When searching for winter STEM activities for kids, it’s easy to see that not all winter STEM projects are suitable for preschoolers. Because of this, it’s important to find winter STEM activities for preschoolers that match their learning level and developmental ability. All of these preschool winter STEM activities are created with preschoolers in mind and will provide your preschool classroom with tons of easy winter STEM activities throughout the season.
Keep reading to get all the essential information and resources you need to successfully teach winter STEM to preschoolers!
Table of Contents
Winter Preschool Lesson Planning Resources
Here are some resources and activities that you can teach your preschoolers during the winter season. Add any of the fun STEM activities for preschoolers listed below and your winter science unit is complete!
Winter STEM Activity Ideas for Preschoolers
Preschoolers can engage in fun and educational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities during the winter season. Here are some ideas that you can try with your preschoolers this year.
Go outside and observe real snowflakes up close. Discuss their unique shapes and patterns. You can use a magnifying glass to get a closer look.
Freeze various objects or toys in containers of water. Let preschoolers explore the ice, observing how it melts and experimenting with different ways to melt it faster (e.g., warm water, salt, or even their breath).
Discuss the concept of snow and how it forms. You can demonstrate making your own “snow” using baking soda and white hair conditioner. It creates a cold, moldable substance that mimics snow.
Look for animal tracks in the snow and discuss which animals might have left them. You can also make animal track stamps using toy animals and paint.
Keep a winter weather journal. Record daily temperatures, types of precipitation, and observations about the weather. Discuss patterns and changes over time.
Make hot chocolate together and practice measuring ingredients. Talk about concepts like temperature, melting, and mixing.
Freeze colored ice cubes and let preschoolers use them to create colorful artwork on paper as they melt.
Create a sensory bin filled with fake snow or rice, along with small toys or objects for children to dig through and explore.
Winter Themes for Preschool
Here are some key concepts and topics you can introduce to preschoolers to help them learn about the winter season.
- Seasons: Begin by explaining that there are four seasons, and winter is one of them. Show pictures or visuals that represent each season, including winter.
- Weather: Discuss the typical winter weather, such as cold temperatures, snow, ice, and frost. Explain that winter follows fall and comes before spring.
- Clothing: Teach them about the importance of dressing warmly in winter. Show them different winter clothing items like coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots. Have them practice putting on and taking off these items.
- Snow: If you live in an area with snow, talk about how snowflakes form and why snow is cold and white. You can also teach them about different types of precipitation, including snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
- Animals in Winter: Discuss how animals adapt to the cold winter weather. Explain concepts like hibernation, migration, and how some animals grow thicker fur or feathers.
- Winter Activities: Share common winter activities like sledding, ice skating, building snowmen, and having snowball fights. You can also discuss indoor activities that people enjoy during the winter.
- Winter Foods: Talk about seasonal winter foods like hot cocoa, soup, and roasted marshmallows. You can even have a simple cooking activity like making hot chocolate together.
- Winter Safety: Teach them about safety during winter, including the importance of staying warm, not going out in extremely cold weather without proper clothing, and being cautious of icy sidewalks.
Winter STEM Classroom Sets
If you don’t have time to gather the supplies yourself, you’ll love these winter science experiment kits for the classroom!
Most of these fun experiment boxes are designed for elementary school, but many of them touch on middle school science topics as well.
Supplies for Kids Winter STEM Activities
To teach winter preschool STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities, you’ll need a variety of supplies to make the learning experience engaging and hands-on. Here’s a list of supplies you might need for these activities:
- Real snow or fake snow
- Small jars or containers
- Tweezers
- Ice cube trays
- Magnifying glasses
- Play trays
- Sugar cubes
- Marshmallows
- Toothpicks
- Craft sticks
- Winter animal figures
- Craft supplies
- Winter sensory materials
- Weather chart
- Seasons chart
- Outdoor thermometer
- Paper plates
- Weather journal
- Safety goggles
My Favorite STEM Products for the Preschool Classroom
These STEM products are perfect for the preschool STEM classroom!
Homer Technology App for Kids 4-6
Mel Science Classroom STEM Kits
Primary Sorting Classroom Bundle
Specimen Viewers Classroom Set
How to Introduce Winter Weather Science to Preschoolers
Introducing winter and the STEM concepts that go along with that in your preschool classroom isn’t difficult, but there are a few ways to help the information stick in your preschoolers’ minds.
Begin by explaining basic concepts like cold, freezing, and snow. Use age-appropriate language and visuals to make it easy to understand.
Go outside on a cold day and let them feel the chilly air. Ask questions like, “How does it feel outside today?” Encourage them to use words like “cold” and “freezing.”
Teach your preschoolers that snowflakes come in various shapes and sizes. You can make paper snowflakes together as a craft activity.
Talk about how some animals hibernate, migrate, or adapt to cold weather. Discuss how animals like polar bears have thick fur to keep warm.
Create a simple weather journal where they can draw pictures or use stickers to represent the weather each day. Discuss patterns they observe.
Talk about how meteorologists predict the weather. You can use simple weather apps or charts to discuss daily weather forecasts.
Winter Weather Books for Kids
These STEM books for winter will teach kids about winter weather in a fun, colorful way!
Hands-on Winter STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Here is the ultimate list of winter STEM activities for preschool that are ideal for preschoolers and kids aged 3-5.
Start your STEM activities with winter by choosing one of these Animals in Winter Preschool Activities.
You can follow up the animals in winter activities with any of these Hibernation Science Activities for Preschool
Winter animal science experiments provide even more ways for preschoolers to learn about winter and how animals adapt.
There are tons of winter fine motor activities that can help preschoolers strengthen pre-writing skills while learning about weather.
These preschool snowman printables teach essential topics for preschoolers with a fun snowman them.
For a fun winter sensory activity, make this easy winter slime with your preschool class.
Here is a long list of fun winter science experiments for preschoolers that can be done in a classroom or home setting.
If your kids are even a bit too young for preschool, check out this list of winter science experiments for toddlers.
If it’s the start of the year, try these fun New Year activities for preschool.
Transform winter into math with these hands-on counting penguins activities.
With these ice activities for preschool, preschoolers can learn tons about the science of ice and weather.
As an artistic expression, make some of these snowman crafts for kids in your preschool classroom.
Penguin STEM activities are the ultimate way to celebrate winter and have fun learning in the preschool classroom.
Winter Teacher Shirts
Here are some fun shirts that teachers will love wearing during the winter months.
Spread Kindness Like Snowflakes Teacher Shirt
Proud Supporter of Snow Days Teacher Shirt
Reading is Snow Much Fun Teacher Shirt
I Need a Snow Day Teacher Shirt
Supporter of Snow Days Teacher Sweatshirt
