4 Festively Fun Holiday Learning Activities for Kids

It is the season for fun and festivities, and there’s no better way to kick off the winter break away from school than with exciting ideas for holiday learning activities! While winter break is a great time for resting and recharging, it’s also important for little learners that they don’t lose sight of learning. After all, there are many ways to celebrate the holidays while also sneaking in some educational activities.

Let’s take a look at some fun ideas for holiday activities to get your child started:   

Conduct a Magical Melting Christmas Tree Science Experiment

Parents won’t need to shop for anything extra with this science experiment because chances are all the supplies needed for this festively fun activity are already in the kitchen!

Supplies Needed:

• 1 box of baking soda
• Round paper plates and tape
• Vinegar
• Water
• Sprinkles
• Food coloring
• A bowl, a tray, and a spoon
• A baster or eye dropper

What to Do:

First, use a round paper plate to make a cone by cutting it into a triangle shape and folding it to create a cone; tape it together on the outside so it holds its shape. This will become a mold for the melting Christmas tree. Feel free to make multiple trees to create an entire forest! To do this, simply make more cone molds from the paper plates.

Next, create a dough by mixing enough water with the baking soda to make a moldable paste. Add just enough water to the baking soda so it molds into a loose shape without falling apart. Add sprinkles to the dough and pack it into the prepared cones and place each on a tray. Freeze the trees for a few hours until they are firm.

In the meantime, mix a few drops of green food coloring with the vinegar and set aside. When ready, remove the tray from the freezer and take off the molds to reveal adorable sprinkle-filled Christmas trees! Explain to children that this is a science experiment and ask them to make a prediction or hypothesis about what will happen once they add the colored vinegar to the trees. Encourage little learners to record their predictions in a science journal or on a sheet of paper.

To get started, simply instruct children to use the baster or eyedropper to squirt the vinegar over the trees and watch what happens! Did their predictions prove to be true? Record any observations in the notebook or on paper. Keep adding more vinegar and watch the trees melt away into the fizzy liquid it creates. Discuss the chemical reaction with participants to get the full learning experience from the activity!

(The picture has been taken from https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/)

Make Some Minty Playdough!

Using a recipe to cook or bake something is always a great activity for both math and science, but this recipe is extra special because it creates something that is meant to be played with instead of eaten! Get into the holiday spirit while supporting math skills with this fun minty homemade playdough recipe!

Supplies Needed:

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• ½ cup salt
• 2 tablespoons of cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
• Red or green food coloring
• Gold or silver glitter (optional)
• A few drops of glycerin (if available)
• Up to 1 ½ cups of boiling water

What to Do:

 Add all the dry ingredients together in a bowl, including the glitter if using, and mix. Boil the water in a small saucepan and remove it from heat. Add the food coloring, oil, and peppermint extract to the boiling water. While stirring, slowly add water to the bowl until the mixture becomes a sticky dough. Add the glycerin and remove the dough and place it on a floured surface, such as a large cutting board. Allow it to cool to the touch before kneading; it can still be warm, but be sure not to burn your hands or the hands of any helpers! Once cool, knead for several minutes until it is no longer sticky. Add flour in small increments if the dough is still too tacky and sticking to your fingers.

Once finished, the playdough is ready for play! Store it in a tightly sealed container, such as a zip-top bag or an air-tight food storage container.

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Make Fake Snow for Sensory Play

Even if you live in an area of the country where it snows often, it is often too cold to play with using anything besides heavy mittens or gloves! Encourage sensory play and learning using this special play snow recipe that will allow kids to dig in with their bare hands!

Supplies Needed:

• A large tray or baking sheet
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup corn starch
• A storage container
• Water

What to Do:

To start, mix the baking soda and corn starch in a bowl. Using your hands to stir, add water one tablespoon at a time until it becomes a dough that can just hold its shape when squeezed. Be careful not to add too much water, as this can make it soupy, and nobody likes to play with melted snow! Once it feels right, give it to kids to play with and feel free to discuss the science of real snow. Store in an air-tight storage container.

Holiday Themed Activities with Kids Academy

For parents, the holidays are a busy time shopping, cooking, and preparing for the celebrations we enjoy with our families. If you’re looking for activities that can be done more independently to fill your kids’ downtime, look no further than the Talented and Gifted app! On it, you can find holiday-themed activities, such as this adorable Santa Claus writing worksheet. In addition, you can find coloring pages and Christmas songs, videos, and more worksheets that cover a variety of subjects and topics!

No matter what your family has planned this holiday season, it is sure to be a fun one for your little learners as they spend some time away from school over the next few weeks. Make it even more magical by mixing in some educational activities that will keep their skills sharp, and their spirits bright! Don’t forget to find us on the AppStore and Google Play, as well as check out everything we have to offer here at www.kidsacademy.mobi. From our family here at Kids Academy to yours, happy holidays!