Around our fair region (the Pacific Northwest) this week, we've had some snow flurries, resulting in as much as 4 inches of snow in some areas of higher elevation! This resulted in non-stop news coverage of what I lovingly term, "The Snowpocalypse."
Yes, I said 4 inches. My colleagues in the Midwest, commence the eye-rolling - we deserve it.
Regardless of the ridiculous nature of the coverage of this weather "news," the rarely-seen snow around the Portland metro area has put me in the winter mood and brought to mind this creative and very simple writing lesson plan to complete with kids of all ages.
Winter Acrostic Poem
For younger kids, it's probably better to write one or more acrostic poems together as a class, using the word "Winter" on chart paper. Once explaining the concept of the acrostic poem, where each letter begins a word or phrase that ties in with the word itself, fill in the first letter and take suggestions from your students to finish. One weather-themed poem might look like this:
Winter Snow
Ice
Noisy
Thunderstorms
Expect
Rain
Granted, thunder isn't very common in some parts of the country, but I since I've been watching the weather channel over the last couple of days quite a bit, I noticed there have been severe thunderstorm warnings in Tennessee this week.
With older kids, it may be more appropriate to join each line of the acrostic poem so that the overall finished product is a more cohesive poem:
Windy
In the
Night,
Trees
Extend
Rhythmically
This is quite the fancy poem, so it might be a good idea to use this particular poem or one similar to this in order to demonstrate the idea that an acrostic poem doesn't have to be a series of related words that begin with specific letters, but can be a comprehensive expression of a theme or idea.
Additional Winter-Themed Word Ideas
In addition to using the word "Winter" as the acrostic word for the poem, take suggestions from your kids regarding other winter-themed words. Make a list of these on a piece of chart paper or the white board for easy reference by your students, allowing them to use them as the main acrostic word or as descriptive words within their poems. These winter-themed words could include:
- ice, icy
- igloo
- earmuffs
- mittens
- gloves
- hat
- snow
- snowball
- snowman
How Many Words for Snow?
In addition, encourage your students to come up with a variety of words to describe "snow" (besides cold and white) in order to build vocabulary and language awareness. Some of these descriptors could include:
- fluffy
- shiny
- silent
- muffled
- bright
- blanket
- crusty
- frozen
- clean
Focus on the senses of taste, touch, sight, sound and smell to build these descriptors, then set your writers loose in this fun and simple creative writing lesson plan about winter.
Here are a few great ideas that you can do with your primary school classes during the buzz and anticipation that inevitably happens during the build up of breaking up from school for Christmas.
Each Christmas decoration below also includes a list of the suggested items you will need to make them.
Festive Fruit-Inspired Decorations
Oranges are traditional for many during the Christmas season, in appearance as well as practice. By drying out orange 
slices in the oven, you can make a variety of individual Christmas decorations perfect for the Christmas season.
Slices on their own can be fixed to create door wreaths, hung from doors in a pendant-like fashion, or used to decorate Christmas trees when combined with simple loops made from string or pipe cleaners.
You can even create orange skin spirals using a vegetable peeler, making sure not to cut the piece away from the rest of the orange prematurely - 4 to 5 rotations usually look best. These can then be hung as decorations in their own right using string tried to one end (carefully punch a hole using scissors) or combined in numbers to create decorative hanging mobiles.
You will need 1-2 oranges per a student, craft glue, ribbon or coloured string and scissors. For slicing the orange or cutting spirals it will be necessary to use a sharp knife or instrument and we highly recommend an adult or teacher do this on their behalf.
Glitter Cones
Our natural surroundings are full of great beauty once you know where to look!Endless sources of inspiration will be revealed to you and your kids for creating fun, crafty, Christmas decorations in your classroom this Christmas.
Pine Forests are abundant in many locations and ideal places to collect pine cones for use in creative projects such as this simple Christmas craft. The cones respond to both heat and moisture. Store them in a warm, dry place to cause the cones to arc open into their familiar shape. Your kids can paint them green to turn them into Christmas trees or white for snowmen. Coat them in glue and sprinkle with glitter to make mystical eggs, but first soak them in water to cause them to close again.
If you don’t live near any forests, you can look at what’s available from your local park or even the school yard. Twigs blown from trees, acorns, or even holy sprigs if you’re lucky!
You will need: Pine cones (enough for 1 each), craft glue, paint brushes, paint and beads as desired.
Crafty Snowflakes
During the Christmas season, snowflakes are never really far away! A number of craft stores and general hardware stores will sell pipe cleaners pre-coated in a layer of shimmery tinsel, or your students can create a similar effect yourself with simple glitter and glue. For a more modest snowflake, normal pipe cleaners can be covered in white tissue paper.
Take 1 of the pipe cleaners, and then overlap 2 more pipe cleaners bending them around the center of the axis in order to fix together a star shape with 6 spokes. Take an additional 2 pipe cleaners and cut them down to size into 2 inch strips. Bend these small strips in the middle to form triangle shapes. These can then be glued at intervals along each of the 6 spokes to create a variety of flake like patterns, each one as individual as the students in your classroom!
You will need: pipe cleaners (5-6 per student), scissors, glitter & glue (optional), string and soft craft tissue paper (optional)
Christmas Jar Lanterns
Painted jars make great candle lanterns with some fun and simple customizations. Before starting the craft, ask your 
students to start collecting clear glass jars and ask them to bring them in to store in your classroom.
You will need to pre-purchase a selection of brightly colored ceramic paints or tinted glass varnishes to use for this craft - take a look around your classroom to take inventory of paint that you already have.
Let your students loose when it comes to painting a particular pattern or using a variety of color, though you might like to suggest Christmas themes. Once your students have painted and created a unique design they are happy with, the jars can be fired off in a regular oven to set the paint.
Once this is done and the jars have been allowed to cool, you can create a cradle and handle so that these Christmas lanterns can be carried round. This will vary depending on the size of the jar, so you may wish to help them with this step. Cut enough wire to create a ring that snugly fits the circumference of the top part of the jar, where the lid grooves are and tie this off, cutting off any excess wire. Taking a second section of wire, bend in the middle sufficiently enough to create a simple handle and fix each end to the ring at opposite ends of the jar by wrapping the wire round.
You will need: 1 or 2 glass jars (per student), ceramic paint, paint brushes and soft coated craft wire.
This article was written on behalf of Christmas Trees and Lights who sell a selection of artificial Christmas trees and Christmas fairy lights.
This printable has been designed to use after assessing your students' prior knowledge. It is meant to be differentiated, depending upon the student's needs.
Materials:
Instructions:
1. After completing pre-assessments, the student circles the money he/she needs to study.
2. Student draws the amount of money on the right side. Then, the student writes the amount inside the green box.
(E.g., Drawing a simple circle with "25" inside the circle, can symbolize a quarter. Drawing a rectangle with a dollar sign and "1' can symbolize a dollar.)
3. Student draws the gift on the left side. Then, the student writes the purchase price of the gift on the tag.
3. Students draw a line from total amount of counted money to the gift they can buy with that amount. (Needs to be the exact amount.)
Notes:
- On the upper-right of the printable, you will see "other bills to study". This can be used for larger bills (e.g. $5, $10, $100, etc.)
- Here's a Gift Shopping, Learning to Count Quarters and Dollars printable.
- Students can use pretend money as they count. (optional).
More to Help Students Learn about Money:
Here's a quick and easy way to keep the students busy the day before Thanksgiving break! This activity incorporates social studies (studying pilgrims' costumes) and dramatic play.
Materials:
- Printable Pilgrim Puppet (head & body) template
- Paper bag
- Crayons
- Glue
Instructions:
- Make one copy of the pilgrim bead and body for each student.
- Students color the pilgrims.
- Glue the head to the bottom of the paper bag.
- Glue the body to the side of the paper bag.
Helpful Tips:
- Feel free to use the color pilgrim (head & body) as your example puppet, rather than coloring it.
[caption id="attachment_7132" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Here's a free, printable, Note to Santa Placemat (color)"][/caption]
Here's a Christmas Note to Santa Placemat (color or black & white), which can also be used as a classroom writing activity to post on a December bulletin board.
Materials:
- Christmas Note to Santa Placemat (color or black and white)
- Construction paper (9" x 12")
- Pencil
- Crayons
- Glue or tape
- Laminate or clear contact paper (optional, if making a placemat)
If you want more lines for your students to write on, use this Letter to Santa template.
Instructions:
- Review the parts of a letter (friendly or personal). Such as the greeting, body, complimentary close and signature line.
- Review Christmas words. Students can add more words next to the list on the upper right of the page.
- Students write a note to Santa.
- Glue to a sheet of construction paper.
[caption id="attachment_7136" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Here's a free, printable, Note to Santa Placemat (black & white coloring page)"]
[/caption]
Options for Display:
- Laminate or use clear contact paper to use for Christmas placemats.
- Display on a December classroom bulletin board.
uppets, story web
