The end of the year seems to be filled with activities related to holidays. But sometimes you cannot include holiday themes or you want to explore things that are a little different from the traditional themes in December. Below are six themes, with a links to a few activities, that could be related to holiday time but can be explored with no reference to any specific holiday. Use these ideas to expand the exploration possibilities in your classroom at this time of year.
Non-Holiday Ideas for December
GINGERBREAD
Gingerbread can be cooked, enjoyed, and explored as activities for preschoolers. You could connect this exploration to reading versions of the tale The Gingerbread Man or explore this bakery treat all on its own. Here are a few ideas for this theme:
- Gingerbread Cloud Dough (Pre-K Pages)
- Gingerbread Man Counting Game (Pre-K Pages)
- Dissolving Gingerbread Man Science Activity (Pre-K Pages)
- Gingerbread Man Movement Activity (Pre-K Pages)
- Gingerbread Man Maps Writing Center (Pre-K Pages)
- Gingerbread Books (Pre-K Pages)
- Construction Paper Gingerbread House (Teach Preschool)
- Gingerbread Songs (Prekinders)
CRANBERRIES
Cranberries are a fall and winter fruit so they make a great theme for the end of the year. Explore them in different ways and learn about where and how they grow. A few cranberry-related ideas:
- Dancing Cranberries (STEM Lab)
- Cranberry Slime (Schooling Active Monkeys)
- Cranberry Sensory Play (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Painting with Cranberries (Teach Preschool)
- Building with Cranberries (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Cranberry Lemonade (Inspiration Laboratories)
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint is available in different shapes and forms. Exploring the scent and taste of peppermint as well as the red and white color will be fun for preschoolers. Here are a few ideas:
- Peppermint Candy Science Experiment (Pre-K Pages)
- Candy Cane Slime (Pre-K Pages)
- Peppermint Play Dough (Pre-K Pages)
- Peppermint Ice Cream in a Bag (Inner Child Fun)
- Peppermint Scented Sensory Bin (Fun-a-Day)
- Painting Peppermint Stripes (Teach Preschool)
Fun Preschool Themes for Holidays or Not
CANDLES
Many different types of holiday celebrations use candles. While burning candles may be a challenge with younger children, you can find other ways to talk about candles and stay safe. Check out these ideas for a start:
- Jump a Candle (Pre-K Pages)
- Make Cardboard Tube Candles (Happy Hooligans) – this one is holiday-themed but you could make any type of candle
- Candle Rolling (Kids Activities Blog)
- Handprint Candle Holders (Easy Peasy and Fun)
- Wax Resist with Candles (Laughing Kids Learn)
- Paper Cup Luminaries (Little Bins for Little Hands)
EVERGREENS
You could do activities on evergreens, exploring these trees that stay green throughout the winter. Or compare these trees with trees that lose their leaves. Children enjoy learning about the world around them and trees are a great subject. Get started with these ideas:
- Explore Types of Evergreen Trees (Educators’ Spin On It)
- Tree Farm Small World Play (Teach Preschool)
- Pine Needle Discovery Bottles (Teach Preschool)
- Evergreen Science Exploration (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Evergreen Oobleck Sensory Play (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Collaborative Pine Tree Art Project (Fun-a-Day)
ANIMALS IN WINTER
Animals in the winter can be a fun theme, whether you focus on animals that live in snowy, icy environments or animals that hibernate in winter or animals that transition to live both in warmer and colder weather. Here are a few ideas:
- Over and Under the Snow Building Activity (Pre-K Pages)
- Polar Bear Activities (Pre-K Pages)
- Winter Animals Block Building (Prekinders)
- Making Bear Caves for Hibernation (Teach Preschool)
- Polar Bear Blubber Science Experiment (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Ice Melt Sensory Play (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Penguin Science Play (Little Bins for Little Hands)
What other themes have you used at the end of the year?
More Winter Activities
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