Winter Math and Reading Ideas for the Classroom

Winter Math and Reading Centers for the Primary Classroom

Hey, y'all! It's time to start thinking cozy! The weather is getting cooler here and we're starting to prepare for the winter months. With that comes new centers. Here are a few of my favorites, all of which are free or almost free!

My littles love playing scoot. This addition and subtraction scoot game can also be used as a write the room or put in a sensory bin. However you play, your students will love this cozy little game. 

We also love playing "Find the ____." In this game, students find the Christmas gift. I put the word cards in a pocket chart and slide the present behind one of the words. Students take turns calling out sight words in order to guess which word the present is hiding behind. Oh! And it's free.

In the twelve school days before winter break, we countdown in the classroom with our kindness challenge. Each day, students have a prompt that encourages them to do something for someone else, making the holiday season more about giving than receiving. I've had several students say that they didn't realize how easy it was to give to others until we did this.

This little snowman craft is also a favorite and pretty open ended. Student draw buttons on the snowmen and add them up. There's a fact family version I use with first grade and a simple addition version for kinder or pre-k. 

Remember that gift game above? When we come back to school in January, we play the same game but with a hidden hot chocolate. This version has both a sight word option and an alphabet option (capitals and lower case are included). 

These number order task cards are too cute! With the sweaters and hot cocoa, I've used it in both December and January. The kids are happy to put the numbers in order regardless of which month it is with these fun little task cards. (For more ways to jazz up your task cards, check out this blog post.)

This game is for a little older kiddos (3rd grade or high 2nd graders), but it's a fun winter review nonetheless. I've used it with my 2nd graders in small groups when I know they are ready for a bigger challenge and my 3rd graders loved playing this review game when we came back from winter break.

Other fun things we do in December and January are our monthly math centers, bulletin board writing prompts, and winter science centers. To check out more fabulous winter resources, head to my TpT store here.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you found some new ideas for your classroom. Have a wonderful week and stay tuned for more great resources coming soon. 

Stay cozy,