No-Prep Winter Brain Break: Keep Students Moving with Hey Snowman!

As teachers, we know the importance of incorporating movement into the classroom, especially when it’s quick, easy, and supports lesson goals. That’s where Hey Snowman! comes in! This playful brain break combines language skills with movement, helping students stay engaged while reinforcing listening and syllable awareness. Best of all, it’s completely no-prep and can be used as a simple classroom management tool to refocus your students during transitions or between lessons.

How to Play Hey Snowman

1. Call out a winter-themed word.
2. If the word is a 3-syllable word, students repeat it while touching their toes, waist, head – then back down: head, waist, toes – ending with a cheerful: "Hey Snowman!"

Example:

• You say: "Icicle!"
• Students repeat: "I-ci-cle!" (toes, waist, head, head, waist, toes) and add: "Hey Snowman!"

Make It Magical

To introduce the activity, draw a 3-part snowman (bottom, middle, top) on the board or chart paper. Use a wand, pointer, or even your finger to tap each part of the snowman as you model syllables with words like "icicle" or "snowflake." This fun visual helps students connect the movement with the syllable pattern and adds a playful touch to the game.

Why Hey Snowman Works

• It’s quick, easy, and effective.
• This simple brain break packs a punch: No prep: You only need your voice and a list of winter words.
• Classroom management: It’s a great tool to re-engage students during transitions or when they need a quick energy release.
• Encourages active listening: Students must focus on auditory cues to identify the correct syllable pattern.
• Incorporates movement: A great way to help kids stretch, wiggle, and stay engaged while learning!

Wintery Words to Call Out

Here’s a ready-to-go list of 20 winter-themed words to use with Hey Snowman:

• Snowflake, icicle, hot cocoa, sledding day, penguin, reindeer, snowman, Christmas, blizzard, skating rink, holiday, mittens, fireplace, frosty day, marshmallow, candy cane, snowball, December, hot chocolate, and scarf.

Feel free to mix them up and adjust the difficulty for your students!

Make It Your Own

This activity is flexible! Use it to:

• Support literacy with syllable awareness.
• Transition between lessons or as a quick movement break.
• Tie into your winter or holiday themes.

Your students will love the playful magic of "Hey Snowman!"—and you’ll love how easy it is to implement.

Extend the Fun with a Snowman Craft!

Looking to take this activity even further? Try this Snowman Craft and Writing Pack for a hands-on fine motor practice and learning opportunity! Students can create their own 3-part snowman while practicing cutting, gluing, and writing skills. It’s perfect for tying into your winter-themed lessons or building a cute bulletin board display.

SHARE:

Language and Listening Games, Winter

Sweet Start: An Ice Cream Craft for Fine Motor Fun in Kindergarten

Kick Off the School Year with a Sweet Ice Cream Craft!

As summer winds down and school begins, it’s time to bring those happy beach or park memories into the classroom! What better way to do that than with a creative and engaging Ice Cream Craft? Perfect for kindergarten and first-grade students, this one-page craft is available in the Premium Coloring Club and is designed to make your first week back both fun and educational.

Share Summer Stories While Crafting 

Start by reading a summer-themed story to your students, then invite them to share their favorite summer adventures or ice cream flavors! Afterward, they can dive into the craft, coloring or painting the simple shapes before cutting and gluing them together to create their very own ice cream cone masterpiece.

Build Fine Motor and Early Writing Skills 

This activity is more than just fun—it’s practical, too! Students will:

• Strengthen fine motor skills by coloring, cutting, and assembling the craft.
• Practice early handwriting skills by adding scribble crayon textures and downstroke lines on the cone, making it a great opportunity for fine motor observation.

A Craft for Every Classroom 

If ice cream isn’t the right fit for your class, don’t worry! The Premium Coloring Club offers plenty of other options to suit different themes and preferences. You’ll find something for every classroom and every season. Check it out here!

Looking for More One-Page Crafts? 

For more simple, low-prep crafts that are perfect for young learners, explore the My First series in my TPT store. These super-easy projects are designed to support creativity and skill-building in the early years. Find them here.

Bring the sweetness of summer into your classroom and make those first days back truly memorable! 

Let me know how your students enjoy the craft and what their favorite ice cream flavors are. 

SHARE:

Back to School, one page crafts

Penguin Name Craft: Celebrate Student Names and Build Classroom Community

 

There’s something magical about seeing a student’s name displayed in the classroom. It’s more than just letters—it’s a celebration of who they are and a warm reminder that they belong. This Penguin Name Craft combines fun, creativity, and fine motor skill practice with the opportunity to foster a strong sense of classroom community. And let’s be honest—there’s no cuter way to spell names than with a line-up of penguins on the bulletin board!

What’s the Penguin Name Craft?

The Penguin Name Craft is a hands-on project where students create a penguin that spells their name vertically. Each letter is on a section of the penguin’s body, with a fun penguin head at the top and feet to finish off the design. With 6 penguin head designs to choose from (and some blank for creative drawing), students can make their penguin truly unique.

Why Celebrate Names?

Names are special—they are deeply personal and one of the first words children learn to recognize, spell, and take pride in. Displaying student names in the classroom:

• Fosters Belonging: Seeing their name helps students feel seen, valued, and connected to their peers.
• Builds Community: A name-focused bulletin board encourages students to learn about one another, sparking conversations and friendships.
• Integrates Learning: Along the way, students practice letter recognition, spelling, counting, and fine motor skills like coloring, cutting, and gluing.

A Week of Penguin Fun: Suggested Outline

Breaking the activity into smaller chunks makes it manageable and fun for young learners. Here’s a suggested week-long plan:

• Monday: Introduce the craft and have students color their penguin head, body sections, and feet.
• Tuesday: Cut out the penguin parts, focusing on neat cutting along the edges.
• Wednesday: Assemble and glue the penguin together, forming the names vertically.
• Thursday: Create the bulletin board display and let students count the letters in their names. Who has the tallest penguin? Who has the shortest?
• Friday: Celebrate with a gallery walk! Let students share their penguins and learn about the names of their classmates.

Bring the Penguins to Life!

Once the bulletin board is up, it’s time to enjoy it! Use it as a conversation starter, incorporate it into math lessons by comparing name lengths, or simply admire the creativity each student brings to their penguin. This craft isn’t just about making something cute—it’s about building a classroom that feels like home.

Are you ready to start this penguin parade of names in your classroom? Let your students take pride in their names, their creativity, and their connection to one another with this fun and meaningful activity!

SHARE:

Craft for Kids, Winter

Soar Into Math With the Hot Air Balloon Spinner!

Take your math lessons to new heights with an engaging warm-up activity from the Math Kit! Our Teen Spinner has been transformed into a hot air balloon, giving students the chance to practice counting and finding the difference while fueling their imaginations.

The Adventure Begins

Picture this: your students spinning a colorful hot air balloon to land on two numbers. From there, they count up, up, and away to find the difference! It’s an interactive way to build math skills and strengthen number sense, all while taking a fun journey through the clouds.

After working through the numbers, students can tap into their creativity. They draw their own hot air balloon and add a line of numbers on fluffy clouds. Whether they’re writing sums, differences, or simply practicing number order, this extension adds a playful art component to reinforce learning.

This activity is ideal for small group math warm-ups, rotations, or individual practice. Plus, the Math Kit now includes a digital version of the spinner for even more flexibility!

Quick Play Guide: 

• Hot Air Balloon Spinner
• Spin the Balloon: Use the Teen Spinner to generate two numbers.
• Count Up: Start at the smaller number and count up to the larger to find the difference.
• Write Numbers: Record the numbers in a linear order on cloud templates.
• Get Creative: Draw a hot air balloon and incorporate the numbers into the scene.

Save this activity as a go-to for those moments when math needs a boost of fun!

SHARE:

Math Kit, Subtraction

Bright and Functional: New Number Line Posters to Transform Your Math Classroom

I’m thrilled to share an exciting update to the Bright and Happy Classroom Decor Bundle—a set of bright, clean, and versatile number line posters! These aren’t just decor; they’re a teaching tool designed to make math lessons more engaging, interactive, and fun.

These number line posters cover numbers 0–120 and are perfect for creating a vibrant classroom math display or using in small group activities. Whether you’re working on counting, numeral recognition, or sequencing, this resource connects seamlessly with your teaching while adding a cheerful pop of color to your room.

Why You’ll Love Them:

• Bright and Happy Design: Keeps the focus on learning while creating a cheerful, inviting classroom atmosphere.
• Clear and Simple: Removes distractions so students can focus on counting, skip counting, or identifying numbers.
• Flexible and Practical: Print full size for wall displays or scale down to use in activities and student notebooks.

But what makes these number line posters extra special is how beautifully they link with the Math Kit resources! By pairing your classroom decor with math games and activities, you create a cohesive learning environment where everything connects. Let’s explore three quick ways you can use these posters to enhance teaching:

3 Tips to Connect Classroom Decor with Teaching:

• Build a Learning Wall: Use the number line as a large display to support counting, skip counting, or place value lessons. Encourage students to interact with it by pointing out numbers, identifying patterns, or using it for quick math warm-ups.
• Incorporate Visuals in Activities: Print the posters two to a page to create smaller number line cards. Use these in math centers, games, or manipulatives-based lessons. For example, students can match numbers with counters or cubes to build hands-on math stories.
• Create Take-Home Tools: Scale the number line down for desk-sized versions or student notebooks. These mini number lines make great reference tools during independent practice or take-home activities, reinforcing classroom learning.

The number line posters are now available in the Bright and Happy Classroom Decor Bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers. If you’re already using the Math Kit, these posters are the perfect complement, linking decor and teaching to create a seamless and effective learning space. Check out the Math Kit here.

Let me know how you use these number lines in your classroom! I’d love to hear your ideas and see photos of your beautiful, bright, and connected learning spaces. 

Quick Read

• New Number Line Posters added to Bright and Happy Classroom Decor Bundle.
• Covers 0–120 with clear, bright design.
• Flexible: use as wall displays, math cards, or desk tools.
• Links with Math Kit resources for cohesive teaching.
• Tips: Use as a math wall, in centers, or as take-home tools.
• Available now on TpT Bundle.

SHARE:

5 Quick & Easy Math Warm-Ups with The Math Kit

5 Math Warm Ups for You

Math warm-ups are the perfect way to kick off a small group lesson, review essential skills, and build confidence in young learners. With The Math Kit, warm-ups are simple to plan and engaging for students, ensuring they stay familiar with the routines and equipment that make math hands-on, fun, and effective. These 5 warm-ups take just 5-10 minutes to prep and play, and they’re packed with opportunities to practice counting, adding, and problem-solving.

The Value of Hands-On Play in Math:

Hands-on play is critical in math learning, especially in kindergarten. It brings abstract concepts to life and helps students build a strong foundation in number sense and operations. Story-based math activities, like those in The Math Kit, make warm-ups interactive and purposeful, preparing students for more focused lessons ahead.

Get Ready for Your Week Now:

Planning your week’s warm-ups has never been easier! Here’s how to get everything prepped in minutes:

Print the games you’ll need:

• Pencil 5 Frames
• Polar Bear Play Mats
• Turtle 9 Grid
• Cloud and Hot Air Balloons
• Cloud Cards

• Use a small sorting box (even one from a holiday gift!) to clip together the cards and materials you’ll need for each warm-up. Keep everything handy and accessible!
• Prep your standard equipment: Counters, cubes, number tiles—whatever you use most. If you have a math trolley, set it up with just this week’s focus. The Math Kit is packed with resources, so you don’t need everything at your math table at once!
• Bookmark this blog post so you can quickly refer back for instructions and inspiration throughout the week.
• A little preparation now will save you time later and make every math warm-up a breeze!

Warm-Up 1: Pencil 5 Frames

Skill Focus: Counting, Number Recognition
Quick Play Instructions:

• Provide students with a Pencil Ten Frame and counters.
• Call out a number, and students place that many counters on their ten frame.
• Extend: Call for “groups of,” e.g., 2 pencils of 4, and students arrange counters to match.

Next Step: Use the ten frames in a small group to explore addition concepts like “5 and 3 make 8.”

---

Warm-Up 2: Polar Bear Play Mats

Skill Focus: Ordinal Numbers, Counting
Quick Play Instructions:

• Arrange 10 polar bears in a line using the Polar Bear Play Mats.
• Call instructions like, “The first polar bear has 3 fish,” and students place 3 counters. Continue for other positions.
• Take turns as a group to count and place the correct number of fish.

Next Step: Transition to a lesson using ordinal number cards or sequencing activities.

---

Warm-Up 3: Turtle 9 Grid

Skill Focus: Addition, Number Identification
Quick Play Instructions:

• Cover all numbers on the Turtle 9 Grid with counters.
• Students take turns removing 2 counters, revealing numbers (e.g., 3 and 5), and finding their total using manipulatives.
• For numeral recognition, simply remove 1 counter and say the number aloud.

Next Step: Play a math game with sums of 10 or practice subtraction with the same grid.

---

Warm-Up 4: Cloud and Hot Air Balloons

Skill Focus: Counting Up, Finding Differences
Quick Play Instructions:

• Students clip 2 numbers onto a hot air balloon and count up from one to the other.
• Use cubes on a blank Cloud Card to represent the difference visually.
• See this warm up over on Instagram Reels

Next Step: Use the same cards for a lesson on number comparisons or skip counting.

---

Warm-Up 5: Cloud Cards

Skill Focus: Number Sequences, Adding 10
Quick Play Instructions:

• Randomly reveal a Cloud Number Card.
• Students call out the number, the next number, and the number before.
• Challenge: Ask, “What is 10 more than this number?”

Next Step: Explore number patterns using number lines or charts.

Keep the Momentum Going:

These warm-ups are a perfect way to review number and operations skills all year long. The consistent use of The Math Kit ensures students are confident with the materials and routines, making your math block efficient and focused. For your next step, explore other play mats, cards, or tools from the kit to match your math goals!

SHARE: