As we head into the holiday season, you might be planning on teaching rich, multicultural lessons inclusive of all cultures and religions. However, you might be looking to avoid that altogether, and these non-holiday themed activities and ideas—that still celebrate winter and will encourage festive feelings—will engage and excite students in the leadup to the break.

These 19 read-aloud books for grades preK-3 about gingerbread men, gingerbread kids, and even gingerbread pirates are a great way to celebrate the winter holidays.

The weather outside may be frightful, but this list of winter books all under $3 each are simply delightful! The fiction and nonfiction titles included span a whole range of topics, including playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and different animals that live in the snow.

From their famous waddle to their iconic black and white “tuxedo” penguins have a unique way of capturing kids’ curiosity. The 23 books in this list are packed with penguin fun and facts—perfect for reading aloud, science lessons, or just some plain old penguin fun.  

Winter is the perfect time to teach students all about arctic animals and the plight facing them. These 20 books about polar bears and other arctic animals include fiction and nonfiction titles and are a great way to bring the animals of the arctic to life in your classroom.  

Colder weather is the perfect time for stories—especially stories about one of students’ favorite things… snow! These 27 books all about snow and snowmen are ideal for winter read-aloud time in any classroom.

If you’re looking to get crafty with a literary spin, these four crafts for grades preK-5 can all be supplemented by a supporting story. A great way to spend a chilly afternoon!    

Gingerbread isn’t just for baking—it’s for reading and learning too! These gingerbread books and ready-to-go activities are perfect for grades preK-2 during the last couple of weeks before winter break.

Penguins have been a source of intrigue for kids forever. And these activities and craft are a great way to cultivate that curiosity for grades preK-5.  

Keeping the penguin theme going, if your class is reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins this winter, then you can use these six engaging prompts to spark conversation amongst your students and help them discover deeper meanings. 

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