The holidays are over and here in New Jersey it is cold! It’s the perfect time to bring a touch of winter magic into your classroom! Dramatic play is a powerful tool in early education, fostering creativity, communication, and problem-solving skills. A hot cocoa stand and an ice skating rink are two fun and engaging dramatic play spaces that not only get children in the winter spirit but also support key developmental skills. Let’s dive into how to set up these stations and maximize their learning potential!
Hot Cocoa Stand Dramatic Play
Transform a corner of your classroom into a cozy hot cocoa stand. This setup encourages role-playing, literacy, and math skills while giving students a chance to practice social interaction. My students love to buzz around creating treats and making drinks to serve to their customers!
Materials Needed:
- A small table or counter for the “stand.” I had a friend create a stand for me with wooden crates from Michaels and some small pieces of wood.
- Signs, labels and props. The more print for your young learners to see and read the better!(see pictures)
- Plastic or paper cups, stirrers, and pretend marshmallows. I use shredded paper and pom poms from the Dollar Tree.
- Treats for your students to serve customers. I make donuts from paper lunch bags (see pictures) and props from my Hot Cocoa Dramatic Play Set.
- A menu with prices (use pictures and numbers for early learners).
- Play money and a cash register. They love to play with pretend money !
- Aprons or hats for your baristas.
fill your center with plenty of print
Learning Opportunities:
Dramatic play is so important and a great way to teach and practice so many important skills through play.
- Math Skills: Students can count play money, add prices, and practice giving change.
- Literacy: Create a simple menu and encourage children to “order” by reading or pointing to words and pictures. Older children can fill out order forms and write recipes.
- Social Skills: Children practice taking turns, listening to orders, and using polite language like “please” and “thank you.” I use job tags so that the children take turns working at the stand and acting as customers. This is important when teaching them to take turns.
Ice Skating Rink Dramatic Play
Bring the thrill of an ice skating rink into your classroom! This activity gets kids moving and work on gross motor skills while encouraging teamwork and imaginative play.
When I taught elementary school, every winter our PE teacher would give the students a “pair” of paper plates to use as skates. They loved it and always begged to “skate” again and again!
Materials Needed:
- Large blue or white mats (to represent the ice).
- Paper plate skates! You can also use felt or laminated “skates” (cut-outs that children can wear over their shoes or slide on the floor).
- Winter props like scarves, mittens, and beanies. I buy these at Dollar Tree for my class.
- A “skate rental” area with cubbies or a small table.
- Music player with instrumental winter-themed music.
Learning Opportunities
- Physical Development: Kids practice balance, coordination, and gross motor skills as they “skate” around the rink.
- Problem-Solving: Encourage children to set up rules for the rink, like how to safely enter and exit or how to “help” a friend who falls.
- Creative Expression: Incorporate a pretend “ice dancing show” where children can choreograph movements to music.
- Watch our video here
By setting up these winter-themed dramatic play stations, you’ll create a warm, joyful atmosphere that engages students’ imaginations while fostering important early learning skills. Your students will never want to leave this dramatic play space! Who knew winter could be so much fun indoors?
