Winter ELA Activities for Upper Elementary

Winter ELA activities are a fun way to Winter ELA activities are a fun way to change things up in your 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade classroom throughout December, January, and February. By the time this time of year, students are usually ready for something different. However, with so many standards to cover, it’s important that our activities still provide meaningful practice.

I’ve gathered some fun winter-themed ideas for reading, grammar, writing, and vocabulary that work well in upper elementary. Some are hands-on, some are great for independent practice, and others get students up and moving.

1. Winter Book Tasting Activity

A winter-themed book tasting is a fun way to introduce students to different books and genres. It also gives them a chance to explore books they might not normally choose. Set up different stations around your classroom with a selection of books at each one. Add a few winter decorations to create a cozy atmosphere. Think a crackling fireplace displayed on the projection board with some relaxing music in the background. Have students bring in a blanket to wrap themselves in or to sit on. You don’t need to go overboard. Just a few touches does the trick.

How to Set Up Your Winter Book Tasting

1. Gather a variety of books from different genres.
2. Arrange the books at stations around your classroom.
3. Give students a recording sheet to jot down their first impressions.
4. Allow students a few minutes to explore a book before rotating to another station.
5. Have students share which books they like to read and why.

If you’d like something that’s already done for you, this winter book bites resource makes setting up a book tasting easy.

2. Snow Much Fun with Prepositions: A Winter Grammar Activity

Get your students up and moving with this simple winter grammar activity! Students toss paper snowflakes and practice identifying prepositional phrases that describe where their snowflakes travel and land.

There are several ways to prepare for this activity: 

• Option 1: Have students fold and cut their own paper snowflakes. It’s a little messy, but fun! 
• Option 2: Provide snowflake clip art for students to cut out. 
• Option 3: Have students crumple paper into “snowballs” for a little indoor snowball fun.

How to Play

1. Give each student a paper snowflake or snowball.
2. Have students gently toss or drop it in a designated area.
3. Students observe where it travels and lands.
4. Have them record prepositional phrases describing their observations.
5. Repeat several times to collect different phrases.

You can provide sentence starters such as:

• It flew ___.
• It landed ___.

For example, students might write through the air, under the desk, or beside the chair. 

After students record their phrases, have them:

• Underline the preposition.
• Circle the object of the preposition.

For example:

The snowflake landed under the desk.

For an extra challenge, have students use their prepositional phrases to write original sentences. You can grab your free snowflake preposition template below. 

Teacher Tip:

• Before starting, establish clear boundaries for tossing snowflakes or snowballs. Remind students that they should never throw anything at each other. Have them record their prepositional phrases before retrieving their snowflakes.
• If you have a particularly rowdy class this year, you can toss or drop the snowflake yourself. Students can observe where it lands and record their prepositional phrases. 

3. Winter Read Alouds for Upper Elementary

Winter read alouds are a great way to slow things down and enjoy a good book together. Even in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, students still enjoy having stories read aloud to them!

Picture books can introduce students to new vocabulary, spark discussions, and expose them to different writing styles. And sometimes, it’s nice to simply enjoy a story without assigning an activity afterward.

If you’re planning to incorporate more read alouds this winter, here’s a collection of winter read alouds for upper elementary students you can explore. 

4. Winter Story Mapping and Plot Activities

Story mapping is a great way to help students understand how events and a story fit together. It also gives them a foundation for writing summaries, which is an important skill in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. For a winter twist, have students turn their story maps into a classroom display. 

How to Implement 

1. Choose a fictional story for students to read.
2. Have students identify the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
3. Ask students to organize the events on a plot diagram.
4. Use the completed diagrams to help students write story summaries.
5. Display their work on a winter-themed bulletin board.

For a more hands-on option, this Winter Igloo Story Plot Map turns plot analysis into a 3D craft. The resource guides students through filling out a story map and how to transfer the important information into a summary. It also makes a fun winter bulletin board or classroom display while reinforcing important reading comprehension skills. 

5. Winter Idioms and Figurative Language 

Winter is a great time to review idioms with your upper elementary students. Expressions like break the ice and on thin ice fit perfectly with the season. Students often find idioms amusing, but understanding their figurative meanings can be challenging, especially from multilingual learners. 

Winter Idiom Activity 

1. Introduce students to several winter-related idioms.
2. Have them discuss the figurative meaning of each expression.
3. Ask students to write a sentence using each idim correctly.
4. Have students create an illustration represent their chosen idiom.

For a hands-on option, this Winter Idioms Snowflake Activity combines figurative language practice with a winter craft. Students record an idiom, explain its meaning, use it in a sentence, and add an illustration. Their completed snowflakes can then be displayed on a winter bulletin board.

6. Winter Grammar Review Activities 

By January and February, students have learned quite a few grammar skills that need continued practice. Winter-themed grammar worksheets are an easy way to keep those skills fresh without introducing something completely new.

They also come in handy when you need meaningful independent work during a busy school day.

Ways to Use Winter Grammar Worksheets

• Morning Work: Give students a quick grammar review as they settle into the classroom.
• Literacy Centers: Have students complete grammar activities independently while you work with small groups.
• Reusable Grammar Centers: Place worksheets in sheet protectors and have students use dry-erase markers. This allows you to reuse the same pages without making additional copies.
• Early Finishers: Keep a few worksheets available for students who finish their assignments early.
• Substitute Plans: Leave familiar grammar activities that students ca complete with minimal guidance.

You can also review the answers together and discuss why certain choices are correct. This gives you an opportunity to catch misunderstandings before moving on to new skills. 

For some ready-to-use practice, these Winter Grammar Worksheets include 10 activities covering a variety of 4th and 5th grade grammar skills. Students review everything from capitalization and verb tenses to pronouns and subject-verb agreement. A tracking sheet is also included so students can keep up with the activities they’ve completed.

7. Winter Word Puzzles 

Winter word puzzles are easy activities to keep on hand when you need something students can complete independently. Word searches, crossword puzzles, and word unscrambles can also introduce students to vocabulary related to the season.

There are several ways to use winter puzzles in the classroom: 

• Morning Work: Give students a puzzle to work on as they arrive in the classroom. 
• Early Finishers: Keep puzzles available for students who finish their assignments early.
• Partner Activities: Allow students to work together to solve a crossword or word unscramble.
• Brain Breaks: Give students a break from their regular assignments with a quick puzzle. 

Having a variety of puzzles ready can come in handy during those unexpected pockets of time. This Winter Puzzle Packet includes 10 winter-themed activities, giving students different puzzles to choose from throughout the season.

Frequently Asked Questions bout Winter ELA Activities for Upper Elementary

How can I incorporate winter themes into ELA lessons without focusing on holidays?

Use seasonal themes such as snowflakes, snowmen, winter weather, and cold-weather activities. These can easily be incorporated into reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary lessons without connecting them to specific holidays.

What are some easy, low-prep winter literacy activities?

Winter read alouds, word puzzles, and grammar review activities require very little preparation. You can also have students toss paper snowflakes and write prepositional phrases describing where they land. These activities provide variety without adding much to your planning time.