17 Hands-On Winter Literacy Activities

Inside: Build alphabet skills with these fun winter literacy activities for preschoolers! A fun way to invite children to explore letters during your winter theme.

One of the questions I hear often from other early childhood teachers is how can we teach preschoolers how to read.

Really, it’s about exposing them to a print-rich environment and plenty of playful literacy activities.

We do this all year long, changing some of them so they reflect the current season or theme.

With winter approaching us, I thought I’d put together a collection of 17 fun winter literacy activities for preschoolers.

These can be done in the preschool classroom or at home.

👉 Bonus! Scroll down towards bottom of this page to find free mitten alphabet upper and lowercase printables!

17 Fun Winter Literacy Activities for Preschoolers

Please note that some of these activities are a bit more advanced for preschoolers who are ready to sound out letters or start recognizing simple words. Wait to use these until you feel they are appropriate.

This snowball name activity also strengthens fine motor skills. (Fun-a-Day)

After reading The Mitten, invite your preschoolers to do some visual sequencing of the story. (Play to Learn Preschool)

Recognize letters while doing the penguin plunge activity. (Mom Inspired Life)

Download these free arctic animal word cards for a winter pocket chart. (Pre-Kinders)

Winter is a fun time for an arctic animal sensory writing tray. (Fun-a-Day)

Download these free winter writing labels to use at your writing table. (Preschool Inspirations)

Go on a letter hunt in the snow. (Coffee Cups and Crayons)

Strengthen letter recognition with this fun hot chocolate game. (Toddler Approved)

Match the letters in the alphabet with this snowman letter matching activity. (Totschooling)

Throw pretend snowballs at letters while learning letter sounds. (Mom Inspired Life)

Work on letter recognition with these free arctic animal cards. (Preschool Powol Packets)

Build your name with free snowman letter printables. (A Dab of Glue Will Do)

Write your name using ice pens. (Preschool Powol Packets)

Put together a gingerbread name activity with homemade scented playdough. (Books and Giggles)

When your preschooler has mastered letter sounds, here’s a fun snowman sight words game to try. (Sparkling Buds)

Make shadow puppets for the Gingerbread Man. (Adventure in a Box)

Practice writing letters using these fun winter tracing pages. (Learning 2 Walk)

You can find more activities on my literacy pin board.

Free Mitten Alphabet Matching Printables

After printing these alphabet mittens, cut them apart and use for:

• Upper and lower case letter matching
• Spelling out a child’s name
• Pinned on a pretend clothesline in alphabetical order

Click on the photo for pdf download:

More winter activities:

15 Fun Winter Ice Activities for Preschoolers

20 Fun Winter Crafts

20 Brilliant Ways to Keep Kids Busy During Winter Break

Planning your winter theme? We’ve done the work for you!

I am the co-author of these winter theme lesson plans.

24 preschool learning activities for your winter theme, including literacy, math, science, art, fine motor, and more! A great resource for teachers and homeschoolers.

24 preschool learning activities that cover

• Literacy
• Math
• Science
• Fine Motor
• Sensory
• Gross Motor
• Art
• Social Studies
• Music
• Circle Time
• Social/Emotional