Does your classroom feel like it’s dragging through the winter slump? You’re not alone. January and February are notorious for decreased student motivation. Between shorter days, colder weather, and the post-holiday lull, student engagement in winter can feel like an uphill battle.  Recently I posted a “winter reset” post about returning to those important routines, so today I thought I’d add on!

The good news is that the winter months are an opportunity to breathe new life into your classroom with creative, seasonal strategies. By incorporating winter themes and interactive activities, you can reenergize your students and spark excitement for learning.

In this post, I’m sharing a toolbox of ideas to help you keep your students motivated all winter long.

Incorporate Seasonal Themes into Lessons

One of the easiest ways to capture students’ attention is to connect learning to their environment. Winter-themed lessons add a little “fun” and relatablity to your usual routines and make learning feel more relevant.

Use winter-related topics in reading and writing assignments.

• Try a creative writing prompt like “Imagine you’re stuck in a snow globe—what happens next?” or “What would you do on a snow day?”.  If you live in an area where you don’t see snow, how about “If you could spend a day in a snowy place, what would you do?”
• Have students write persuasive essays on topics like “Should schools close for snow days?”.

Integrate seasonal math problems.

• Create word problems about building snowmen or calculating snowfall totals.  I have a ton of winter word problems to help you out if you are interested in having some ready to go!

• Use real-world math, such as budgeting for winter gear or calculating the area of an ice skating rink. I love using this set of winter math challenges to do just that.  From skating to snow days to baking cookies–these tasks are SUPER engaging for students.

Try This! Add a visual element by displaying student work with a winter-themed bulletin board—snowflakes, mittens, or snow globes make great backdrops. My students LOVE our snowman book report project, and others in the building love to stop by and check them out!

Implement Interactive Activities

Interactive, hands-on activities engage students’ minds and bodies, which is especially important during winter when energy levels can dip.

Organize classroom debates on winter topics.

• Let students discuss fun “what if” scenarios, like “What’s the best way to survive in the Arctic?”  These are great discussions to have as part of a classroom community circle or when you have just a few minutes in your schedule.  They could even turn into great “quick writes”!

Set up science experiments related to snow and ice.

• Conduct a simple experiment on the freezing and melting points of water.
• Have students make “fake snow” using household materials and observe its properties.
• Search for cool short videos that talk about the science of winter, from snow to hibernation, to the changes in seasons.  These are also great little transition breaks in your schedule!

Try This! Bring winter indoors by challenging students to create paper snowflakes and discuss the science of symmetry as they work.  There are some amazing websites that show detailed photos and videos of snowflakes.  My students are always wow’ed by them!

Incorporate Technology

Technology can bring fresh excitement to your lessons, especially when paired with seasonal themes.

Utilize educational apps with winter-themed games.

• Many math and language apps include seasonal updates or challenges—look for options that align with your curriculum.
• If you don’t have access to these, even creating your own digital “menus” can be a fun way to incorporate a little fun.  CLICK HERE to grab a free copy! (I even included a few other free winter activities for you!)

Create virtual field trips to explore polar regions.

• Visit places like Antarctica or Alaska to learn about extreme climates, animals, and geography.
• Use Google Earth to “travel” to snowy destinations around the world.
• Research temperature changes around the world–or compare your current location to the coldest on the planet!

Try This! End a virtual field trip with a student reflection—ask them to write or draw their favorite part of the experience.

Foster a Cozy Classroom Environment

Your classroom environment plays a big role in student motivation. A warm, inviting space can make all the difference during the cold months.

Fill your classroom with winter themes.

• Add simple touches like string lights, snowflake cutouts, or a cozy winter banner.
• “Book talk” books from your classroom library (or school library) that have a winter theme and challenge students to read a certain amount.
• Use winter words when making groups.  The “snowmen”, “icicles”, and “frosties” is more fun than “red”, “yellow”, and “blue”!
• Have a reading afternoon where students bring in blankets or stuffies and put a fake fire on your smart board and ENJOY!

Try This! Pair a cozy reading corner with a winter-themed book list and winter bookmarks to inspire students during independent reading time.

What else can help with student engagement in winter?

Keeping students motivated during winter doesn’t have to be a challenge. With seasonal themes, interactive activities, and a cozy classroom environment, you can create engaging experiences that capture their interest and keep them excited about learning.

Ready to take these ideas to the next level? Download my Winter Bundle—it’s filled with everything you need for a low-prep, highly-engaging winter season!  I love to sprinkle these activities in for the entire winter to keep things fun while the weather is miserable here in Wisconsin!

Don’t miss THIS POST for more ideas on student engagement in winter–through rebuilding classroom routines!