Preschoolers can perform simple experiments in the cold weather. Pour several liquids -- water, juice and milk, for example -- into separate containers and have the children predict which will freeze first. Create a chart to monitor the progress and check on the frozen cups at regular intervals. You can also reverse the experiment. Thaw different liquids, or place snowballs or ice cubes in different containers and different environments, and have children predict which container will melt first. To incorporate lessons about freezing and melting into an art project, paint with ice cubes. Pour liquid tempera paint into an ice-cube tray, and freeze the tray with a craft stick in each compartment. When the paint is frozen, pop out the ice cubes; use them to paint on paper.
Plan preschool lesson plans around penguins; preschoolers love the snappily-dressed cold-weather birds. While you read stories about penguins and teach about their life and habitat, incorporate fun and easy art projects and games. Create potato-print penguins by cutting potatoes in half and stamping them on paper with black paint. Add wings, feet and a beak with more paint or construction paper, and use a smaller potato-half and white paint or white construction paper for the penguin's belly. Allow children to embellish their stamped-penguin picture using googly eyes, glitter, cotton balls and tissue paper. To play a penguin game, teach children that penguins carry their eggs and babies on their feet. Make an "egg" by filling a sock with cotton balls, or use a small stuffed animal, and have children walk with the egg or baby on their feet.
Help preschoolers learn about physics, geometry and art by making simple ice sculptures. Freeze water in a variety of containers; add food coloring to the water to make colored ice. When the water is frozen, remove it from the containers and have children build their own sculptures by staking and connecting the pieces of ice. Use salt to help melt the ice and keep the pieces sticking together; cover the children's hands with gloves and mittens to prevent frostbite. Alternatively, preschoolers can build sculptures with simple ice cubes. This activity is also appropriate to use during lessons on Eskimos and igloos; build an igloo with ice and salt to demonstrate how Eskimos build their homes.
If you live in an area that gets snow -- or if you get a rare snowstorm in a warmer climate -- take the opportunity to teach about snowflakes and what makes snow. Collect some snow on a black sheet of construction paper, and have children examine the flakes with a magnifying glass. Let them see that every snowflake is different. Collect a bucket of snow, and bring it into the classroom. Discuss how snow is made from water, and watch as the full bucket of snow melts into just a small amount of water.