Winter Learning at Chestermere Playschool: The Mitten by Jan Brett
By the Chestermere Playschool
Discover why the Chestermere Playschool is a top choice for families seeking a Chestermere preschool with play-based learning and caring educators.
At Chestermere Playschool, we love pairing great books with our monthly classroom themes. One of our favourites is Winter and Holidays, and The Mitten by Jan Brett is a perfect fit every single time.
If you have ever read this book with preschoolers, you know why it’s a hit. The illustrations are rich with detail, and the kids love hunting for the tiny clues hidden on every page. It turns storytime into an interactive experience, which is exactly how young children learn best.
To extend the story, we brought The Mitten into craft time with a hands-on cutting, colouring, and gluing activity. Scissor work is more than just a craft. It supports important early learning skills like hand strengthening, visual motor coordination (eye-hand coordination), and bilateral coordination, which means learning how both hands work together.
Each child received a mitten template along with a sheet of animals from the story. For children who are newer to cutting, we recommend circling each animal with a highlighter or felt pen to give them a clear visual guide. Encourage children to hold the scissors with one hand while the other hand helps guide the paper. It is completely normal for preschool-aged children to switch hands while cutting. Gently encourage them to finish with the hand they started with, no pressure required.
Once the animals were cut out, the children coloured each one and glued them onto their mitten. The activity did not stop there. Afterward, we revisited the story together and talked about sequencing. Which animal went into the mitten first? What happened when the last animal squeezed in?
Activities like this build early literacy, fine motor skills, and memory, all while keeping learning fun and playful. Winter crafts, classic books, and curious little minds make for a pretty great day at preschool.
If you are looking for a Chestermere playschool that blends stories, creativity, and purposeful learning, this is what our days often look like. Mittens optional.
One-on-one tours are available to meet the teachers and see our location. Visit our website for more information and to register for the 2025/26 school year to secure your spot!
For more information about our program and info about how we keep costs low as a parent-run, not-for-profit playschool participating in the Affordability Grant program, visit our website at www.chestermereplayschool.com
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