The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to teach your pupils the months of the year and how to use a calendar. Purchase a large calendar to hang in your classroom. Flip through the months and point out holidays and special events that occur during those months. Mark pupils' birthdays on the calendar and see which month has the most pupil birthdays.
Encourage your pupils to make new year's resolutions. As a class, set learning goals for pupils for the upcoming year, such as learning the alphabet song, color recognition or tying shoes. In addition, create resolutions for your classroom regarding behavior or keeping the room tidy. Write class resolutions on a large piece of paper and post it in the classroom. Alternatively, ask pupils to create their own resolutions. Help them write the resolutions on paper and decorate them. Place all resolutions in a box and return them to pupils at the end of the year.
Teach pupils about animals that live in cold-weather environments, such as the arctic fox, penguin and polar bear. Use a map or globe to show pupils where these animals live, and post pictures of the animals in the classroom. Talk about the characteristics that enable these animals to live in harsh habitats, such as fur and dietary habits. Ask pupils what they do to stay warm during cold weather.
Help pupils create a portfolio of preschool memories from the past year, suggests Preschool Rock. Throughout the year, keep pupils' work in a folder, along with pictures. You may also ask parents to supply a few photographs of their child to add to the box. Give each pupil an empty shoe box. Let them cover the lid with pictures or drawings, decorating it as they choose. Encourage each pupil to choose items from his folder of work to add to his box. In addition, create a classroom memories box by letting pupils choose one or two pieces of work to add to the box, along with pictures. Keep the box in the classroom to look at the following year.