Prepare a matching game using paper mittens. Cut mitten shapes from cardstock, and use markers to create identical patterns on pairs of mittens. Set the mittens on the table, and have the preschoolers try to match up pairs. Or, try a snowflake matching game. Snowflakes can made by placing two squares of white paper on top of each other and cutting a matching pair. Continue until the you have eight to ten pairs of snowflakes. These are more difficult to match but can be a good challenge for pre-K classes. Another matching game can use simple snowmen shapes with different colored scarves. Have students match the snowmen by the color of their scarves.
Plan an indoor ice skating activity. Have the students imagine they are on an outside pond in the winter. You will need a carpeted area, wax paper and a music player. Hand out two squares of wax paper to each child that are slightly larger than their feet. Turn on waltz music, and have the class glide across the carpet. Show the kids how to glide slowly across the floor without picking up their feet.
Create paint that mimics snow with a few common supplies. Your pre-K class can paint snowmen, sled hill scenes or houses covered with snow. Mix soap flakes, water and liquid starch with a few drops of white tempera paint. Use a hand mixer to blend the ingredients into a thick paste. Children can take turns working the mixer and watching the foam form. The thick paint will dry with a bumpy texture, perfect for mimicking snow.
Make popcorn snowmen as a winter fun activity that lets them prepare their own snack. Mix a big batch of popped popcorn with marshmallows and butter. After covering the table with wax paper, hand out a scoop of the popcorn mixture to each child. Show the kids how to divide the scoop into a large ball and a small ball. The process helps build the children's motor skills and introduces the concepts of large and small. Set the large popcorn ball on a paper plate, and then press the smaller one on top. Decorate the snowmen with a few small food items. For example, a gum drop can represent the snowman's hat, and a piece can be cut off for the nose. Raisins or chocolate chips can be used for the eyes and mouth, and slices of fruit leather can be used as a colorful scarf.