30+ Winter Crafts and Activities for Kids and Families

1

Fold the sides of the paper plate in as shown, then fold down the top and glue it all in place.

2

Use black craft paint to paint the folded portions of the plate, and let dry. Cut out a beak and two feet from orange construction paper. Glue in place.

3

Glue googly eyes to the face, or cut eyes from circles of white and black construction paper and attach them.

1

Use the plate and pencil to trace a circle onto the cardboard. Cut out the circle.

2

Tape one end of the white yarn to the back of the cardboard circle. Begin wrapping the yarn around the circle, turning as you go, until the whole circle is covered. Cut the yarn and tuck the end in on the back of the plate.

3

Cut a nose, eyes, mouth, and hat (optional) from construction paper. Glue them in place on your snowman head.

1

Print the snowflake page (on cardstock if possible) on white or blue paper. If you’d like, outline the snowflake with blue marker or glitter glue.

2

Lay buttons over the page, using the snowflake as a template.

3

When you’re happy with the design, glue the buttons in place and let the glue dry completely.

1

Arrange your nature items in the plate or bowl. Slowly add water until the items are covered.

2

Cut a piece of string or twine and tie it into a loop. Lay the loop in the plate or bowl so part of it is in the water and part of it is out of the water. (This will be your hanging loop.)

3

Freeze the dishes until frozen solid. Release your ornaments from the plates, and hang outside your windows for some winter decorations!

1

Remove the lid from the jar and turn it upside down. Arrange your winter scene on the lid and glue it into place. Let it dry completely.

2

In a measuring cup, add enough water to fill your jar most of the way. Mix in three tablespoons of glycerin per cup. (This is optional, but will slow the glitter’s fall and make your snowglobe more like one from the store.) Add glitter and snowflake sequins (if using). Stir thoroughly.

3

Fill your jar about ¾ full. Turn over the lid with the winter scene, and lower it slowly into the water. If the water begins to spill out, empty out a bit. Tighten the lid firmly.

4

Turn the jar over and give it a good shake. The “snow” will fall gently onto your winter scene!

1

Print the snowman template. Use white cardstock if you have it. If not, regular printer paper will work, though your snowman might be a bit flimsy.

2

Cut out the pieces, and color the hat, scarf, arm, mittens, buttons, and nose any colors you like.

3

Spread a thin layer of glue over the snowman’s body. Press cotton balls onto the glue until the body is covered, and let dry.

4

Glue the hat, scarf, arms, eyes, and nose in place. Your snowman craft is finished!

1

Cut a circle of white paper to fit the inner part of the white plate, inside the rim.

2

Draw and decorate a winter scene on the white paper. (You can also choose a scene from ABCmouse’s winter coloring pages and cut it to fit.) Glue your design to the front of the white plate. Let the glue dry completely.

3

Add about a tablespoon of glitter to the plate. Place a line of glue around the rim, and press the clear plate on top, face down. Let the glue dry.

4

Cut a piece of black construction paper to represent the base of the snowglobe. Glue it in place on the bottom edge of the white plate. Shake your “snowglobe” to make the glitter fly!

1

Use the ruler to mark and cut 5 strips of white construction paper about 2 inches by 8 inches. Bend the first strip into a loop and glue or staple the ends together.

2

Pass a second strip through the first, then fold it into a loop and attach the ends. Repeat with the remaining strips.

3

Turn the chain so the wide edge of the top loop faces you. Use the markers to draw eyes, mouth, and carrot nose. On the other two loops facing you, use the markers to add buttons.

1

Print the coloring page to use as a template. Lay a sheet of wax paper overtop of the coloring page. Tape in place if needed.

2

Use the glue to trace and fill in the snowflake shape on the wax paper. Let the glue dry completely (may take several hours or overnight).

3

Carefully peel the snowflake off the wax paper. Tie a piece of string to one branch of the snowflake, and hang in a sunny window.

1

Paste the smaller plate to the upper edge of the larger plate to create the snowman’s body.

2

Cut a hat from the construction paper: a large black rectangle, a long black rectangle for the brim, and a red strip for the ribbon. Glue together, then attach to the snowman’s head.

3

Cut round circles from black construction paper for eyes and buttons, and an orange triangle for the carrot nose. Attach them to your snowman.

4

Cut two long rectangles to form the scarf. Glue one horizontally across the snowman’s neck, and one vertically to represent the scarf hanging down.

1

Print multiple copies of the hat and mittens coloring pages, depending on how many you want for your garland.

2

Cut out the hats and mittens. Color them in any way you like, leaving the wrists and hat brims white.

3

Apply a thin layer of glue to the wrists and hat brims. Press cotton balls into place and let dry.

4

Punch holes in the hats and mittens, and string them along the ribbon or twine. Your garland is ready to hang!

1

Mix together equal parts glue and shaving cream to form the paint. Add more shaving cream for a fluffier texture. Stir in some white glitter.

2

Use your fingers or other tools to paint snowy designs onto the construction paper. If you like, sprinkle more glitter on top.

3

Let the shaving cream paint dry completely. It will still be puffy and squishable—so cool!

1

Paint the tube the color of your choice (white, blue, red, or green) and allow it to dry.

2

Mark the tube at half-inch intervals down the side. Press the tube flat gently and cut along the lines to make small loops.

3

Lay the loops into a design you like, then glue in place and let dry.

4

Give the whole surface, inside and out, another coat of paint. Allow it to dry. To apply glitter, paint the edges with glue, dip into glitter, let dry.

1

Paint the toilet paper tube white and let it dry completely.

2

Stand the toilet paper tube on end. Cut a short length of pipe cleaner and bend it into an arc. Glue it in place across one end, and add one pom pom on each side as shown. Let dry.

3

Use markers to add the face and buttons. Cut a short length of fabric and tie it just below the face for a scarf.

1

Roll three balls of air dry clay to form your snowman: small, medium, and large. Press the large ball into the table to slightly flatten the bottom.

2

Make small score marks on the top of the large ball and bottom of the medium ball. Stack the medium ball on the large ball, pressing the score marks together slightly to help them stick when the clay dries.

3

Repeat with the medium and small balls, scoring slightly before stacking them.

4

Gently press black beads into the snowman’s head to form the eyes and mouth. Add an orange bead for the nose.

5

Add black beads down the medium and large balls for buttons. Press the twigs into the medium ball, one in each side, for arms.

6

Let the clay air dry fully according to the directions. Cut a scrap of fabric and tie it around the snowman’s neck for a scarf.

1

Lay a sheet of wax paper on the baking sheet. Melt the chocolate according to the instructions on the package.

2

Dip a marshmallow partway into the chocolate, leaving the penguin “belly” uncovered as shown. Set the marshmallow on the baking sheet.

3

Before the chocolate sets, add two candy eyes and a sideways M&Ms for the bill.

4

When you’ve made all the penguins, let the chocolate set. (You can put the tray in the fridge if needed.) Now they’re ready for your snack!

1

Split open the English muffins and lay them flat on a baking sheet. Spoon some pizza sauce onto each muffin half and spread it out. Sprinkle each muffin half with shredded cheese.

2

Chop olives into small pieces and use them to make the eyes and mouth of the snowman’s face. Slice small triangular pieces of carrot and add them to make noses.

3

Bake the muffin pizzas until they’re heated through and the cheese melted. Let cool a bit, then enjoy!

1

Cut the banana into slices. Slice each strawberry in half. Cut small triangular pieces of carrot.

2

Lay three banana slices flat on a plate. Slide the skewer through to pierce all three, then push it far enough to fit a strawberry slice and grape or mini marshmallow on the top for the hat.

3

Use the chocolate chips to make the eyes, mouth, and buttons, and add the carrot piece for the nose. Your healthy snack is ready!

1

Add water to each spray bottle along with a few drops of food coloring, creating several different primary colors. Shake to mix, and screw the lids back on tightly.

2

Head outside and find a big patch of clean snow. Spray the colored water onto the snow, observing the new colors that form when two different primary colors are sprayed on top of each other.

1

Choose a winter word from the list and write it in the middle of a piece of paper.

2

Cut out pictures from the old magazines or books and use them to create a collage that represents the word. Glue the pictures into place once you have a design you like.

3

Repeat with as many different words as you like.

1

Head to your birdwatching site with your notebook and crayons or colored pencils.

2

Sit quietly and watch the birds as they come and go. Make notes about the birds you see and their activities.

3

Draw pictures of the birds to go along with your notes. Update your sketchbook regularly throughout the winter months!

1

Place two cups of hot water in the measuring cup. Add 6 tbsp. of Borax and stir until dissolved. Pour the solution into the jar.

2

Twist pipe cleaners around a pencil to form a spiral. Tie a piece of string to the top of each “icicle” in a loop.

3

Hang the pipe cleaner spirals from the wood skewer or chopstick. Suspend them in the jar, laying the skewer/chopstick across the top.

4

Leave the jar in a safe place overnight (or longer if desired). Crystals will begin to form in a few hours. When you’re pleased with the results, remove the “icicles” and let them dry. Discard the remaining Borax solution.

5

Hang your crystalized icicles in a sunny window and watch them sparkle!