The Winter Solstice, also known as the shortest day of the year, marks the beginning of winter and the transition into the new season. In the Northern Hemisphere, we typically recognize this event around December 21 each year, just as we’re ramping up for the winter holidays and a school break! 

You can use this timely event and winter solstice activities to keep students engaged in their lessons before they take time off to rest and recharge for the new year.

• Discover Winter Solstice poetry and fiction in ELA
• Learn more about the science behind the changing of the seasons

[Discover Winter Solstice poetry and fiction in ELA](id-ela)

Key takeaways:

• Share Winter Solstice and winter-themed fictional stories and poetry with your students.
• Incorporate science lessons into ELA by exploring animal adaptations.
• Discover how people worldwide mark and celebrate the Winter Solstice.

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Celebrate the first day of winter with these warm and cozy literature selections in your ELA classes:

What are some stories and poems about the Winter Solstice?

Whether your students love snow, holidays, or winter sports, they can find a story or poem that sparks their interest with our winter fiction and poetry collection:

Winter Solstice poetry

Explore the beauty of winter in rhyme and verse with these and other poetry selections:

• “After the Winter” by Claude McKay
• “Fresh Ice” by Jacqueline Jules
• “Stopping By Woods On Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost
• “Winter Dance” by Linda Kao
• “A Winter Scene” by Henry David Thoreau
• “Winter is good - his Hoar Delights (1316)” by Emily Dickinson

Winter Solstice fiction

Encourage your students to indulge in some frosty fiction with stories like:

• “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen
• “Father Frost: A Russian Story” by Angela McAllister
• “Skeleton Woman: An Inuit Story” by Angela McAllister
• “Lightning Quick” by Rich Wallace
• “The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Andersen

What are some ways people observe the Winter Solstice?

Students can explore why the changing of the seasons happens and some of the celebrations, traditions, and customs associated with it using a paired text activity:

• Assign the fictional story “The Sun Stands Still” by Josephine Cameron about a young girl celebrating the Winter Solstice with her family.
• Have students read a nonfiction article about the solstices and equinoxes that mark the changing of seasons.
• Ask students to use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the way the Winter Solstice is represented in each text.

How do animals survive the winter?

Humans often come in from the cold during the harshest winter weather. But what happens to wild animals in snowy, frigid climates? Students can use this paired text lesson to discover how animals survive the winter:

• Assign Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” about a man and his dog trying to survive a cold winter day.
• Have students read a nonfiction article about the survival strategies different animals use in cold temperatures.
• Use a paired text analysis graphic organizer to have students answer the question, “What is the main idea of each text, and how are they connected?”

[Learn more about the science behind the change of the seasons](id-sci)

Key takeaways:

• Explore the behavior and positioning of the Earth and the sun during the Winter Solstice.
• Get students engaged with winter-themed hands-on science projects.
• Discover how the weather changes with the seasons by exploring topics like lake-effect snow.

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Help your students understand the science behind the changing of the seasons, weather patterns, and other winter-related phenomena with these engaging science activities:

Why do the seasons change?

Marking the start of winter—or any season—may look different depending on where you live. Help students dive into why this happens with content like:

Informational articles about winter

Assign students articles to help them read up on topics related to the winter solstice, like:

• Why the seasons are flipped in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
• What elements of the Earth’s atmosphere and rotation cause the changing seasons.
• How certain parts of the world have longer, darker winters than others.

Interactive videos about the seasons

Bring the science of seasons to life with interactive videos on topics like:

• The Earth’s rotation and revolution.
• How the sun behaves during different seasons.
• Why we have seasons.

What winter STEAM projects can I do with my students?

Encourage curiosity and critical thinking with these winter STEAM activities:

Create a snowstorm in a jar

Fight off the chill by bringing this snowy experiment inside and creating a snowstorm in a jar!

• Read up on why snow is white (and why sometimes it isn’t!).
• Discover if climate change could lead to more or fewer snowstorms.
• Create your own snowstorm using baby oil, washable paint, and Alka-Seltzer tablets.

Make a snowball launcher

Even if it doesn’t snow where your students live, they can still create snowball launchers (that sling cotton balls) to learn about simple machines and get in the spirit of the season. 

• Explore how snowflakes form in the atmosphere.
• Discover why no two snowflakes are exactly alike.
• Create an indoor snowball launcher with craft sticks, rubber bands, cotton balls, and drink lids.

How do different species adapt to winter conditions?

People wear layers, animals grow out their coats, and trees drop their leaves. Different species of living things each have their own ways of dealing with winter weather. Students can explore these differences by engaging with articles on topics like:

• How animals get their winter coats.
• Why trees lose their leaves to survive the winter.
• If it’s safe for humans and pets to eat snow.

What causes lake-effect snow?

While some cities never see snow and others receive only a light dusting, communities on or near the Great Lakes can experience massive storms known as lake-effect snow. Teach students about this phenomenon with resources like:

• An article that looks at what lake-effect snow is and why it happens.
• A news piece about record snowfalls in Alaska and the conditions that caused them.
• A 3D animation that shows how lake-effect snow forms.

How does salt melt ice in the winter?

Students who live in cold climates likely know that salting roads and driveways helps clear away ice and snow. But why? Use this activity to teach students the science behind melting ice.

• Assign an article that discusses how we use salt to melt snow and ice—and if all types of “salt” are alike.
• Do an experiment with salt and rubbing alcohol to see the science behind separating layers of liquids.
• Have students complete a reflect and respond worksheet to record what they learned about how salt affects ice and snow on roads and sidewalks.

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