February Spotlight: Read-a-Thon!
February is Read-a-thon month and we are SO excited! Check out our REACH Read-a-Thon page and the video for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Embedded Files
Looking for Winter Enrichment Inspiration? Consider REACHing for one of these!
English Language Arts (ELA)
English Language Arts (ELA)
Have a student that loves reading or writing? Try out some of these winter themed enrichment options!
- Holiday Reading Advent Calendar: Unwrap a new book or a chapter from a favorite book each day to build excitement for daily reading.
Journaling: Have students keep a winter journal to record observations, feelings, and memories, focusing on sensory details.
Holiday recipe writing: Write step-by-step instructions for a favorite winter treat like hot chocolate or gingerbread.
Write from a different perspective: Write a diary entry from a snowflake's point of view or a story from the perspective of a forest animal in winter.
Family heritage exploration: Interview relatives about holiday traditions and family history, then write about what they learned.
- Winter is the perfect time sip hot cocoa and cozy up with a good book, and most libraries have Winter Reading challenges in their Beanstack apps! Here are some recommended reading lists for you to investigate:
- Younger students: Winter Book list
- Middle grades: Middle Grades list Winter setting
- Upper grades: Winter Reads for Tweens
- Writing Contests:
- K-12th grade: Create a 53-word story for a chance to be published in Prime Number Magazine! (Deadline is the 15th of each month and each month has a new theme to write on.)
- 1st - 5th grade: PBS KIDS Writers Contest
- 3rd-6th grades: EngineerGirl Writing Contest
- 6th-12th Graders: The Kenyon Review Short Fiction Contest. Submit a short fiction work no more than 4,000 words in length to Submission Portal beginning Jan 1, 2026. (Deadline Jan 31, 2026)
- High school: 2025–2026 Narrative High School Writing Contest. Using the prompt “One True Thing” as a springboard, we invite you to write a story, essay, or poem that takes your reader on a journey toward at least one crystalized moment of truth. Submissions open on January 6, 2026 and closes on February 4, 2026 11th Annual Narrative Writing Contest
Mathematics
Mathematics
There are so many fun ways to practice math skills this winter! Which will you do?
Winter Cooking Projects! Cooking and baking is an excellent way to practice math skills for all ages, from counting and measuring to converting and fractions!
Snowball Toss Write math problems on paper, roll them into "snowballs," and have students solve a problem from a ball before tossing it back
Snowflake Symmetry Exploration: Have students examine paper snowflakes and identify lines of symmetry. Challenge: Create a snowflake with a specific number of symmetrical lines.
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Math: Give students a cup illustration and “marshmallows” (paper circles). Practice addition, multiplication arrays, or fractions using marshmallow groups.
Winter Word Problems: Create story problems involving: Snowball piles, Hot cocoa recipes, Ice skating laps, Gift wrapping and ribbon lengths
Ice Melt Data Collection: Compare how long ice melts in different conditions (salt, sun, shade). Track data, graph results, and discuss patterns.
Younger students:
Winter Patterns & Sequences: Create pattern strings using winter objects (mittens, snowflakes, lights). Extend into number sequences.
Middle grades:
Calendar Math – Winter Events: Use December–February calendars to explore elapsed time, patterns, and schedules.
Upper grades:
Winter Data Graphing: Give students a simple winter survey, for example: Favorite winter activity (sledding, ice skating, building snowmen, drinking hot chocolate), Number of days it snowed this month, How many hats or mittens they own. Students collect data from classmates or family. Have them create a graph: bar graph, pictograph, or line plot. Optional extensions: Compare data (Who has the most? Least?),Calculate the average or range. Write a few sentences interpreting their graph.
Math Competitions
American Mathematics Competition There are competitions for students in grades 12 and below. Competition dates are January 22-28 2026
MathCounts Competition Series: Students in grades 6-8 can participate in this fun competition. Feb 1-28 Chapter Competitions will be held. State competitions are held in March. Students may register at: https://www.mathcounts.org/registration/login?destination=/registration
Georgia Tech High School Math Day: Saturday, March 7, 2026. For information go to https://hsmd.math.gatech.edu/format/
Performing & Visual Arts
Performing & Visual Arts
Here are some of our favorite winter-inspired ideas:
Drawing/Painting tutorials:
Younger grades
Favorite Winter "How to Draw" lessons
Favorite Winter "How To" Painting for Kids
Middle - Upper grades
How to draw a Winter Scene - step by step
5 Winter Acrylic Painting ideas
Winter Crafts:
Colorful Snowman Paper Craft
Make frosted glass with snowflakes
(middle and upper grades)
Winter contests to enter:
The Dream Car Art Contest: Ages 2-15
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Sony World Photography Awards Youth Competition
Ages 19 and under
Deadline: January 6, 2026
Ages K-12
Deadline: February 28, 2026
Ages Middle and High School
Deadline: April 21,2026
Physical Education
Physical Education
Keep active this winter with these physical activities!
Hike up Stone Mountain and Experience Stone Mountain Christmas.
Go ice skating at the Avalon! https://experienceavalon.com/events/avalon-on-ice/
Bundle up and do some winter hiking. We have some wonderful trails near us. Check out a new trail here.
Get a buddy or ask a parent to go for a walk, look out for any animals or plant life that may only come out in the winter time.
Put on some music and have a dance party! Maybe your friends and family will join in.
If Georgia sees any snow, Sled down a hill using a trash can lid or a sled, if you have one.
Snow ball fights are fun, too!
Winter Exercise: 6 Family Activities to do stay active & healthy
Science, Technology & Engineering
Science, Technology & Engineering
Check out these science, technology & engineering enrichment opportunities!
Try some of these Science Experiments to experience hands on learning!
Ice melting race: Test how long it takes for ice cubes to melt when placed on different materials like salt, sugar, or sand.
Snow volcano: Build a mound of snow and use a baking soda and vinegar mixture to create a foamy eruption.
Frozen bubbles: Blow bubbles outside to see how they freeze and form interesting shapes in the cold.
Crystal growing: Create supersaturated solutions to grow borax crystals on pipe cleaners bent into snowflake shapes
"Snow" in a jar: Simulate a snowstorm indoors by mixing water, oil, and other materials in a jar
Engineering and building
Winter STEM Activities can be a fun way to learn this season.
Igloo construction: Use marshmallows and toothpicks to build an igloo structure, challenging kids to make it as stable as possible.
Snowflake structure: Build 3D snowflakes or other shapes using marshmallows or foam balls and toothpicks.
Snowman catapult: Create a catapult using craft sticks and rubber bands to launch pom-poms, simulating launching snowballs.
Snow brick house: Use clay rolled into bricks to build a house around a frame.
Social Studies & History
Social Studies & History
Here are several Social Studies & History related ideas for the history lover in your family:
This winter, nationally we'll celebrate Black History Month
Explore history and fun facts related to the Martin Luther King Jr Day and Valentines Day holidays:
Younger grades: MLK Jr.: The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. Top 10 Facts about MLK Jr. Valentines Day: The Story of Valentines Day Fun Facts about Valentines Day
Upper grades: MLK Jr: All About Martin Luther King Jr. 10 Facts about Martin Luther King Jr. Valentines Day: The History of Valentines Day 10 Fascinating Facts about Valentines Day
MLK DAY TRIP: Plan a visit to The King Center right here in Atlanta.
Page updated
Report abuse