Winter is a magical time of year. The chilly air, the shimmering frost, and, sometimes, the beautiful blanket of snow create a unique atmosphere. For young children, winter can be an exciting season filled with discoveries. To help your little ones explore the changes that occur in nature during winter, I invite you to download the “Signs of Winter in Nature” poster, matching cards, coloring pages, and more. This resource is designed especially for children ages 3 to 6.

What Happens in Winter?
Winter in Northern Hemisphere arrives around late December and lasts until around March. During this season, the weather changes significantly, especially in many regions. Here are some of the main signs of winter that children can observe:
Snow

One of the most noticeable signs of winter is snow. Snowflakes flutter down from the sky and cover the ground in a soft, white layer. Children will find it fun to run, jump, and make snowmen in the snow. You can also help them notice the different shapes of snowflakes and how they form.
Bare Trees
As fall ends, many trees lose their leaves. In winter, many trees appear bare, with only their branches visible against the sky. Children can observe how the branches change from having leaves to being bare and how this impacts the wildlife in their environment.
Animal Behavior
During winter, some animals adapt to the cold by hibernating. For instance, bears curl up in their dens and sleep through the winter months. Other animals, like squirrels and birds, change their behavior by searching for food. Discussing these changes with children can help them understand that animals have different strategies to survive the cold.
Winter Clothing
When itโs cold outside, people wear thicker coats, hats, mittens, and boots. Talk to your child about what to wear in winter. You can sign a match-up game about winter clothes using our matching cards to learn about the different types of clothing used in winter.
Ice and Frost
The colder temperatures can cause ice to form on ponds, lakes, and puddles. You might also see frost on grass and windows. Ice can be slippery, so it’s important to be careful when playing around it. Learning about these natural changes is a great conversation starter about safety during winter.
Shorter Days
During winter, the days are shorter, meaning the sun sets earlier. Children can see how the sun changes its position in the sky and how this can affect the time they have to play outside after school.
Winter Birds
While many birds migrate south for the winter, some birds, like cardinals and chickadees, stay behind. Children can look for these winter birds and observe their behavior in the colder months.
n’s books can be magical. Look for stories that highlight winter activities, animal behavior, and the beauty of nature in the winter months. You can host a winter reading hour to make it even more exciting!
Engaging Activities for Learning in Winter
Nature Walks
Take a nature walk to explore your surroundings. Ask your child to point out the signs of winter they see in nature. Bring along a notebook or use our printable poster to check off each winter sign as you find them.
Winter Crafts
Engage in winter-inspired crafts. You can make paper snowflakes at home or create a winter scene using cotton balls for snow. These crafts can complement the printables and provide a hands-on learning experience.
Winter Wildlife Watching
You can go on a wild bird watching adventure. Provide binoculars for children (even toy ones if you don’t have real binoculars). Encourage them to look for birds and other animals in winter. Discuss what these animals do in the cold and why itโs important to feed birds during colder months.
Observation Journals
Create an observation journal for each child. After every outing, have them draw or write about their observations of winter. This could include the temperature, animals they saw, or how the landscape has changed.
Winter Songs
Music is a great way to make learning enjoyable! Singing winter songs or chants about snowflakes, animals, or winter clothing can engage them in a fun and rhythmic way. You might even want to create your own winter song together, incorporating their experiences and observations.
Signs of winter printable – Here is what’s included
- Signs of winter
- poster
- poster minus images
- images
- blackline poster
- cards
- student booklet
Age: Preschool ages 3 โ 6 years
Subjects and uses in the classroom: Winter, Nature Table, Science Centers, Fine motor, Prewriting

How to use this resource
Gather nonfiction children’s books about winter for children to explore.
Use these nature materials to kick start a group conversation about different signs of winter the children have observed outdoors already.
Gather nature objects like pine cones and branches to use along with the cards for your nature corner.
I always keep in mind that learning needs can be different in multi-age classrooms. Hence this printable contains a poster and matching cards you can use with younger children for matching.
Older children can be invited to make My Books of Signs of Winter in Nature. Color cards can be printed twice for a memory game or for 3-part card activity. They also will be a lovely addition to your Nature Table display.

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