January is a fun and exciting time for many students. Being back at school and getting to see their friends for the first time after Christmas is sure to get the kids talking about the presents they got, the crafts they did, and the experiences they had. Harness all of that energy and check out our list of 30 January activities for middle school to make January even better in your classroom. We have crafts, science experiences, and more!
1. Paper Skating or Snowshoeing
This is a hilarious task with a winter theme. If you have a classroom camera, this is definitely the time to snap some photos. Your students can have paper skating or paper snowshoe races from one end of the class to the other. Make sure the paper sticks!
Learn More: Brain Ninjas
2. Internet Snowman
This task mixes creativity with a little bit of descriptive writing with it. It is also done entirely on the computer. The snowmen they create serve as a fun writing prompt and they can use their imagination to decide all of the characteristics of their new friend.
Learn More: The Teacher's Corner
3. Snow Journals
Another name for these snow journals is observation journals. Your middle school kids will love mixing math, literacy, and science altogether in this activity. Your elementary school students will need to make and record a lot of observations as the snow falls.
Learn More: Teacher Vision
4. Hot Drinks and Movie-Themed Day
A classroom café or themed movie day might be a nice way to transition your students back into the routine of school after they have been off on holiday. Following up this treat with lesson plans including marshmallow experiments might be a good idea.
Learn More: Mary Hanna Wilson
5. Snowy Read A louds
There are so many read-aloud stories on the market involving snow, winter, certain animals, and more. Incorporating a winter-themed hook into your class time will hook your students into listening. Following it up with an interactive lesson will be a fun time!
Learn More: Gradeschool Giggles
6. Snow Sculpture Competition
If you are located in a place where there is a ton of snow in January, it is officially time to have a snow sculpture competition. Whether they build igloos, snowmen, forts, or other creations, they can work together or independently and be very creative.
Learn More: Very Well Family
7. Snowman Number Work
Looking at math activities, this snowmen sheet is an excellent way to differentiate your lesson or focused time on class work because you can change the numbers to suit the needs of your students. You can also make photocopies if you draw them by hand.
Learn More: Teaching Expertise
8. Grow a Snowflake
This fun experiment will really get your students excited when they hear they will be able to grow their own snowflakes. Winter science experiments like this hold students' attention, and keep them interested and engaged as well. You only need a few key ingredients.
Learn More: Thought Co.
9. How Fast Can Ice Melt Experiment
Middle school STEM activities that focus on climate change and global warming are the focus here. A how fast can ice melt experiment where students find the quickest way to melt ice will teach them about the scientific method and will have them compete.
Learn More: National Geographic
10. Winter Reading Challenge
Get back into the swing of school with reading challenges! This challenge would be fitting for middle and high school students. You can make it a competition or simply have students try their best for their own learning. You can have preset books out as well.
Learn More: The Butterfly Teacher
11. Directed Snowman Drawing
Take the stigma out of drawing with a snowman-directed drawing. The students in your middle school classroom will love following along with the directions as they design and draw their very own snowmen. This activity is also about following directions and listening.
Learn More: Proud To Be Primary
12. Toilet Paper Roll Tree Craft
Your students can have some craft time if they have some extra time after finishing their classwork. Make use of all of those toilet paper and paper towel rolls you have been saving. You can put each tree together that your students make to make a forest!
Learn More: The Resourceful Mama
13. Cotton Ball Penguin Craft
You can introduce this craft by having a mini-lesson beforehand about arctic animals or even specifically penguins. You can teach them about animal prints or the characteristics of penguins. This craft uses a few materials that you might already have. They are adorable!
Learn More: Mom Brite
14. Penguin Shape Match
Penguins are arctic animal that acts as a fun winter theme. If you are trying to differentiate your math class, including penguin shapes like this can help some of your lower-level students have some fun while they do their work as well. You can make your own.
Learn More: Teach With Me
15. Wheel of Seasons of the Year
Learn about what season is your students' favorite with this bright and colorful wheel of seasons craft. Fun ideas like this can be mixed in between your lessons. Add this wheel to your list of ideas when you are teaching about the different seasons of the year.
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
16. Subtracting Snowflakes
Interactive resources like these make learning come to life for your students. You can use mini snowflake erasers for these manipulatives if you have them on hand. Visual activities like this help assist students before they get to mental math subtraction.
Learn More: Teaching Expertise
17. Ice Lanterns
Add this amazing STEM activity to your monthly calendar for January. Your students can become engineers as they engineer their own ice lanterns. The results are beautiful and look very magical. They will be surprised they can make these themselves.
Learn More: Steam Powered Family
18. Frozen Items Excavation
This idea of frozen items excavation is so cool because it is very adaptable and customizable. You can freeze tiny figurines of animals, leaves, flowers, or anything else you'd like to help support your lesson. Your students will love digging out the items for sure!
Learn More: Teaching Ideas
19. Marshmallow Igloos
Engineering challenges like this one are inexpensive to put together and require a few simple materials and the students will have a blast working through them. It will become one of their favorite ideas because a lot of students like marshmallows already.
Learn More: Lemon Lime Adventures
20. Animal Adaptations Science Experiment
You can send a page home with instructions and your students can save this activity for the winter holidays. Even if you have an inch of snow, you can take this activity outside as well, or in the classroom is fine too. Add this activity to your activity calendar today!
Learn More: Teaching Ideas
21. Winter Catapult Design Challenge
You can use popsicle sticks, elastic bands, and caps to make catapults. The students will have a great time building their catapult and then competing with their friends to see who can fling their item the furthest. You can use marshmallows here too!
Learn More: Vivify STEM
22. Snow Candy
Edible experiments are the best! If your students like to eat maple syrup, then this is the task for them for sure. They will remember this maple syrup snow candy task for a long time. Take this activity outside for a really memorable experience.
Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands
23. Snow Ice Cream
This is another edible experiment. Your students will not believe that they will be eating snow. You can have them add any toppings they like on top as well as make a themed day out of this experience.
Learn More: Little Bins For Little Hands
24. Melt Left Over Candy Canes
What do you do with all of those leftover candy canes? If you have an oven or microwave in your school, you can melt those leftover candy canes and the students can mold them into fun shapes. There are a lot of safety considerations here, however.
Learn More: Vivify STEM
25. The Great Sled Race
Students can design, build and construct their very old snow sleds. They can then take them outside and compete with their friends to see which sled can move the furthest in the snow. It will definitely be interesting to see what they will imagine and build on their own.
Learn More: Experiential Learning Depot
26. Paper Snowflakes
Simple and classic crafts like this are always a crowd pleaser. You can do this project with scissors and white paper, which you definitely have around. The snowflake designs encourage symmetry and fine motor skills. The possibilities are endless!
Learn More: Easy Peasy and Fun
27. Recycled Tin Can Snowmen
This is a wonderful way to repurpose old recycling you may have. Soup cans or old paint cans would be perfect for a craft like this. Extra craft materials like felt and pipe cleaners are fun additions to the project as well.
Learn More: Education Possible
28. Paper Strips Snowman
This craft is awesome because it is 3D! Check it out at the link below. It is expensive to put together and the results are cute.
Learn More: Easy Peasy and Fun
29. Snowmen Socks
A lot of supervision is required for a project like this, but it will create a fabulous keepsake at the end of it. This is definitely a longer-term project.
Learn More: Education Possible
30. Mixed Media Winter Paintings
Students will create cut-up small pieces of bubble wrap to create this cool effect. Make sure to only add a little bit of white paint.
Learn More: Arty Crafty Kids
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