## Party at a glance - **Theme:** Winter wonderland — snowflakes, mittens, snowmen, and cozy winter colors, with no religious content or glitter. - **Format:** 4 activity stations, 4 rotating groups, and 2 whole-class games. - **Food approach:** Store-bought, nut-free snacks and drinks; check ingredient labels and allergy suitability before purchasing. - **Helpers needed:** 4 parent volunteers, ideally 1 assigned to each station. ## Timeline **Two weeks before** - [ ] Send the family letter with (date) and (time). - [ ] Ask for 4 parent volunteers and collect supply sign-ups. - [ ] Confirm snack and drink choices with families and (check with your school) regarding allergy requirements. - [ ] Prepare a list of 22 students and divide them into 4 groups. **One week before** - [ ] Confirm the 4 volunteers and station assignments. - [ ] Collect family sign-ups for store-bought snacks, drinks, and supplies. - [ ] Prepare 22 activity materials for each station where applicable. - [ ] Send a reminder about the nut-free requirement and no-glitter theme. **The day before** - [ ] Check all food packaging and ingredient labels. - [ ] Sort craft supplies into 4 station kits. - [ ] Prepare group lists, rotation instructions, and name labels. - [ ] Confirm volunteer arrival time and responsibilities. **On party day** - [ ] Set up 4 stations and prepare 22 student places for snack time. - [ ] Brief the 4 helpers on rotations, cleanup, and student supervision. - [ ] Welcome students and explain the activities. - [ ] Finish with cleanup and thank the helpers. ## Letter to families **Subject: Kindergarten Winter Party — Family Help Needed!** Dear Families, We’re planning a fun, cozy winter party for our kindergarten class on **(date)** from **(time)**. Students will rotate through four winter-themed activity stations, enjoy two simple group games, and share a snack together. Our activities will celebrate winter without religious content or glitter. We would love help from **4 parent volunteers**, with one helper at each station. Please sign up to volunteer or contribute an item using the class sign-up sheet. **Food reminder:** Our classroom is nut-free, and all food must be store-bought. Please check ingredient labels and let us know about any allergy concerns before bringing food. We’ll confirm that proposed snacks and drinks are suitable before serving them. Please use the sign-up sheet to indicate what you can provide. Thank you for helping us make this a happy, welcoming celebration for all 22 children! Warmly, The Kindergarten Team ## Sign-up sheet Please write your name beside the item or job you can provide. All food contributions must be store-bought and suitable for the nut-free classroom. | Item or job | How many | Name | |--------|--------|--------| | Parent volunteer — Station 1 | 1 | __________ | | Parent volunteer — Station 2 | 1 | __________ | | Parent volunteer — Station 3 | 1 | __________ | | Parent volunteer — Station 4 | 1 | __________ | | Store-bought, nut-free snack servings | 22 | __________ | | Store-bought, suitable drink servings | 22 | __________ | | Snowflake craft paper sheets | 22 | __________ | | Winter coloring sheets | 22 | __________ | | Winter picture-matching card set | 1 set of 22 cards | __________ | | Soft winter movement props | 0 required | N/A | *Food and allergy suitability must be checked before serving. If a suitable item cannot be confirmed, leave it out and (check with your school) about an alternative.* ## Stations Divide the 22 students into 4 groups: - **Group A:** 6 students - **Group B:** 6 students - **Group C:** 5 students - **Group D:** 5 students Each group visits all 4 stations for **8 minutes per station**, for 32 minutes total. Keep the groups together during transitions. ### Rotation table | Time slot | Group A (6) | Group B (6) | Group C (5) | Group D (5) | |--------|--------|--------|--------|--------| | Slot 1 — 8 min | Snowflake craft | Winter matching | Winter movement | Calm coloring | | Slot 2 — 8 min | Winter matching | Winter movement | Calm coloring | Snowflake craft | | Slot 3 — 8 min | Winter movement | Calm coloring | Snowflake craft | Winter matching | | Slot 4 — 8 min | Calm coloring | Snowflake craft | Winter matching | Winter movement | ### Station 1: Snowflake craft image_group{"query":["simple kindergarten paper snowflake craft white paper crayons winter classroom"],"aspect_ratio":"3:4","layout":"carousel","num_per_query":1} **What children do:** Decorate a paper snowflake using crayons, then write or dictate their name. **Materials:** 22 paper sheets, 22 crayons or shared crayon sets, 1 example snowflake. **Setup:** Put paper and crayons on a table. Keep scissors and glitter out of the activity. **Helper's job:** Demonstrate simple decorating, help children with their names, and collect finished work. ### Station 2: Winter picture matching image_group{"query":["simple winter picture matching cards mittens snowman snowflakes boots printable preschool educational activity"],"aspect_ratio":"3:4","layout":"carousel","num_per_query":1} **What children do:** Find matching pairs of winter picture cards and name each picture. **Materials:** 22 cards forming 11 matching pairs, 1 table. **Setup:** Shuffle the cards and lay them face up for easy matching. **Helper's job:** Help children take turns, describe pictures, and return all 22 cards to the set. ### Station 3: Winter movement image_group{"query":["kindergarten children doing simple winter animal movement actions classroom activity illustration"],"aspect_ratio":"3:4","layout":"carousel","num_per_query":1} **What children do:** Pretend to be snowflakes floating, penguins waddling, or polar bears walking slowly in place. **Materials:** 0 props required. **Setup:** Clear a safe space for the group to move without touching furniture or classmates. **Helper's job:** Demonstrate each movement, keep movements gentle, and make sure children stay in their own space. ### Station 4: Calm winter coloring image_group{"query":["simple winter coloring page snowman mittens snowflakes kindergarten black and white printable"],"aspect_ratio":"3:4","layout":"carousel","num_per_query":1} **What children do:** Color a winter picture quietly. They may share one thing they like about winter if they wish. **Materials:** 22 winter coloring sheets, 4 shared crayon sets, 1 table. **Setup:** Place the coloring sheets and crayons at the table. Keep the space uncluttered and quiet. **Helper's job:** Encourage relaxed coloring, help with supplies, and avoid rushing children who prefer a quiet activity. ## Whole-class games ### Game 1: Freeze Like a Snowflake 1. Ask children to stand with space around them. 2. Call out “float like a snowflake,” “twirl gently,” or “freeze.” 3. Children move gently when invited and freeze in place when they hear “freeze.” Repeat for 4 minutes. ### Game 2: Winter Action Guessing 1. Explain that children will act out winter things without speaking. 2. Invite volunteers to pretend to be a penguin, a snowflake, or someone putting on mittens. 3. Let classmates guess the action, then invite another child. Repeat for 4 minutes. ## Food plan - **Snack:** 22 individual servings of a store-bought snack confirmed suitable for the nut-free classroom. - **Drinks:** 22 individual servings of a suitable store-bought drink. - **Serving supplies:** 22 napkins and 22 cups if needed for the selected drinks. - **Before serving:** Check ingredient labels, allergy information, and any relevant school requirements. Do not serve anything if its suitability is uncertain; (check with your school) for guidance. - **During snack:** Have children sit while eating and drinking, and supervise them throughout. - **Cleanup:** Collect rubbish and wipe tables after the snack. No homemade food, nut-containing food, or unverified food should be brought into the classroom. ## Gift exchange **Skip this.** No gift exchange is necessary for the party. This avoids introducing an unprovided budget or asking families to purchase extra items. ## Supply list Combined checklist for 22 students, 4 groups, 4 stations, and 4 parent volunteers. | Supply | Quantity | |--------|--------| | Student name labels | 22 | | Group labels or group lists | 4 | | Snowflake craft paper sheets | 22 | | Example paper snowflake | 1 | | Winter coloring sheets | 22 | | Winter picture-matching cards | 22 cards (11 pairs) | | Shared crayon sets | 8 sets (4 per coloring/craft station) | | Activity tables | 3 | | Clear movement area | 1 | | Store-bought, suitable snack servings | 22 | | Store-bought, suitable drink servings | 22 | | Napkins | 22 | | Cups, if needed for selected drinks | 22 | | Rubbish bags | 2 | | Cleaning cloths | 2 | | Rotation schedule for helpers | 4 copies | No glitter or craft scissors are needed. The two whole-class games require no materials. ## Run of show Total party time: 60 minutes exactly. | Minutes | Activity | What to say at the transition | |--------|--------|--------| | 0–5 | Welcome and explain the stations | “Welcome to our winter party! We’ll stay with our groups and try every station.” | | 5–13 | Station rotation 1 | “Time to tidy your station and move to your next winter activity.” | | 13–21 | Station rotation 2 | “Great work! Follow your group to the next station.” | | 21–29 | Station rotation 3 | “Let’s put the materials back and move together.” | | 29–37 | Station rotation 4 | “You’ve visited every station! Let’s get ready for a group game.” | | 37–41 | Game 1: Freeze Like a Snowflake | “Wonderful freezing! Now let’s guess some winter actions.” | | 41–45 | Game 2: Winter Action Guessing | “Thanks for playing! It’s time to sit down for our snack.” | | 45–53 | Snack and drinks | “Finish your snack, and let’s tidy our places together.” | | 53–60 | Cleanup and closing | “Thank you for celebrating winter together. Let’s leave our classroom tidy!” | ## Thank-you note for helpers Dear Parent Volunteers, Thank you for giving your time and helping make our kindergarten winter party fun and welcoming for all 22 children. Your support with the activities, snack time, and cleanup made the celebration run smoothly. We truly appreciate your kindness and generosity! Warmly, The Kindergarten Team