Cozy Up with Books: Winter Reading Activities for Kids
Fun and Engaging Reading Activities for Kids That Will Spark a Love for Reading This Winter
Winter is the perfect time to create warm, inviting opportunities for reading in the classroom. The cold weather, cozy blankets, and festive themes make it easy to turn storytime into a magical experience. For elementary teachers, these winter reading activities for kids will help students stay engaged, build literacy skills, and develop a lifelong love for books.
⭐ Here is a great gift idea for kids: Put together a set of winter theme books with a cozy blanket, stuffed animal, and some hot chocolate. Read on to see book suggestions. Add a winter theme coloring or activity book too.
Here are some fun, hands-on reading activities for kids that will transform your classroom into a winter wonderland of reading.
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Build a Classroom Reading Fort
Winter is all about cozy spaces, and there’s nothing more inviting than a reading fort!
How to do it:
- Use blankets, large sheets, or even holiday lights to create a snug “reading fort” in a corner of your classroom.
- Add soft pillows, stuffed animals, and bins of winter-themed books to make the space extra cozy.
- Let students take turns “visiting the fort” to read independently, in pairs, or with the teacher for small group time.
Why it works: A reading fort creates a sense of excitement and novelty. Kids love the idea of snuggling up with a good book, and it encourages focus and quiet time.
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Seasonal Reading Lists
Curate a list of winter-themed books to keep your students excited about reading throughout the season.
Suggested Books for Grades K-4:
- “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats – Perfect for younger readers, this classic tale celebrates the magic of snow.
- “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen – A beautiful story with descriptive language that captures the stillness of winter nights.
- “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner – A playful and creative look at what snowmen do when no one’s watching.
- “The Mitten” by Jan Brett – A fun story for retelling and sequencing activities.
- “Winter Dance” by Marion Dane Bauer – This story highlights animals preparing for winter and is great for science tie-ins.
- “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg – A magical tale that ties perfectly into holiday excitement.
Activity Tip: Create a bulletin board featuring your winter reading list. As students read each book, let them add a “snowflake” or “snowball” with their name to the display.
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Storytime with Hot Cocoa and Pajamas
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Make storytime extra special by hosting a Hot Cocoa & Pajama Day in your classroom.
How to do it:
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- Encourage students to wear cozy pajamas and bring their favorite blanket or stuffed animal.
- Read aloud a winter-themed story like “The Polar Express” or “Llama Llama Holiday Drama”.
- Serve (safe and simple) hot cocoa or warm apple cider while students listen to the story.
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Create Winter-Themed Reading Crafts
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- Snowy Story Scenes – After reading “The Snowy Day,” have students use white paint and sponges to create snowy city scenes on dark blue paper.
- Mitten Story Retelling – Read “The Mitten” and let students craft a paper mitten. Provide animal cutouts so they can retell the story as the animals “climb” into their mitten.
- Build a Snowman Craft – Pair “Snowmen at Night” with a snowman-building craft using cotton balls, construction paper, and glue. Have students write or dictate a creative story about what their snowman does at night.
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Host a Winter Read-Aloud Circle
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- Select a variety of winter-themed books to read aloud each day or week.
- Use animated voices, sound effects, and props to make the story come alive.
- Allow students to interact with the story—ask prediction questions, discuss characters, or encourage them to share connections to the text.
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Winter Reading Challenge
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- Create a “Reading Bingo” or “Snowy Reading Trail” worksheet with prompts like:
- Read a book about snow.
- Read under a blanket.
- Read a book with a winter animal.
- Read to a stuffed animal or family member.
- Create a “Reading Bingo” or “Snowy Reading Trail” worksheet with prompts like:
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Cozy Reading Brings Warmth to Winter Learning
Winter is a time of wonder and excitement, and these seasonal activities combine literacy with creativity to help students connect with books in meaningful ways.
Whether you’re building a cozy reading fort, crafting snowmen, or hosting a hot cocoa storytime, these winter activities will make the season memorable while reinforcing essential literacy skills.
Ready to cozy up with books? Explore more winter reading activities for kids on Tammy’s Toolbox to keep your classroom warm, engaging, and filled with joyful learning this winter!
Happy Winter Reading!
⭐ P.S. Don’t forget to log into the Free Resource Library for worksheets and activities to use with winter books. If you don’t have a password, subscribe here.
Read these posts for more ideas:
