I always look forward to those couple of weeks off for winter break. To make the transition back to school a little smoother, and so I can enjoy every minute of the break, I prepare activities for the first week in January before we leave in December. This way, returning to the classroom doesn’t feel so overwhelming after a bit of time off. Plus, it helps me feel refreshed and ready for my students, allowing me to relax more during my time off. Today, I’m excited to share a few of my favorite activities for after winter break that are engaging, low-maintenance, and perfect for easing us back into the swing of things!
Why I Spend Time Preparing Activities for After Winter Break
You might wonder why I put in the effort to prepare activities for after winter break ahead of time. We all have felt, at some point, the Sunday scaries. It can be a heavy and unmotivating feeling. For me, the Sunday scaries feel a bit more present coming off from a longer break. I’ve found that having a plan in place makes a world of difference and allows me to enjoy the break even more. Coming back from a break can be a bit jarring for both me and my students. By having engaging and ready-to-go activities, I can ease us all back into our routine without the added stress of last-minute planning.
Another big reason is that it helps maintain the momentum we’ve built up before the break. I can easily plan some engaging activities that provide a quick review of where we left off. Our students benefit from a smooth transition, and engaging activities can rekindle their enthusiasm for learning. And. . . with everything planned I can fully enjoy my time off, knowing that our return will be organized and enjoyable. Preparing ahead makes the post-break period something to look forward to rather than dread!
5 Activities for After Winter Break
Now, let’s dive into some of the fun and engaging activities I have lined up! These are designed to be both enjoyable for our students and easy for me to manage. They help to make our transition back to the classroom as smooth as possible.
1. Reflective Color By Number Activity
One of my go-to activities after winter break is a reflective color by number. It’s the perfect activity for kicking off the first day back. It’s a fantastic way to ease back into our routine with a bit of creativity and fun. This activity is perfect for us to do after a break because it encourages our kiddos to be self-reflective about how their year is going so far. With questions like “The word that best describes my school year so far is. . .” and “I’m most proud of myself for. . .” students can reflect on the first half of the year as they prepare for the second half. Plus, they make great bulletin board displays.
When I prepare this activity, I first choose the coloring pages and question pages I want to use. The best part is that all coloring pages work with all question pages, so I can mix and match the designs to keep things interesting. If I want to customize the answer or color choices, there are editable options available.
Next, I copy the question page and the coloring page from front to back. This makes it easy for our students to keep everything together. I make sure to make a note to have them take out their colored pencils, crayons, or thin markers when I explain directions when we return. I also have a community supply of these materials, so I make sure to pull those bins out as well.
When it’s time to start, I explain to my students to read and answer each question on the page. If they choose ‘other’ as their answer, they can write their response in the space provided. Once they’ve answered all the questions, they get to color the picture using the colors that match their answers. For the unnumbered parts, they can get creative and choose any color they like.
2. Setting Goals
Do you like having your students set goals? As we kick off the new calendar year and New Year’s Resolutions are fresh on everyone’s mind – goal setting is a great activity to complete as a class. I love doing some goal setting later in the week after we have completed the reflective color by number activity. I ask students to think about personal goals and school goals.
I like to have students find a quiet spot to think and reflect. I encourage them to brainstorm some goal ideas and write down as many as they can think of. Then I have them go back and pick 1 or 2 that are the most important to them.
I love this activity because it is so versatile. If I have a group that loves to write, we tackle our goals with a writing activity. If I have a group that loves to draw, we use that as the starting place. Think about your students and what they enjoy, then connect goal setting to create a fun and meaningful activity that is perfect for the first week back.
3. Differentiated Math Task Cards
In addition to the color by number activity, I love using themed math task cards to help us kick off the dust of our math brains. These are so much more fun than the typical worksheet and make practicing multiplication skills something my students look forward to. Plus, I design them to be differentiated to allow me to cater to each student’s individual needs.
This Winter-Themed task card set comes with 40 task cards organized by theme for easy differentiation. The four levels have different symbols, such as Level 1 featuring snowmen, Level 2 having penguins, Level 3 having trees, and Level 4 using mittens. This setup allows me to assign tasks based on each student’s skill level with ease. I can rest assured that everyone gets the right amount of challenge.
In my classroom, I use these task cards with my students in several ways. I have a set on hand for independent practice and review sessions. I also have my students work through these cards with partners or through a game of Scoot to move around the room. Either way, they record their answers on their recording pages once they have solved the 4-digit by 1-digit digital multiplication problem on the card.
By using themed activities, we transform routine practice into an exciting experience. This approach keeps students motivated and also makes the learning process enjoyable and effective. It’s a great way to start the new year with energy and enthusiasm!
4. Math Spiral Review Activities for After Winter Break
Daily math practice is so important, especially coming off an extended break. Math Spiral Reviews are perfect for helping our students ease back into routines with structured and consistent practice. I love that they are getting a daily review that features multiple math skills and concepts.
To prepare for this activity, I copy the pages I want front to back. This gives each of my students an entire week’s worth of practice on one sheet of paper. Each page includes four problems for each day of the week, Monday through Friday, and there’s space for your students to show their work as they solve the problems. This approach ensures that our students are constantly reviewing and reinforcing their math skills in a manageable, organized way, setting a positive tone when it comes to math.
I love using the Daily Math Review as morning work or a warm-up activity at the beginning of our math block. By taking just a few minutes each day you can see great improvements in students’ overall math abilities. To learn more about the benefits of math spiral reviews, check out Why You Need Daily Spiral Review to Support Math Instruction.
5. Start a New Read Aloud
Read aloud time is always a favorite time of the day. Coming back after a long break, students are often out of practice and their daily stamina is a little off. By starting a new read aloud book after the break, you can build in a little mental downtime.
I like to turn off the lights and let the kids get comfy at their desks or on the floor as we read. Students love quieting down as they meet new characters and start new adventures. If you don’t regularly do read aloud in your classroom, the first week back from break is a great time to start. Grab a favorite chapter book and you’ll have your kids looking forward to that special time each day.
Activities for After Winter Break to Enhance Students’ Learning
I hope you find these ideas of activities for after winter break helpful and inspiring. By planning ahead with engaging and differentiated activities like color by number, themed task cards, and daily math spiral review, we can make the transition back to school smooth and enjoyable for both our students and ourselves. These activities not only keep the students motivated but also help them ease back into the learning routine with excitement. Here’s to starting the new year on a positive note and making the return to school something we all look forward to!
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