaningful today. Enjoy the many Winter and Cultural diversity activities, books and songs as you play, learn, grow, together throughout January!

Quick Links

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

  1. Read and Sing Together
  2. Create Together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing
  3. Explore, Engage & Interact Together
  4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition
  5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day About Learning

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1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

  • Making connections – Encourage students to make connections between what they are reading and their personal experiences. They can relate it to events, people, issues and other things in their life.
  • Visualizing – Students can use this strategy to help them create visual pictures of the meanings they uncover from the text.
  • Asking questions – To actively interact with a text, students need to be able to ask questions related to the text like what the message of the text is, what value does the text add to me? Why is the author saying so?
  • Inferring – Good readers are those who are able to infer meanings and read between the lines.
  • Determining the importance – Good readers are those who can develop a working understanding of the big picture and know exactly the main important ideas communicated by the author
  • Synthesizing – Good readers are able to combine information learned from reading with their background information to create their own ideas.

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BOOKS TO SPARK JOY AND ENCOURAGE PLAY: This recommended list contains picture books that can spark joy and encourage play. This cornerstone of how kids learn to thrive, included below are recommended books to help nurture your children. Older children, children begin to engage in socio-dramatic play and create their own themes and storylines, lessening their need for concrete objects to serve as part of the pretend play”. For example, a group of children might pretend they live in a castle and assign each other roles, such as knights, horses, princes and princesses. The following books show how books and joy go hand in hand —they not only spark joy for all of us but help teach children how to find joy long after we close the book covers. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.

  • Joy by Corrinne Averiss. “Joy is what makes your heart happy and your eyes twinkle.” In Joy, we meet a young girl named Fern who loves her Nanna, especially Nanna’s butterfly cakes, mantelpiece mice, and smile. But Nanna has not been herself lately. When Fern asks her mother about Nanna, her mother replies, “It’s like the joy has gone out of her life.” So, Fern decides to go in search of joy to bring it back into Nanna’s life. She gathers a net, a paper bag, and a saucepan as part of her joy catching accoutrement and heads to the local park. Finding joy turned out to be simple, but catching it was hard. Fern returns to Nanna empty-handed but as she tells Nanna about the joyful things she saw, it brings Nanna the “biggest, widest Whoosh of a smile Fern had ever seen.” A touching and inspiring intergenerational story, Joy invites young readers to poignantly consider the power each of us has to bring joy to others through our stories and our presence. Isabelle Follath’s artwork captures Fern’s boundless imagination through interspersed colorful and gray-scale pages that invite young readers to make inferences about how the characters feel. Joy offers elementary classrooms countless opportunities to help students contemplate their own definitions of joy.
  • Follow-up Activity: Joy List Making through Shared or Interactive Writing. At the start of Joy, Fern lists things that feel joyful in her life, like dancing after dinner, giggling with her friend, and whooshing down a slide. Through shared or interactive writing, start a class joy list that documents students’ ideas about things in life that bring them joy. Extend this conversation to include when learning, reading, and writing feel joyful. Have students create their own joy lists in notebooks and give periodic opportunities for students to reflect on new things in life that bring them joy and invite them to share those things with the class periodically. 
  • High Five by Adam Rubin. From the creators of the beloved, playful picture books Dragons Love Tacos and Secret Pizza Party comes an interactive, rhyming picture book that invites readers to tap into their most creative high-fiving skills. Speaking directly to readers, a high-five champion named Sensei prompts readers to slap the pages with their best high-five skills as they move through the rounds of a challenging, prestigious high-five contest against worthy animal competitors. Daniel Salmieri’s child-like, colored pencil illustrations complement the goofy narrative and cue readers with enlarged animal hands in the foreground to slap pages at the right moment.  Certain to inspire laughter, innovative high-five moves, and immeasurable enthusiasm, High Five is a sure-fire way to spark classroom community and a love of reading anytime of year.
  • Press Here by Hervé Tullet.  This book offers a refreshing and brilliant reminder of what reading can do – arguably what is supposed to do – for kids. Open the deceptively unassuming cover of Press Here and follow the directions to unleash the creative and practically magical power of a reader’s imagination. “Press here,” the book begins, indicating a simple, bold yellow dot on an ordinary white page. What happens next – and throughout the book – is just as entrancing as any iPad, video game, or flashy toy. The dot multiplies. Then, those dots change color. Then, they leap across the page, inflate to gigantic proportions, turn out the lights, and perform numerous other incredible acts as readers continue to follow the words and interact with the book. As in his other books, Tullet presents straightforward text with a gentle, cheerful, and captivating tone. The vibrantly painted dots in primary colors dance throughout the book, highlighting the aesthetic pleasure of simplicity. But the real star of the book is the impalpable power of imagination that effortlessly entices readers of all ages to believe that interacting with words and images on a page can still perform amazing feats.

Follow-Up Activity: The Power of Imagination. This book taps into readers’ imagination to make the dots come alive. What other seemingly ordinary objects can our imaginations transform? Give students a range of everyday items – spoons, blocks, key rings, etc. – and tell them that they must use their imagination to make them come alive or to turn them into completely different things. Encourage them to be as creative as possible and work together to come up with ideas. Have them play with, draw, and write about the newly transformed objects and showcase them for their classmates. You may also want to read aloud some of the books or visit some of the art and imagination websites listed in the Further Explorations section below to help spur students’ creativity.

  • Let’s Play by Hervé Tullet. Enjoy a ride of color, shape, motion, and imagination: It’s only a yellow dot…but what a dot it is! Readers won’t be able to resist this jaunty, adventurous dot, nor its invitation to play along. Filled with artistry and delight, on the Let’s Play! journey, prepare to leap headlong into a completely new dimension: emotion. Connecting not only to the mind but also to the heart, this dot expresses an extraordinary sense of humor, fear, joy, and more as it pushes, lurches, wiggles, and slides its way through—and even off!—the pages of this glorious companion to Press Here, Say Zoop!, and Mix It Up! The perfect book for young children to learn about following directions and basic emotions. Ideal as a fun and interactive read aloud book for families or small groups.

Another Follow-up Activity: Problematizing Problems: Rethinking Story Elements. One of the most thought-provoking facets of The Panda Problem is the main character’s questioning of the long-held and often perpetuated assumption that good stories have to have a problem that the character solves by the end. Engage students in a mini-debate about whether stories need to have a problem in order to be entertaining. Can stories have characters and a plot without a problem? Is it still a good story if it doesn’t have a problem? Metafictive picture books are challenging what we traditionally think about books and stories. Encourage students to notice books and stories that challenge our traditional notions.

PICTURE BOOKS TO ENCOURAGE PRETEND PLAY: Enriched pretend play helps children learn new concepts, develop interpersonal skills, improve motor skills, and gain independence.
(Bodrova & Leong, 2007). Pretend play occurs when kids act out different scenarios and role-play things they’ve witnessed while out and about in the world, Hovington explains. While these scenarios are “pretend,” they do tend to draw upon real-life experiences. Some pretend play examples include:

  • Pretending to go to the library, grocery store, cafe, zoo or bank with caregivers;
  • Acting out working at a restaurant, pretending to be the chef or server (or both!), and using different objects to represent food (this links to symbolic play, listed below);
  • Pretending to be a doctor and acting out a scenario in which a patient is in for their checkup;
  • Pretending to be people familiar to the child, like their parents or teachers. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.
  • Try these simple ideas to support children’s cognitive development, extend playtime, and make it more enriching. The following enriching components will make a big difference in the magic of your child’s pretending.
    • Read plenty of books. Inspire new pretend play ideas by reading picture books about children using their imaginations to create worlds and adventures. Perhaps, like Ladybug Girl, your child will invent a superhero persona. Or, like King Jack, your child will use cardboard boxes to create a castle.
    • Expand your child’s knowledge. Before playtime, build your child’s background knowledge and vocabulary. If your child wants to play mechanic, read picture books about mechanics, and maybe take a field trip to your garage or a mechanic’s garage.
    • Use props to enhance their play. Next, help your children think of any props they might want. For example, if your child wants to play in a bookstore, provide them with a cash box, pretend money, and price stickers.
    • Play with a plan. Help children plan out scenarios and roles for their pretend play. Ask what might happen and where. Will there be monsters or customers? Will they be in a beauty salon or a pirate ship? Ask what roles each person will take on. For example, a vet hospital might want one person to be a pet owner, another person could be a pet, and someone else could be a veterinarian. Ask your kids to plan the roles beforehand and suggest switching them up at some point, making it fair to everyone.
    • Ready to get your kids playing? The following recommended books may be checked out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.
  • Let’s Pretend Fire Engine by Nicola Edwards. Learn all about firefighters working at a fire station with this die-cut board book starring kids doing firefighter activities. The photographs of children will help readers put themselves in the roles so they’ll be ready to launch into a firefighter-themed pretend play.
  • How to Talk Monster by Lynn Plourade.When a monster appears at a little boy’s window, he’s frightened and doesn’t understand the monster’s language. Despite the boy’s fear, he helps the monster when he gets hurt. They learn to communicate and become the best of friends.
  • I Am Someone Else by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Explore the many possibilities of pretending with playful poems from writers like Lois Lowry, Douglas Florian, and Prince Redcloud. These joyful poems show children defying gender stereotypes and exploring who they are through play.
  • Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy by Jacky Davis. Ladybug Girl (a little girl dressed up as a ladybug) arrives at the park where she and her friend Sam decide to play “Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy.” They’ll have to cooperate with each other and use their imaginations to have a parade and save the playground from monsters and robots.
  • King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently. King Jack and his trusty knights, Zak and Caspar, build a castle fort from a big cardboard box, then defend it against a dragon (their adorable toddler sibling). Soothing rhymes and exquisite watercolors give this imaginative play story a timeless feeling.
  • The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee. When Daniel’s babysitter cancels, his parents take him to their night job in an office building. As they work, Daniel’s parents tell him stories that transform the ordinary building into a magical kingdom with dragons and a Paper King named Daniel. Their rich, loving storytelling brings joy to the sleepy boy’s evening.
  • Hey Grandude by Paul McCartney. Grandude lets his four grandkids pick a destination postcard, then uses his magic compass to travel to that location. With a zing, bang, and sizzle, the kids visit the Swiss Alps, travel to the Wild West, and ride flying fish. Talk about the best rainy day ever!

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BOOKS TO PROMOTE DRAMATIC PLAY: Prior to acting out a book it is best that your children are familiar with the story. Take the time to snuggle up on a couch or gather a group on your classroom rug and enjoy one of the books below. Next, assign roles. If a child is feeling too shy to participate, have them be an “audience member”. This is a fantastic role to make everyone feel included. Read the story and have the children act out the movements and repeat the character’s lines. So much learning is occurring in these moments! Dramatic Play promotes language development, gross motor skills, creativity, teamwork, patience, public speaking and literacy development. Don’t forget to be silly! Children love when you enter their world of whimsy! Symbolic play is another type of open-ended play where a child “uses objects to symbolize something else. For example, they may use the TV remote as a cellphone, a basket as a hat or an empty cardboard box as a car or a boat. You’ll see symbolic play used in both pretend, imaginative and many other types of open-ended play. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.

  • The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone. Can the three Billy Goats Gruff cross the troll’s bridge without being eaten? Find out in the perfect introduction to the beloved must-have classic by two-time Caldecott Honor-winner Paul Galdone. The three Billy Goats Gruff are hungry! They want to go over the bridge and up the hillside to a fine meadow full of grass and daisies where they can eat and eat and eat. But under the bridge lives a troll who’s as mean as he is ugly… How will they ever get past him? An energetic, predictable chorus makes for a wonderful read-aloud of this classic tale.
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  • The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone. This classic battle of wits, dramatically and charmingly illustrated by the award-winning Paul Galdone, is the perfect edition to any folk tale storybook collection. Three little pigs set out to seek their fortune. Each pig builds himself a house: one of straw, one of sticks, and one of bricks. When a hungry wolf huffs, and puffs, and blows in the houses of two little pigs, the third pig realizes that he might need more than a sturdy house of bricks to keep the wolf away!
  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jan Brett. Everybody loves the story of the curious little girl named Goldilocks, who made herself quite at home in the house of the three bears. Jan Brett’s lavish illustrations for this classic tale, full of details and surprises, gives this edition a special flair. Children will marvel at the enchanted world created herein.
  • Red Riding Hood by James Marshall. “A thoroughly modern, thoroughly charming retelling of an old favorite. Witty and direct . . . both Granny and child are swallowed, then rescued intact by the hunter who kills the wolf. . . . A perfect union of words, story, and illustration.”
  • The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone. “The classic tale of the old couple, with no children of their own, who bake a gingerbread boy to keep them company. Just as the little old woman is about to take him from the oven, he slips away and runs out the door past a cow, a horse, a group of threshers, mowers, etc. All follow in hot pursuit until the gingerbread boy meets up with a wily fox, and ‘at last and at last he went the way of every single gingerbread boy that ever came out of an oven . . . He was all gone!’ A wonderfully frenetic cross-country chase is depicted in Galdone’s broadly humorous color wash drawings. Of the eight editions of this well-known story now in print, this hilarious version is the most delectable.”
  • Jack and the Beanstalk by Paul Galdone. Young readers are sure to delight in Galdone’s version of this classic story, and the lively illustrations and rhythmic storytelling make it perfect for reading aloud with little ones. With a gorgeous cover in keeping with the rest of the Folk Tale Classics series, the story of Jack and his magic bean has never been more irresistible.
  • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury. We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come too? Join a father and his four young children as they cross a field of tall, wavy grass, wade through a deep, cold river, struggle through swampy mud, find their way through a big, dark forest, fight through a whirling snowstorm, and enter finally enter a narrow, gloomy cave. What will they find there? You’ll have to read on to find out!
  • I Went Walking by Sue Williams. A child discovers a parade of animals in this vibrant book filled with playful humor and rhyme. This simple, funny read-aloud follows a boy’s exciting stroll through the countryside. The boy sees a black cat, then a brown horse, then a red cow, and so on, and before he knows it, he’s being trailed by the entire menagerie! Big type, repetition, lively art, and the visual guessing game created by introducing each animal only partially at first, make this board book the perfect addition to every young reader’s library.
  • A Teacher in the Wild by Devin Siebold. What happens when a veteran public school teacher becomes an award-winning comedian, and then finally pursues his passion to write a children’s book? You get a comedy-filled fantasy journey into the mind of a student that just spotted their teacher outside the classroom.We have all been there, if not as a teacher, as a child. Seeing your teacher for the first time in an informal setting is a feeling of excitement and wonder. Now, we can add imagination and humor to that experience, with Devin Siebold’s debut book: A Teacher in the Wild. Take a journey into the mind of a child out on a trip to the mall with their father, as they encounter Mrs. Brown doing some casual shopping… or so it seems. Every step, every purchase, every discussion is analyzed in only the way a child’s imagination can fathom. There is absolutely no way Mrs. Brown has left the classroom without something sinister happening behind the curtains, and her student is going to get to the bottom of it. This story is written with the influence of a favorite author of Devin’s, Shel Silverstein, and is a rhyming and rhythmic tale that every child and adult can relate to that will have readers laughing all the way until the exciting twist of an ending.
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WINTER BOOKS:  The following recommended list of winter books for kids conjures up images of streets quietly blanketed in beautiful, fluffy white powder, always on a day where you have nothing to do but sit by a fire and read. Unfortunately, that may not be the reality of living in a snowy place, but there’s no harm in imagining it that way, right? I enjoy thinking about winter and snowy places. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.

  • Can Bear’s Ski? by Raymond Antrobus. Is Little Bear ignoring his friends when they say hi, or is something else going on? A discovery opens new doors in a tale that will delight kids with deafness and all children learning to navigate their world. Little Bear feels the world around him. He feels his bed rumble when Dad Bear wakes him up in the morning. He feels the floor shake when his teacher stomps to get his attention. But something else is missing, like when his friends tell jokes that he isn’t sure he understands, or when all around him Little Bear hears the question, “Can bears ski?” Then, one day, Dad Bear takes him to see an “aud-i-olo-gist,” and Little Bear learns that he has been experiencing deafness and will start wearing hearing aids. Soon he figures out what that puzzling refrain is: “Can you hear me?” Little Bear’s new world is LOUD and will take some getting used to, but with the love and support of Dad Bear, he will find his way. In this lyrical picture book, award-winning creators Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar draw on their own experiences to tell Bear’s story.
  • The Last Marshmallow by Grace Lin. Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin celebrates math for every kid, everywhere! After playing in the snow, Olivia and Mei are ready for cocoa. There’s one marshmallow for Olivia and one marshmallow for Mei. But what will they do with the third marshmallow? How can two friends share three things fairly? Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together.
  • Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson. One cold day Mouse and Poppa venture into the clear white world. From sledding down hills, to skating across the ice, to meeting fluffy snow angels, Mouse finds that wintertime is full of surprises. And before it’s time to go home, Mouse just might have time to “make” a special new friend!
  • Soup Day by Melissa Iwai. Melissa Iwai’s Soup Day celebrates the importance of making a nutritious meal and sharing in the process as a family. On a cold, snowy day, a young girl and her mother shop to buy ingredients for vegetable soup. At home, they work together―step by step―to prepare the meal. While the soup is cooking, they spend the time playing games and reading. Before long, Daddy’s home and the family sits down to enjoy a homemade dinner.
  • First Snow by Bomi Park. Look out. Now look up. From the sky one flake falls, then another. And just like that—it’s snowing. In this beautiful book from debut creator Bomi Park, a young girl wakes up to the year’s first snowy day. From her initial glimpse out the window to her poignant adventures—rolling a snowman, making snow angels—the girl’s quiet quests are ones all young readers will recognize. Simple, muted text and exquisite, evocative art conjure the excitement of a day spent exploring the wonder of snow—and the magic that, sometimes literally, such a day brings. As subtly joyful as a snow day itself, this book will find its home in the hearts of young adventurers everywhere.
  • Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee. Just outside my window, There are tracks in the snow. Who made the tracks? Where do they go? A little girl follows tracks outside her window after a fresh snowfall, only to realize that the tracks in the snow are her own from the day before―and that they lead her home. This diminutive and sweet picture book is as cozy as a cup of hot chocolate.
  • A Coyote Solstice Tale by Thomas King. Wily trickster Coyote is having his friends over for a little solstice get-together in the woods when a little girl comes by unexpectedly. She leads the friends through the snowy woods to the mall, a place they had never seen before. The trickster goes crazy with glee as he shops with abandon, only to discover that filling a shopping cart with goodies is not quite the same thing as actually paying for them. The trickster is tricked and goes back to his cabin in the woods somewhat subdued though nothing can keep Coyote down for long. Thomas King is known for his fiction featuring Canada’s Native people, while Gary Clement’s artwork has appeared in several popular children’s books. This book blends King’s brilliant deadpan humor and Clement’s evocative watercolors in this witty critique of consumerism and consumption aimed at all ages.
  • Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper. A snowy day, a trip to Grandma’s, time spent cooking with one another, and space to pause and discover the world around you come together in this perfect book for reading and sharing on a cozy winter day. One winter morning, Lina wakes up to silence. It’s the sound of snow — the kind that looks soft and glows bright in the winter sun. But as she walks to her grandmother’s house to help make the family recipe for warak enab, she continues to listen. As Lina walks past snowmen and across icy sidewalks, she discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed. With stunning illustrations by Kenard Pak and thoughtful representation of a modern Arab American family from Cathy Camper, Ten Ways to Hear Snow is a layered exploration of mindfulness, empathy, and what we realize when the world gets quiet.
  • Barn at Night by Michelle Houts. A father and daughter feed and care for farm animals on their family farm in this heartwarming family story perfect for bedtime. When you grow up on a farm, adventures happen all day long – even at night! Barn at Night follows a father and a daughter as they care for farm animals in two visits to the barn on a working farm – first, waking early to do the routine, daily work in the pre-dawn hours, and in a midnight visit to the barn to help a horse who’s foaling. Written in lyrical poetry, the story shows how farmers feed and care for their animals even in the coldest weather, in both situations that are planned for – and for when animals need help even when humans should be sleeping. Barn at Night features cows, barn cats, horses, and other farm animal friends and their babies’ names, for fun vocabulary building for young readers – and it ends with the beautiful surprise arrival of a new foal. Illustrated in glowing watercolors, Barn at Night makes a wonderful bedtime story that is great to share as a family.
  • Snow Song by A.K. Riley. An enchanting story told in rhythmic free verse of a young girl exploring the world on a wintry, snow-filled day. This beautiful picture book uses rhythmic and sensory free verse to tell the story of a young girl exploring the outdoors on a wintry day. Everywhere she goes, the snow fills her with wonder and delight. There are fine pearls of snow, a twirl of snow, a curl of snow. The sky unravels into snow, the pond lathers up with snow, the hills are knitted caps of snow. All she encounters is framed by the snow. It captivates her, swaddles her world, and makes everything snug — from first light, to the darkness of bedtime. A. K. Riley has crafted an evocative and playful ode to the winter snow that perfectly captures the magic of a winter’s day for a child. The verse alternates from slow to fast, deftly playing with pace and sure to keep readers engaged. Dawn Lo’s fresh illustrations create a charming visual narrative of snow-filled scenes filled with joy. With a simultaneously classic and contemporary feel, this enchanting read-aloud is perfect for a winter-themed story time, a discussion of poetry, or a classroom unit on the seasons. It also touchingly explores ideas of how communities and friendships are enhanced through shared experiences.
  • Olwen finds her Wings by Nora Sorojegen. An adorable baby owl discovers what makes her special in this beautifully expressive picture book. Olwen the baby owl isn’t happy. Sitting on her branch is boring. What else can little owls do? Olwen longs to be just like hare, squirrel and bear but no matter how hard she tries she can’t hop, scamper or roar. That’s not what owls do. But the little owl soon discovers that she might be able to do something just as wonderful. Can Olwen find her wings and soar? This sweet and charming picture book sensitively explores the feeling of longing to be different and celebrates embracing what makes us special. With expressive, intricate illustrations, this is a lively story created by mother-and-daughter team Nora and Pirkko-Liisa Surojegin.
  • The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser. A little yak yearns for BIG things in this rollicking, rhyming picture book that celebrates individuality, unique talents, and the importance of not growing up too fast. Gertie is the littlest yak in her pack, feeling stuck in her smallness. She wants to grow up and have BIGNESS and TALLNESS, with the hugest of hooves and humongous horns too! Because there isn’t anything a BIG yak can’t do. So Gertie devises a growing-up plan. She eats her veggies, exercises every day, and reads lots of books. Still, she isn’t any bigger. But when the other yaks come calling for Gertie to help them with a daring and dangerous task, could it be because it’s something only a small yak can do? Lu Fraser’s debut picture book is a heartwarming and relatable story of individuality, self-esteem, and the joys of being young and small. best-selling illustrator Kate Hindley has created a delightful wintry landscape, packed with adorable yaks in woolly hats and coats. Readers won’t be able to resist snuggling down with this charming read aloud.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY: Monday, January 15, 2024 – To mark the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. He was one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. A Black church leader and a son of early civil rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Sr., King advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through nonviolence and civil disobedience. Inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi, he led targeted, nonviolent resistance against Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination in the United States. King participated in and led marches for the right to vote, desegregation, labor rights, and other civil rights. King was one of the leaders of the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. On October 14, 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor People’s Campaign, when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a holiday in cities and states throughout the United States beginning in 1971. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.

  • Celebrate Martin King Jr. Day by Sally Lee. Martin Luther King Jr. led the American civil rights movement in the mid-1900s. His holiday honors this man who continues to inspire Americans to work toward equality more than 50 years after his death. Readers will learn about Martin Luther King Jr., the holiday named for him, and how they can continue to promote and celebrate equality today.
  • Martin Lther King, Jr. by Rachel Grack. This title for young readers describes the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Through peaceful protests and education, KingÂs leadership cleared the path for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Every third Monday of January, citizens of the United States recognize the leaderÂs mission of equality for all on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
  • I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer. The eighth biography in this New York Times bestselling series features one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes, Martin Luther King, Jr. (Cover may vary). As a child, Martin Luther King, Jr. was shocked by the terrible and unfair way African American people were treated. When he grew up, he decided to do something about it—peacefully, with powerful words. He helped gather people together for nonviolent protests and marches, and he always spoke up about loving other human beings and doing what’s right. He spoke about the dream of a kinder future, and bravely led the way toward racial equality in America.
  • Martin Luther King Jr. by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Martin Luther King Jr., the inspiring minister and civil rights activist. Little Martin grew up in a family of preachers: his dad was a preacher, his uncle was a preacher, his grandfather was a preacher…so maybe he’d become a great preacher too. One day, a friend invited him to play at his house. Martin was shocked when his mother wouldn’t let him in because he was black. That day he realized there was something terribly unfair going on. Martin believed that no one should remain silent and accept something if it’s wrong. And he promised himself that—when he grew up—he’d fight injustice with the most powerful weapon of all: words. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the inspiring activist’s life.
  • The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. A positive and affirming look at skin color, from an artist’s perspective. Lena is going to paint a picture of herself and wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades. Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.
  •  Our Diversity Makes Us Stronger by Elizabeth Cole. Social Emotional Book for Kids about Diversity and Kindness. In this book, Nick shows children that we all are different in many ways, and everyone is unique—which is great! He is afraid that his friends will not accept him because of his new reading glasses. By talking to his peers on the way to school, he discovers the beauty of diversity and realizes that our diversity is actually our strength.
  • Little Chief and Mighty Gopher by Victor Lethbridge. Discover what happens when a young boy’s friendship with a gopher turns everyone’s life upside down! This is a story about a young boy who finds friends and acceptance in unexpected places. This is a funny, heartfelt story of hope, empowerment and determination suited to young readers, the young at heart and those who struggle with bullying and rejection. 
  • What Makes Us Unique? by Dr. Jillian Roberts focuses on introducing children to the complex topic of diversity and prejudice. The author includes types of discrimination children notice, what prejudice means, why it’s not okay, how to stand up against it and how kids can spread a message of inclusion and acceptance in the world around them.

CALMING BOOKS: As you think about preparing a Calm corner in your classroom or at home, here are some recommended books for you to consider. Check these books out at your local school or public library or consider purchasing them as gifts.

  • Come on Calm by Kelsey Brown. This book is about finding calm in everyday adventures. It gives step by step ideas for self-soothing when its readers find themselves nervous, excited, or just in a MOOD.  This book supports parents, teachers, and caregivers to build healthy habits and a shared vocabulary for when they need a break. Little readers of all abilities will relate to the diverse and inclusive characters with an understanding that everyone needs to take a breath sometimes – even pirates and explorers.  “In a world that does not stop spinning, Come On, Calm! teaches children to slow their world and be the best version of themselves they can be.” – Shelley, Child Life Specialist  A perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf, classroom, or waiting area,  Come On, Calm!  teaches tangible ways for caregivers and educators to be active partners in redirecting their little ones’ energy. The book’s cast of painters, vikings, and astronauts introduce its readers to strategies like “Blow some bubbles,” “Pat your armor,” and “Squeeze the lemon” to help find their calm and re-engage. 
  • I feel Teal by Lauren Rille. A little girl has a rainbow of emotions in this gentle debut picture book that encourages little ones to express their feelings through color. You’re pink, you’re teal, you’re gray, you’re jade. You’re every golden, warmy shade… All of us have lots of feelings, and this sweet rhyming story cleverly uses colors to explore the wide range of emotions little ones experience throughout the day, from a shy scarlet to a quiet ecru to an exuberant magenta. Along the way it celebrates individuality and self-acceptance—after all, our feelings are the palette that makes us who we are!
  • My Magic Breathe; Finding Calm through Mindful Breathing by Nick Ortner. From New York Times bestselling author Nick Ortner comes a beautiful picture book that will help children discover calm through the magic of mindfulness. Do YOU have the magic breath? Let’s see…Take a deeeeeep breath in…and BLOW it out… …and like magic, you can feel better just by breathing! Sometimes it’s hard to feel happy. But with this interactive picture book, children breathe along as they learn how to make angry or sad thoughts disappear. In a world that is sometimes too busy, with too many things going on, My Magic Breath will help steer children into a serene space of mindfulness, self-awareness, and balance.
  • My Color is Rainbow by Agnes Hsu. Follow Little White Arch on his journey as he wonders what his color could be. Along the way he meets many colorful characters who help him realize the answer. A playful story about kindness, acceptance, and openness that celebrates how we are not defined by one, but many wonderful characteristics.
  • A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood. “Sometimes a person needs a quiet place.” A place that’s far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life — a place that isn’t ringing or talking or roaring or playing. But sometimes that place isn’t easy to find. Explore what it’s like to find a special someplace where we all can think our own thoughts and feel our own feelings.
  • The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires. This is a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. “She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. For the early grades’ exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl’s frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it’s okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn’t just “make” her magnificent thing — she “tinkers and hammers and measures,” she “smooths and wrenches and fiddles,” she “twists and tweaks and fastens.” These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
  • Remy the Rhino learns Patience by Andy McQuire. This book presents enchanting art and rhymes to share the story of Remy, the impatient Rhino. When the other animals annoy him, he snorts and charges right for them. One day, an aardvark decides not to run, and Remy’s horn gets stuck in a tree! The forgiving aardvark gathers termites to slowly eat away the wood and free Remy―not only of his situation but of his impatient ways. So as Remy experienced strange new sensations. He took a crash course in the virtue of patience. This hilarious story shows children how to get unstuck from their impatience and enjoy peace and the people around them.
  • Find Your Calm: A Mindful Approach To Relieve Anxiety And Grow Your Bravery by Gabi Garcia. For many kids, anxiety can feel overwhelming. Anxiety is not just a cognitive experience. When children feel anxious, their bodies respond physically to a perceived threat. They need to feel a sense of safety before figuring out what to do next. This book an accessible book that teaches children how to tap into their sense of safety when they experience anxiety so they can learn to find their calm. It includes kid-friend activities and coping tools for them to practice.
  • Mindfulness Makes Me Stronger by Elizabeth Cole. If you are a parent of an absent-minded and anxious child, this book is a great way to introduce your little one to the concept of mindfulness. The story will suggest the ways to get rid of the distracting thoughts and will teach your child to stay focused and present. Educators and parents often struggle to explain their children how to deal with distraction, sorrow, and angry feelings. This mindfulness book for children is your best assistant to calm your children and to show kids’ exercises, which will help them to feel happy, focused, and calm. When little Nick starts to miss everything that happens around him, his dad teaches him to deal with worries in a fun and playful way. By using kids’ breathing techniques and other helpful tips, Nick learns to control his big feelings and becomes mindful.

nafme.org

SONGS: The above diagram offers 20 important reasons to include music in our schools. Music can help reduce anxiety and stress, ease pain and discomfort, promote positive moods and emotional states, and encourage bonding and connections. It can also help children hone their fine motor and language skills, and boost self-confidence. 

WINTERTIME:

PRETEND & IMAGINATION:

BEING CALM:

CULTURAL DIVERSITY 

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Artsymomma.com

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

Outdoor Snow Play – Hats on, scarf found. Let’s head outside for some snow play ideas that will entertain children longer than it took to get the left foot inside the boot. Kids model their parents behavior in a lot of ways. If you want your kids to get outdoors more, getting outdoors yourself is a great way to help your kids! Creating fun outdoor experiences as a family is a great way to start creating a regular habit of playing outdoors. There are so many fun, simple, and creative ways to help your kids get outside–and they don’t have to cost a lot of money, time, or planning. Playing in the snow is so much fun! It provides a fabulous sensory experience for all those who are lucky enough to enjoy it. We’re all about getting kids outside, no matter the weather. We hope that you’ll send your kids outside to play in the snow as much as possible on their next snow day. And if they’re in need of some fun snow day activities and ideas, we’ve got tons! This list should help you get through an entire winter of snow days! 

WINTER ACTIVITIES:

  • Create a Hot chocolate bar. (See recipe included under nutrition.) What goes better with a cold snow day than hot chocolate?! After spending time outside playing, hot chocolate is the perfect drink to warm you up, head to toe. Get a little creative with your hot chocolate and set up a station for the kids to make their own. Include marshmallows, leftover candy canes, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cinnamon, or whatever else you can find in the pantry! 
  • Make an obstacle course. A fun way to make the most of a snow day is to build an obstacle course for the kids. It helps them stay active and test their creativity. The kids have to climb over, under and through the obstacles. Some of the challenges include spinning around 5 times, doing a somersault, doing jumping jacks or pushups, doing a handstand, hitting a target, or jumping rope. 
  • Make Snow ice cream. The perfect snow day is not complete without snow ice cream! With just a few simple ingredients, you can turn ordinary snow into something extraordinarily delicious! Snow ice cream can be made with things we already have at home. Just take some freshly fallen snow and combine it with milk (or cream). Add a smidge of vanilla and a couple of spoonfuls of sugar. Voila! Top with sprinkles.
  • Friendship bracelets. Making friendship bracelets was one of my favorite indoor childhood activities. I went through a period of years of making elaborate bracelets for all my friends and family members. It’s something I can’t wait to teach my kids to do (hopefully soon). All you really need is some thread and some patience. Here’s an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to make friendship bracelets with helpful photos. 

hodgepodgedays.co.uk

  • Make butter. If you want to wow your kids, burn some energy and show them a little classic science, make some homemade butter. Making homemade butter is so simple (and so delicious) that you may never buy butter again! All you need is some heavy whipping cream and a Mason jar with a lid. Fill the jar about halfway with cream (leave lots of room) and tighten the lid. Now hand it off to your kids and let them take turns shaking the jar as fast and hard as they can. After about 10 minutes you’ll have whipped cream! But keep going! After a few more minutes, you’ll notice when the cream turns solid and you now have butter! Keep shaking until the butter is solid and separated from the buttermilk. It’s that easy! 
  • Animal Charades: A game of animal charades is such a fun way to get kids moving and using their imagination! Kids of all ages like pretending and even little kids know animal sounds and characteristics. Usually, charades is played silently, without using words or sounds, but you can always adapt the game depending on the age of the kids and their charade skill level. Toddlers and preschoolers may really enjoy making the animal sounds! 
  • Make sugar cookies. (recipe found under Nutrition.) Most kids absolutely love helping out in the kitchen. Especially so if they’re making sweet treats. If you want to have a little fun in the kitchen on a snowy day, how about making a batch of sugar cookies. Double the batch and make extras for the neighbors! 
  • If cookies aren’t your thing, here are a whole bunch of other tried-and-true great recipes to make with kids.
  • Make taffy. Did you ever make taffy as a kid? My cousins and I used to make taffy every summer and loved it! It can be a little messy, but it’s super fun and your kids will love how interactive and involved the process is. There’s a lot of taffy pulling, kneading, and stretching involved, so little ones can get some energy out while they make it. Here’s a great kid-friendly taffy recipe and a step-by-step tutorial on how to make taffy with kids. 
  • Read a book. Nothing sounds better on a cold snowy day than snuggling under a blanket and reading a good book. Look at the recommended books above. You don’t need any kind of fancy reading nook or window seat (although that sounds nice). A couch, oversized chair or bed will work fine. Snuggle up together and read something exciting together with the kids. Even if your kids are old enough to read on their own, they love being read to. So, grab a book and read the many recommendations included in this blog. 
  • Crank up the music and dance the winter blues away! If you’re stuck inside on a snow day, a dance party is a great way to have some fun, burn some energy, and show off your smooth moves. Let all the kids have a turn choosing the songs or let your system shuffle music from your favorites. Make it extra fun by adding some instruments (even fake/imaginary ones like an air guitar) or costumes. 
  • Sledding – has become a beloved winter activity for our family. Especially as kids get older, they really love the speed and thrill of how much fun they can have on an otherwise normal hill. However, as with every fun activity, especially when children are involved, it’s important to be safe, as well as have fun. Find a hill that is not too steep and has a long flat area at the bottom so there is a place to glide to a stop. As kids get older, they may want a bigger and longer hill for sledding, but don’t be afraid to start small and see how it goes. Kids can have hours of fun on the tiniest of hills.
  • Snow cakes for animals. Everyone loves cake…even animals! But while deer, squirrels and birds probably shouldn’t be eating cakes made from sugar and flour, they can eat cakes made of snow, fruits, and veggies for the animals! Head out to a field or choose a spot near the woods where animals will be sure to find it. Use the snow to make a big cake on the ground and decorate it with birdseed, carrots, apples, lettuce and other fruits and vegetables. The animals will be grateful for your generosity.
  • Directions to complete these mittens.
  • Directions to set up a Cloud Dough Construction Bin.
  • Snowman building – Building a snowman is a classic wintertime childhood activity that is a blast for kids of all ages. Give your snowman the perfect proportions by aiming for a 3-2-1 snowball ratio (for example, if the lowest ball has a diameter of three feet, the middle ball would be two feet, and the top ball would be one foot). Also consider that the lower to the ground your snowman is, the more stable he will be. Just because building a snowman is a classic activity doesn’t mean you can’t use nontraditional decorations. Let your kids give your snowman (or snowwoman) some personality. Give him a funky cap or an ugly Christmas sweater. Give her a grass skirt and Hawaiian shirt to wear. And no one said your snowman had to be a man. Make a snowwoman, a snow dog or snowcat, a snow tiger, or an entire snow family! Add some extra fun with snow paint (food coloring and water in a squirt bottle) to give your snow character clothes or stripes or just have some extra fun.
Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids
  • Snow Maze – If you have a large wide-open space with nice untouched snow, consider making a snow maze for the kids. You can shovel the maze out, or just walk through to pack down the snow in lines, with turns, dead-ends, and loops. Depending on the ages of your kids, you may want to make it harder or easier to find their way through the maze. Kids will love trying to figure out where to go and how to get through with the fastest time. 

  • Read the book Tracks in the Snow and then look for animal tracks. Winter is a great time to head out to the woods (or even your local park) and see if you can find animal tracks. Fresh snow is great for showing tracks of various woodland animals. Examples include rabbits, foxes, deer, and squirrels. Make it a game and see who can spot the most tracks, the biggest, the smallest and the most exotic. Try to guess what animal made them, where they were going and what they were doing. Don’t recognize the tracks? Take photos of the tracks and look them up when you get home to see what animal made them.
  • Read the Snow Song OR Ten Ways to Hear Snow and then go outdoors and have a snowball fight. They are such a fun way to get the kids outside, active and burning through some of that snow day energy. Older kids tend to do better with snowball fights, but even little kids love making and throwing snowballs. Snowball fights are usually about nailing a member of the other team with a snowball, so make sure to talk to the kids about proper snowball fight etiquette (no throwing at the face, no ice or rocks in snowballs, etc.). If you don’t want to throw them at each other, you could have a competition to see who can throw them the farthest or who can make the most snowballs the fastest. 
  • Ice-skating. A snow day is the perfect time to try ice skating – particularly at an outdoor rink. There’s something magical about skating outside when it’s frosty cold. Most rinks have rental skates for kids as young as two, along with buckets or rails for little kids to hold onto. If your kids are little, we also recommend wearing a bike helmet and super thick gloves to protect kids’ heads and fingers.

how to snowshoe with kids - snow day activities

@sage.and.summit

  • Snowshoeing is essentially winter hiking over the snow. You need special snowshoes to do this, but they’re not expensive and can even be rented very cheaply in many places. Snowshoeing is a great way to get the whole family outside together for fresh air and exercise. We’ve got a great beginner’s guide to snowshoeing with kids to help you get started with this fun family snow day activity.
  • Skiing/snowboarding. Take advantage of the fresh powder and hit the slopes on a snow day. Skiing and snowboarding with kids is incredibly exhausting, but so much fun! Pack up your gear and head for the hills to take advantage of all the fun the winter has to offer. If your kids are new to skiing, we highly recommend you read our beginner’s guide to downhill skiing with kids. Or get the kids a lesson or ski school before hitting the slopes. Instructors are usually really great with kids and teach them in a way that’s fun and easy to understand. Once they’ve gotten the hang of it, they can show off their new skills with you.
  • Snow angels – Making snow angels is a quintessential snow day childhood outdoor activity. This activity needs no real explanation or instruction, but there are a few things you can do to make it more fun for kids. After the kids make the snow angel, let them decorate them! It’s really funny to see hollow snow angels on the ground with pinecones for eyes, sticks for hair, and a red berry mouth!
  • Snow tree faces – You may have heard of making mud faces on trees…this is the same, but only with snow! For this fun snow day activity, all you have to do is pack some snow on the side of a tree trunk and then mold it into a funny face. You can add rocks, leaves, sticks or berries to make facial features.

typicalmummy.co.uk

An everydaystory.com

PROMOTING DRAMATIC PLAY & PRETEND ACTIVITIES:

  • Read A Teacher in the Wild and then do this follow-up Writing Prompt activity to accompany the book. Do you remember the moment you realized teachers were people and that they just didn’t live at school? This story recounts one such experience. I recommend it as a motivation for a writing workshop or for a writing center. The book shows the world through the eyes of the student, who is actually a little scared of meeting his teacher outside of school. It all works out!
  • Read We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and then act it out together.
  • Read the book Jack and the Beanstalk, listen to Jack and the Beanstalk and then act it out together.

WINTER ACTIVITIES:

DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES: It is important that we prepare children to meet the challenges and reap the benefits of the increasingly diverse world they will inherit. Books are ways to initiate discussions at home and in the classroom so we can raise children to celebrate and value diversity and family traditions, are kind to those who are different, love themselves and are proud of themselves just the way they are.  We can teach children to respect and value people regardless of the colour of their skin, their physical abilities, or the language they speak. 

PROMOTING DRAMATIC PLAY & PRETEND ACTIVITIES: Symbolic play (fantasy, dress-up, pretend play). Childhood play elicits images of tiny tots “making breakfast” in a play kitchen, hosting tea parties with all their stuffed animal friends or having long conversations with “Grandma” on their banana phone. All three of these scenarios fall under open-ended play, which is important for a child’s learning and development. There are many types of open-ended play, including symbolic play, imaginative play and pretend play. But exactly what does each entail? And how do these similar but different types of play benefit children? Keep reading to learn how to foster creativity and encourage these imagination-boosting activities.

  • Read A Teacher in the Wild and then do this follow-up Writing Prompt activity to accompany the book. Do you remember the moment you realized teachers were people and that they just didn’t live at school? This story recounts one such experience. I recommend it as a motivation for a writing workshop or for a writing center. The book shows the world through the eyes of the student, who is actually a little scared of meeting his teacher outside of school. It all works out!
  • Read We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and then act it out together.
  • Read the book  Jack and the Beanstalk, listen to Jack and the Beanstalk and then act it out together.

WINTER ACTIVITIES:

DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES: It is important that we prepare children to meet the challenges and reap the benefits of the increasingly diverse world they will inherit. Books are ways to initiate discussions at home and in the classroom so we can raise children to celebrate and value diversity and family traditions, are kind to those who are different, love themselves and are proud of themselves just the way they are.  We can teach children to respect and value people regardless of the colour of their skin, their physical abilities, or the language they speak. 

3. Explore, Engage & Interact together 🌍

  • Every classroom and home might consider adding a Calm Down Corner. When children are feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, disruptive behavior often follows. Teaching how to self-regulate through a calm down corner instead of resorting to disruptive behavior can transform classroom management or help support children in the home.
  • Here are some tips to set up a calm down corner:
    • Choose the right location:  Select a quiet and secluded area in your classroom where students can go when they need to calm down away from distractions and provide a sense of privacy for students. This area needs to be well-defined for children.
    • Set the mood: Create a soothing and comforting atmosphere within the calm down corner by including comfortable seating and calming colors. 
    • Include calming tools: Equip your calm down corner with a variety of calming tools and resources such as stress balls, fidget toys, weighted blankets, sensory bottles, or even headphones for listening to relaxing music. These tools can help students redirect their focus and find a sense of calm.
    • Teach calming techniques: Read some of the recommended books and take time to teach children about different calming techniques they can use in the calm down corner. Teach them deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques, or mindfulness activities that can help regulate their emotions.
    • Establish clear guidelines: Set clear expectations for how the calm down corner should be used. Explain to your students that it is a space for self-regulation and provide guidelines on when and how they should utilize it. Ensure that they understand the purpose of the calm down corner and emphasize that it is not a form of punishment, but rather a tool for self-reflection and emotional growth.
  • Post and download these Calming Centre Posters for your classroom or home from Brooke Reagan’s blog.
  • Read Come on Calm and sing Safe and Calm. 

WINTER ACTIVITIES:

4. Healthy Living: Movement & Nutrition 👭

MOVEMENT: Educators have been using creative and engaging brain breaks in the classroom for years. We’ve seen firsthand the positive effect that a break from academics can have on students, replacing anxiety with productivity and focus. Students love  and are more focused than ever after a quick YouTube brain break!

NUTRITION:

JANUARY RECIPES: It is a time to keep warm and snuggle up. The following recipes are meant to warm everyone up when the temperatures outside are cold. Eating healthy in January tops many lists of priorities. If you’re trying to eat clean this month, it can be hard to know where to start. After getting warm, consider some of the following healthy recipes. Cooking with kids is a great way to get young children involved in household duties. Cooking gives kids a sense of responsibility, it gets them excited about mealtime, it allows them to bond with you, and it increases their pride in their work. There are so many amazing benefits of cooking with kids. Today, we’re here to help convince you to get your kids involved in the cooking and meal-making process. Find a list of kitchen tasks appropriate for kids of all ages and lots of fun ways to get them involved. Bon Appetit! 

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Learning 💭

PLAY:

quotesgram.com

CULTURAL DIVERSITY: