Most people have likely heard of Christmas in July. The teacher can create the same sort of topsy-turvy thinking by bringing summer into the winter classroom. Challenge the winter-weary first-grade students to close their eyes and think about what kinds of activities they might experience if it was summer instead of winter. Explain that in the southern hemisphere, people living there experience summer at the same time of year people in the northern hemisphere have winter.
Have the students write or draw the kinds of activities southern hemisphere first-grade students might be doing right now. Invite them to feel the warm of a summer sun as they complete the exercise.
Demonstrate how to make snow to your first grade class using a plastic bottle, water and a can of air. Poke a small hole in the cap of a plastic bottle. Add about a quarter-inch of water into the bottom of the bottle and tighten the cap. Insert the straw from a can of air into the cap hole. The straw should fit snuggly. Turn the air can upside down and direct the air jet at the water in the bottom of the bottle until water turns white and foamy. Remove the straw and allow the air to slowly escape from the bottle. In the bottom of the bottle, you will find snow ice crystals.
Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. Celebrations on the day observe the return of the light and the lengthening of the days. Read a story about a winter solstice or Yule celebration and encourage the first-graders to re-enact some of the celebration events like looking for a Yule log and decking the halls with holly.
Read or watch the animated version of "Frosty the Snowman." Invite the first-graders to sing the song and dance around the classroom. After they have expended some energy, ask them to return to their desks and create Frosty using large marshmallows, pretzel sticks and candy buttons. Explain you will award prizes to the scariest Frosty, the craziest Frosty, the weirdest Frosty and the prettiest Frosty. Once the Frosties have been judged, the students may eat their creations.