winter activity | Children's Museum (Winnipeg, MB)

Dec 21, 2022 • art, At-home Learning Resources, counting, games, M’s Blog, math, mathematics, winter activity, winter craft

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s topic is MATH. Make math fun (and tasty) with this marshmallow counting activity.

You’ll need the following:

Pictures of mugs (or actual mugs)
A marker
Marshmallows

Instructions

Lay out pictures of hot chocolate mugs
Write numbers on them with your marker
Ask your child to match the same number of marshmallows to the number on the mug
If they answer correctly, they can eat them as a bonus treat!

Learning how to count can be difficult for children. This homemade counting activity can make it fun! Children will learn how to match numbers and count out the correct number. Motivating them with a game is a good way to start learning about math.

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ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Snow, snow, snow. Let’s turn this snow into something fun and make ice marbles! These are not only fun to make, but also a pretty lawn decoration.

You’ll need the following:

Balloons
Food colouring
Water
A freezer
Scissors

Instructions

Place a few droplets of food colouring into your balloon
Fill balloon with water and tie the end
Place outside (if cold enough), or in the freezer for 24 hours
Use scissors to cut the end off the balloon and peel away
Place outside for pretty lawn décor

Ice marbles are a simple activity for children but create an interesting display for your yard. Children can make them into a pattern or build a mini structure out of them too.

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of December 19, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Magic Reindeer Poop Price: $3.99 each Mold this Magic Reindeer Poop and prank your friends and family - then watch it melt into a brown gooey puddle.…

Dec 19, 2022 • Christmas, feature 5, games, sensory toy, shop, Stocking Stuffers, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s topic is MATH. Make math fun (and tasty) with this marshmallow counting activity. You’ll need the following: Pictures of mugs (or actual mugs) A marker Marshmallows Instructions Lay out pictures of hot chocolate mugs Write numbers on them with your marker Ask your child to match the same number of marshmallows to the…

Dec 21, 2022 • art, At-home Learning Resources, counting, games, M’s Blog, math, mathematics, winter activity, winter craft

CHRISTMAS READING LIST

Dec 23, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Christmas reading, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources

Dec 14, 2022 • Creative learning, engineering, snowflakes, STEAM, STEAM resources, winter activity

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. Snowflakes are magical, beautiful, and complicated mini structures of ice. Let’s build our own from q-tips!

You’ll need the following:

Q tips
Glue
Felt or paper
Sparkles or glitter (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut your q-tips up in different sizes
2. Start assembling them to make a snowflake pattern

Once you like your pattern, add glue onto the back of the q-tip and place them onto your felt/paper to form a snowflake pattern.

Snowflakes are nature’s own engineering phenomenon. They are all unique and made from water droplets freezing in the sky. Some data engineers even study snowflakes to find trends in certain regions.

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WINTER READING LIST

We are back with another reading list and this one is all about snow. Thanks to our friends and partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers, we get to explore the pages of these fun books as they welcome winter. Once Upon A Northern Night Pendziwol, Jean and Arsenault, Isabelle In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and…

Dec 16, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Winter reading

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Snow, snow, snow. Let's turn this snow into something fun and make ice marbles! These are not only fun to make, but also a pretty lawn decoration. You’ll need the following: Balloons Food colouring Water A freezer Scissors Instructions Place a few droplets of food colouring into your balloon Fill balloon with water and tie…

Dec 17, 2022 • art, At-home Learning Resources, ice marbles, M’s Blog, marbles, winter activity, winter craft

SHOP FEATURE 5

Dec 19, 2022 • Christmas, feature 5, games, sensory toy, shop, Stocking Stuffers, Toys

Dec 07, 2022 • Creative learning, STEAM, STEAM resources, technology, winter activity, winter craft

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

It’s time to learn about winter weather and make a homemade thermometer with this week’s focus on TECHNOLOGY.

You’ll need the following:

A clear plastic bottle/container
A straw that you can see through
Clay or playdoh
Red food colouring
Water
Rubbing alcohol
Cooking oil

Instructions

Add red food colouring, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup alcohol and a tablespoon of oil into a container and mix.
Place your straw inside the container, leaving about ½ inch at the bottom and cover the container mouth with your clay.
Place your DIY thermometer outside in the cold and look at the difference in how high the liquid rises in the straw at various temperatures.

Most thermometers contain alcohol due to its low freezing point. As the temperature of the alcohol increases, it will cause the liquid inside the homemade thermometer to rise! Let’s hope we have a warm winter.

Source: Little Bins For Little Hands

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of December 12, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Christmas Water Game Price: $3.99 each These fun Christmas Water Games will keep kids entertained! Try to get the plastic hoops on the pegs by pressing the…

Dec 12, 2022 • Christmas, feature 5, games, sensory toy, shop, Stocking Stuffers, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING. Snowflakes are magical, beautiful, and complicated mini structures of ice. Let’s build our own from q-tips! You’ll need the following: Q tips Glue Felt or paper Sparkles or glitter (optional) Instructions Cut your q-tips up in different sizes Start assembling them to make a snowflake pattern Once you…

Dec 14, 2022 • Creative learning, engineering, snowflakes, STEAM, STEAM resources, winter activity

WINTER READING LIST

Dec 16, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Winter reading

Mar 04, 2022 • Family fun, love local, outdoor activities, Things to do in Manitoba, winter activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN MANITOBA

Source: gimliicefestival.com

Take in the Gimli Ice Festival this weekend (March 5-6, 2022) and discover activities like the 5K (or 10K!) ice walk (or run, skate, snowshoe, bike, or ski) competition, frozen t-shirt contest, kids’ colouring competition, frozen fish toss, snow or ice creation contest, viking life re-enactors, and much more! Learn more.

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CREATION STATION: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER CANVAS ACTIVITY

Source: messylittlemonster.com Display this clover canvas on your wall and brighten up your house, or the kids could give it to someone special as a thoughtful gift. Materials Q-Tips Green craft paint Paper plates Small blank canvas Green or brown fine tip marker Directions Gather and layout all of your supplies. Cover the surface you’re…

Mar 06, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creation Station, Creative learning

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of March 7, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store, now with FREE shipping in Winnipeg on orders over $50! Read More… Palm Pals – Woolly Lamb Price: $12.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your…

Mar 07, 2022 • feature 5, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Source: iflscience.com On International Women's Day, help kids celebrate the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In the words of IFLScience, women are at the forefront of scientific research, historically and today. There are so many scientific breakthroughs that wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of women, and doubtless…

Mar 08, 2022 • Creative learning, history, science, STEAM, STEAM resources

Feb 12, 2022 • Family fun, love local, outdoor activities, Things to do in Winnipeg, winter activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN WINNIPEG

Source: publiccityarchitecture.com

Check out Manitoboggan at St. Vital Park, Winnipeg’s first barrier-free and universally accessible toboggan slide. The project was initiated by the City of Winnipeg to replace the previous 1980s-era toboggan slides and warming shelter, which burned down in 2013, and was seen as an opportunity to provide the community with a better, more inclusive winter experience. The complex includes two new toboggan chutes at differing heights, a four-season warming shelter, a treetop ramp walkway through the forest, and a viewing deck facing the slides. Learn more.

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CREATION STATION: SKUNK VALENTINE CRAFT

Source: iheartcraftythings.com A sweet skunk for Valentine's Day! If you're making this fun craft with toddlers or preschoolers and feel the 3D heart is too complicated for them to make, simply omit that step and have them glue one single heart on their animal. Materials Animal valentine templates Coloured cardstock paper or construction paper Large…

Feb 13, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creation Station, Creative learning

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 14, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store, now with FREE shipping in Winnipeg on orders over $50! Read More… Cutie Face Spinner Price: $5.99 each With each push of the spinner button, one of four cute…

Feb 14, 2022 • arts and crafts, feature 5, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Source: leftbraincraftbrain.com What better way to learn about science than by eating it? Especially if it’s delicious. With this bread-in-a-bag project, kids can learn why bread rises and feel the pride of making homemade bread the whole family will want to eat! You can also do some experimenting to learn more about yeast before you…

Feb 16, 2022 • Activities for kids, At-home Experiments, Family fun, STEAM, STEAM activity

Feb 06, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creation Station, winter activity

CREATION STATION: PAPER + POPSICLE STICK SKATES

Source: capturingparenthood.com

If it’s too cold to go skating, bring a fun skating activity indoors with this cute, wintery craft!

Materials

White paper
Markers, bingo dabbers, or other decorating tool of your choice
Scissors
Two popsicle sticks
Glue
Hole punch
Yarn

Directions

Fold a piece of paper in two and cut out a simple boot shape, leaving the two bottom components of each skate attached. (This provides a resting spot for the popsicle stick blades when the paper is folded back together.)
Stamp or colour the skate boots however you like! (If your kids are heavy-handed on the dot marker stamping, your paper skates might start rolling up as they dry. Nothing that laying them flat underneath a couple of heavy books can’t fix.)
Once the paper is dry, attach the popsicle sticks with a small dab of glue, then proceed by gluing the two interior sides of each paper skate together. Set aside for the glue to dry completely.
The final step is to add the laces by simply weaving yarn through a handful of holes created using a single-hole punch. Then you can use the tops of the laces to tie the skates together!

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of February 7, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store, now with FREE shipping in Winnipeg on orders over $50! Read More… Specimen Minerals & Fossils Price: $1.99 each A great way to introduce minerals and fossils to your…

Feb 07, 2022 • arts and crafts, creativity for kids, feature 5, science, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Source: the-gingerbread-house.co.uk Here's a heart-shaped tangram inspired by the well-known Chinese puzzles. Turn it into a card for Valentine's Day! Materials Valentine tangram puzzle sheet template (available for free download here) Scissors You can easily turn this tangram into a card for Valentine’s Day, in which case, you'll need some stiff card stock, markers or…

Feb 09, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creative learning, math, STEAM, STEAM activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN WINNIPEG

Source: publiccityarchitecture.com Check out Manitoboggan at St. Vital Park, Winnipeg’s first barrier-free and universally accessible toboggan slide. The project was initiated by the City of Winnipeg to replace the previous 1980s-era toboggan slides and warming shelter, which burned down in 2013, and was seen as an opportunity to provide the community with a better, more…

Feb 12, 2022 • Family fun, love local, outdoor activities, Things to do in Winnipeg, winter activity

Feb 05, 2022 • explore manitoba, Family fun, love local, Things to do in Manitoba, winter activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN MANITOBA

Source: Falcon Beach Ranch

Make your way through the snow-covered trails of Whiteshell Provincial Park via horse-drawn sleigh or on horseback with winter activities from Falcon Beach Ranch. The hour-long trek by horseback is available for those 12 years old and up, sleigh rides are available for families with younger kids, and both run throughout the winter. Learn more and reserve your spot.

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CREATION STATION: PAPER + POPSICLE STICK SKATES

Source: capturingparenthood.com If it's too cold to go skating, bring a fun skating activity indoors with this cute, wintery craft! Materials White paper Markers, bingo dabbers, or other decorating tool of your choice Scissors Two popsicle sticks Glue Hole punch Yarn Directions Fold a piece of paper in two and cut out a simple boot…

Feb 06, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creation Station, winter activity

SHOP FEATURE 5

Feb 07, 2022 • arts and crafts, creativity for kids, feature 5, science, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Feb 09, 2022 • Activities for kids, at-home crafts, crafts, Creative learning, math, STEAM, STEAM activity

Jan 22, 2022 • arts and crafts, at-home crafts, Creation Station, Creative learning, Family fun, winter activity

CREATION STATION: CATCHING SNOWFLAKES ON YOUR TONGUE SELF-PORTRAIT

Source: artisandesarts.blogspot.com

This is an incredibly cute idea for a wintery self-portrait with a few different ways to approach it – you could do oil pastel drawings, as pictured above, or use coloured construction paper to cut out and glue all the different parts of each child’s features and winter gear. The square teeth look especially fun from this angle!

Materials

Construction paper
Oil pastels

Directions

Ask kids to think about what they would look like with their heads tilted back and tongues out, catching snowflakes as they fall. What does their hair look like? What direction does their nose point in? How would they draw their scarf or coat?
Ask kids to draw themselves from this angle, using a reference like the example above. Don’t forget the snowflake that landed on their tongue!

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SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of January 24, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store, now with FREE shipping in Winnipeg on orders over $50! Read More… Pako Discovery Spiral Price: $18.99 each The Pako Discovery Spiral is an interactive, educational toy that helps…

Jan 24, 2022 • arts and crafts, aurora, creativity for kids, feature 5, pako, Plush, science, shop, Shop Feature 5, stanley jr, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Source: nationalgeographic.co.uk Kids won’t need beakers and microscopes for these four biology experiments - they just need themselves! Each of these experiments from National Geographic's UK website lets children discover how a human body system works. And by doing these "tests" on their own bodies, they’ll get to see and feel exactly how their own…

Jan 26, 2022 • Activities for kids, Activity, At-home Experiments, Creative learning, STEAM, STEAM activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN WINNIPEG

Cinematheque's Cabin Fever: Free Films for Kids series returns this February and March! Do you remember the first time you went to the movies as a kid? The team at Cinematheque sure does, and they’re recreating the foundational experience every Sunday in February and March. A Cinematheque tradition, and what has become a rite of…

Jan 27, 2022 • Family fun, free programming, love local, movies, Things to do in Winnipeg

Jan 14, 2022 • arts, love local, Things to do in Winnipeg, Winnipeg Art Gallery, winter activity

LOVE LOCAL: SPARK CREATIVE LEARNING IN WINNIPEG

Source: wag.ca

Be transported to the North at the Winnipeg Art Gallery with outdoor projections of contemporary Inuit artwork and imagery, highlighting Qaumajuq, the Inuit art centre. This 20-minute show loops on the exterior of the Qaumajuq building on St. Mary Avenue and runs nightly from sundown until 10:00PM.

Enjoy beautiful northern lights projections alongside artwork by Inuk artist Glenn Gear (featured in INUA). Plus, you’ll experience artist Geronimo Inutiq’s short film Riders, using National Film Board of Canada archival material to honour the ancestors and family members of artists and community members.