Ignite Creativity with Winter-Themed Writing Activities
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Snowflakes weightlessly drift past frosted windows.
The air outside is crisp.
The sun quickly falls behind the skyline as the days grow shorter…
And so does your patience.
There is something magical about the winter months. The frosted, snow-covered landscape, the excitement and magic that its holidays bring. But these months can also be so frustrating.
At this point of the year, our students’ focus starts to dwindle, and the motivation they once had is minimal, all of which can make for a frustrating experience…
But not during Work on Writing! (Curious about what I’m talking about? CLICK HERE to get your copy of the Daily 5 book and transform your literacy block!)
The answer? Winter-themed writing activities!
The Importance of Thematic Writing Activities
The winter months present unique challenges for teachers.
Recess often becomes indoors as the cold weather sets in, leading to restlessness and challenges with keeping students engaged (for teachers who have ever experienced indoor recess - you know what I’m talking about). And the many interruptions caused by long breaks and holiday festivities disrupt focus and motivation.
This seasonal dip in concentration makes it important to weave in activities in our day-to-day lessons that recapture our students’ focus and attention.
In my classroom, I found incorporating thematic writing activities to be a powerful tool to reignite the dwindling engagement (which is especially important in the area of writing which is already a struggle for many students).
With a touch of thematic, festive flair, you can turn the season’s challenges into opportunities of creative growth, reflection, and skill building.
Winter-Themed Writing Activities to Boost Engagement
Thematic activities - especially when planning writing opportunities - are a surefire way to keep students engaged and motivated during the colder months (and also save your sanity!).
The winter months have a uniqueness about them.
You can exploit this uniqueness to create endless opportunities for creative writing and exploration.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep my students engaged during our writing center - Work on Writing - during the winter months.
Holiday-Themed Activities
The old go-to…holiday-themed writing activities.
Some of you may think holiday-themed activities are a bit overdone, but my option…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Weaving in the holidays into planning thematic writing activities provides an opportunity for you to address the excitement and magic of the holidays without falling victim to the OVER EXCITEMENT that can quickly derail your classroom. It also provides chances for community-building as students share their family traditions and also opens a window of opportunity for students to learn about holidays that are celebrated in other cultures (social studies integration for the WIN!).
Writing prompts like “Create a recipe for the perfect holiday celebration” or “Write a story about a mischievous elf who wants to save the holidays” tap into the excitement of the season as well as connect with their own festive traditions. (I’ve turned my classroom elf, Winky, into an engaging writing opportunity - which you can check out HERE!)
Reflective Winter Writing
There is a stillness about winter.
Yes, that’s partially because the winter chill has frozen most of the landscape…
But from a more metaphoric stance, the stillness of winter - as well as the New Year - is a time to slow down, opening up the opportunity for reflection and introspective writing.
Including journaling prompts such as “What are three things you’re grateful for this season” or “What is one goal you’d like to accomplish in the New Year,” help students practice expressing their thoughts and emotions in a safe, judgement-free space.
Not only do these thematic writing prompts connect with the season and time of year, it’s also a great way to weave in social emotional practices to your classroom. Reflective and goal setting writing can support fostering emotional intelligence and mindfulness, creating a calming and productive classroom environment.
Fictional Stories that Capture the Magic of the Season
Magical snowman…
Frosted landscapes that glisten like crystals…
Dangerous blizzards…
Mischievous elves that cause havoc to our classrooms…
Winter is the perfect backdrop for imaginative storytelling! Telling stories about magical snowman, enchanted snow covered forests, or heroic adventures through blizzards are game changes when it comes to keeping students engaged in writing during the winter months.
One of my favorite winter-themed writing prompts has been, “Write about a secret snow globe that transports you to a magical world.” My students have written some amazing stories AND it’s a great opportunity to tie in a fun art project!
Activities like these open the door for students to unleash their imaginations and creativity - for even our youngest of learners - while also giving our students time to practice and develop ideas needed to tell powerful narratives and become comfortable with complex skills such as figurative language.
Bring Winter-Themed Writing Activities into Your Classroom
It’s time we make the winter season work for us instead of dreading it!
With a sprinkle of festive flair and a pinch of seasonal magic, winter-themed writing activities are a perfect way to keep your students engaged and motivated writers during the dark and chilly months of winter.
I know you’re excited about transforming your writing lessons this winter season, which is why I know you’re going to love my daily writing prompt slides.
These ready-to use slides and printable writing pages will not only save you valuable prep time, but also bring creative oppotutnies to your classroom. And the best part…
It’s prompts for the ENTIRE school year!
Each prompt is thoughtfully crafted to inspire students as they write imaginative fictional stories, reflect on personal experiences and goals, or account favorite memories.
Tips to Differentiate Writing Lessons
As a master teacher, I know you know that motivation and engagement isn’t the only thing that holds our students back from writing.
Writing can be extremely hard for some of our students.
Which is why providing appropriate scaffolded writing opportunities is important. Curious on how I differentiate activities for Work on Writing for my students?
Check out my YouTube video all about how I differentiate writing activities in my classroom.