Snowflake Preschool Songs

Learning about seasons is a steadfast component of most early childhood environments, whether at home, preschool or daycare. If children experience winter with hands on experiences, then songs contribute to the learning process. Music helps with language development and concepts. Throughout the winter, most of the songs we are familiar with fall under Christmas tunes. But, including winter songs about the season helps create an inclusive program for all. In preschool and daycare settings, snowflakes are a common theme for crafts and books. Following are some song and poem suggestions.

Snowflakes are Falling Down

(To the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)

Snowflakes are falling down,

Falling down, falling down.

Snowflakes are falling down

Quietly without a sound.

Snowflake Poem

This poem is very lyrical and could be used with a piggyback song. It works well with felt snowflakes props to use on a flannel board.

One little snowflake with nothing to do,

Along came another and then there were two.

Two little snowflakes playing in a tree,

Along came another and then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more,

Along came another and then there were four.

Four little snowflakes that finally did arrive,

Along came another, and then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun,

Out came the sun and then there were none.

Snowflake Action Song

The next song is a great action song for circle time or a group of children together. When running a circle time with a group of young children, it is essential to find songs that allow them to stand up and move their bodies around.

(To the tune of Are you Sleeping)

Dance like snowflakes

Dance like snowflakes

In the air

In the air

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Here and there,

Here and there.

Snowflake Teaching Song

One of the lessons to teach young children about snowflakes is how each one is different when observed closely. Just like people, we are the same, but different. Snowflakes are created when water droplets freeze on small ice particles. For young children, this song will help with this early introduction of winter weather concepts.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot.

I'm a little snowflake, falling down,

With so many all around.

We are not the same as you will see,

No other snowflake looks like me!

FURTHER RESOURCES: Snow and Ice Preschool Activities

                                           Winter Felt Board Ideas

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

Snow and Ice Preschool Activities

Activities surrounding ice for a preschool curriculum are appropriate during the winter season as many young children are experiencing these weather conditions at this time of the year. Bringing the weather inside to the classroom environment as well as bringing an indoor activity, like painting, outside is a fun way for preschoolers to learn and explore the cold sensations of ice and snow. In addition, even if the weather is warm outdoors, the ice can be made in the freezer for children to enjoy. The following article will present some craft, science and sensory activities for an early childhood setting.

Snow Inside a Sensory Table

A sensory table is commonly used for sand or water, but it can provide young children with hands-on experiences and learning opportunities with a variety of material. Snow can be brought into a sensory table from the outside along with pails and shovels. In addition, play dough and/or sand molds can be used with the snow to create shapes. The teacher can facilitate a learning process by asking open ended questions, such as why do you think the snow is melting?" and "What is the snow melting into?" and so forth.

Ice Exploration in a Sensory Table

Ice shapes made in a freezer, or placed outside overnight if weather is below freezing, with different shaped containers is a gret activity for the winter season during an ice and snow theme. A few drops of food coloring can be placed in with the water to make different color ice shapes. Placing little toys inside can be enjoyable for young children as well. The containers should have a wide opening to allow the shapes to easily fall out into the sensory tables. When all the ice formations are created and emptied into the sensory table, tools can be placed inside the table as well to allow children to explore the ice while fostering fine motor skills, such as spray bottles of water, salt shakers, and eye droppers


Check out these amazing sculptures from a preschool website:

From Dunluce Preschool Website

Painting with Ice

Ice can be used instead of a paintbrush to create a unique way of making art. The ice brushes are created by using ice popsicles, which the caregiver can make by using store bought popsicle trays filled with water. When the ice sticks are ready, then each child will be provided a piece of paper, preferably finger painting paper which is shiny and firm enough to absorb liquid. Powder paint is then shaken onto the paper and the children can use the water melting from their ice to create the paint and picture.

Creating Art Outside in Winter

There are a variety of ways to create art outside with the winter weather. One way is to provide children with paint pucks and paintbrushes outside to paint ice, hard snow or the snowman! Another idea is to fill spray bottles with color water made with a some drops of food coloring. The spray bottles will leave color designs on the white snow.This activity does leave the the hands cold, so it is a good idea to warm up inside right after the creative fun.

Ice and Salt Science Experiment

A science tray filled with ice cubes and a salt shaker provides young children an opportunity to explore the two elements together, and determine what happens to the ice when salt is placed onto it. This can turn into a lengthier science activity as predictions by each child and then the results are recorded. Furthermore, the preschoolers can learn that salt is used on our roads and sidewalks to melt the ice for safety reasons.



FURTHER RESOURCES:   Winter Felt Board Ideas

Owl Theme within an Emergent Curriculum

Recently, I worked in a group childcare centre with an Emergent Curriculum. An Owl Theme came from the interest of the children, and then with the creativity of the caregivers and the children themselves, the theme unfolded into a learning process for all. We can still learn from other professionals, regardless of how long we are in the field. I certainly experienced this as I spent time within this Reggio influenced daycare.

After Halloween, the children were interested in owls, which is understandable as so many stories and pictures display owls in the background of Halloween "scenes". Throughout the next week or two, the children were provided books on owls, staff looked for pictures of owls from calendars and other sources. Luckily the center had a wonderful felt story about a mother and baby owl. I was happy to include my felt story about 5 Fluffy Owls into the mix.



Five Fluffly Owls from Felt Board Ideas

Over the next few weeks, I heard the children and teachers learning about owls. We discussed what owls eat and learnt the definition of nocturnal, to name a few facts. Although it never transpired while I was there, we discussed the possibility of talking about how feathers are light and setting up a sink/float type game. I also suggested a creative movement activity of moving around the room as if we were feathers. The ideas were definitely flowing.

One day, when I came into work I saw this display of natural settings for children to explore, and I immediately grabbed by phone to take some pictures! Love it.

Perhaps, the most impressed I was about a theme incorporated into a Reggio (emergent curriculum) program was to observe the art projects. In my history as an Early Childhood Educator, I would have provided owl shapes from paper and then material for the children to decorate them with, such as feathers and googly eyes.  However, at this center, open ended art is encouraged. One day, a picture of a baby owl was sitting on the table for viewing and the children were provided white paint and white feathers to paint with. Another day, they had pictures of owls to look at and draw and then stories were written out about the drawings. Another day, they made owls with playdough and natural ingredients, which were then placed on display. There were lots of  ideas!

 One Monday I walked into the daycare, and there hanging on branches displayed in a vase were adorable owls. One of the educators was at Target and couldn't resist. The children played with these owls all day long. All week long. It was a perfect ending to the owl time period. Yet, that being said, I left this center to work elsewhere, so whoooo hoooo knows if the theme will continue along or if it has run its course. With an emergent curriculum the children are the drivers and the topic will follow with their interest and involvement.