The Problem (the exciting opportunity for learning):
The children come in from outside where they have been playing in the cold winter weather. Their hands are freezing. How can they warm their hands?
Children's Possible Solutions
1. One girl has seen her Dad rubbing his hands together when they are cold. She thinks everyone should do this.
Your Role: Encourage children to try this. Does it work? Discuss why it works.
2. A boy says they should all put their mittens back on.
Your Role: Support this action. Discuss how mittens keep hands warm. Does the warmth come from the mittens?
3. One child says they should wash their hands in warm water.
Your Role: Explain to children the danger of putting cold hands in warm water. Instead, they can wash their hands in cool, not cold, water. This will feel warm to their very cold hands.
To Extend the Experience
1. Put children's names in their mittens by attaching a piece of masking tape to each mitten. Place all mittens in a basket to make a mitten matching game.
2. Get children and their families involved in collecting mittens to donate to homeless children.
3. Have children sit in pairs. Let them take turns massaging their partner's hands.
This activity enhances critical thinking, motor skills and social-emotional
skills.
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