The days are getting shorter and colder, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to liven up your classes with a little winter magic! Although it can be difficult to engage students during the cold months, these winter-themed ELA activities will definitely warm up your classrooms faster than a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day.
11 Wonderful Winter-Themed Activities for English Language Arts
From winter writing prompts to reading comprehension passages, discover this blizzard of creative winter ELA activities that will get your students excited about celebrating the warm season.
Winter reading comprehension activities and passages
Here are some fabulous ideas for teaching reading comprehension during these frigid but wonderful winter months.
Winter understanding by Latoya Reed
Grades: K-2, English language arts, reading
This no-prep resource contains 16 winter-themed reading comprehension passages and questions that your students are sure to love.
Winter Nonfiction Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions by ELA with Ms. Martin
Years: 3-6 | English, reading
Encourage students to delve deeper into their nonfiction texts with this differentiated winter reading comprehension resource. It contains 10 informative articles on topics of major interest such as hibernation, icebergs, polar bears, etc.
WINTER Reading informational texts Passages Activities PRINT and EASEL by Diana Bailey
Years: 6-8 | English, reading
This ELA resource includes two reading passages on the origins of the English language and focusing on words associated with winter.
Winter Poetry Activities
These fun and hands-on winter poetry activities have everything you need to help your students learn the basics of poetry. And hone their critical thinking and writing skills.
Poetry writing activity about snow in winter – Poetry Month by Proud to be Primary
Levels: K-2 | English language arts, poetry
This free The Poetry Writing Activity is a one-page printable template for students to write their poems about snow.
Poetry Center: Magnetically Construct a Haiku (Winter Snow) by More Than a Worksheet
Years: 3-6 | English Language Arts, Poetry
This is a wonderful activity to use before winter break when students are full of energy. It’s very engaging, practical and fun!
Poetic analysis – 5 winter poems – Interactive Flip Books – Digital and paper by Brain Waves Instruction
Years: 5-8 | English Language Arts, Poetry
This winter, help your students get acquainted with poetry studies in this engaging five-day poetry analysis unit.
Winter Poetry: Shakespeare, Shelley, Hunter and Burns by Fuller Teaching Resources
Grades: 9-12 | English Language Arts, Poetry
Celebrate winter with your students with four poems by William Shakespeare, Percy Byshe Shelley, Anne Hunter, and Robert Burns. This is the perfect addition to a poetry unit, or can be a great filler activity between units or when you have a subheading.
Winter Writing Prompts and Activities
Through these winter writing prompts and assignments, students will benefit from a variety of seasonally themed lessons while continuing to work on and strengthen their writing skills.
Winter Writing Pages – Creative Writing Prompts by Kaitlynn Albani
Levels: K-3 | English language arts, writing
These pages are great for morning work, early finishers, creative writing practice, art practice, creative thinking, homework, and much more!
Winter Writing Activities Prompts December Centers Opinion Writer Tasks by ThinkGrow Giggle
Years: 3-5 | English language arts, writing
Help your students succeed at opinion writing with these highly engaging, real-world essay prompts and topics that you can use all winter long.
Winter Creative Writing Assignment by 2peasandadog
Years: 6-8 | English language arts, writing
Infuse seasonal fun into your lessons with this creative writing assignment in which students create imaginative stories based on character-specific writing prompts.
Winter Writing Prompts by Rike Neville
Years: 10-12 | English language arts, writing
Although they are written specifically for adult ESL students, they are also ideal for high school students.
Learn more winter-themed resources for ELA – and other subjects – on TPT.
