If you’re a Jan Brett family, you know the feeling—those detailed borders, the cozy winter scenes, and the stories your kids beg to read “one more time.” Winter with Jan Brett takes that exact magic and turns it into a complete, hands-on homeschool unit for ages 4–7, built around four Jan Brett hardcover favorites. It’s winter learning that feels like a warm blanket: read together, make something, explore a skill, and watch your child light up—without you spending your evening planning or scrambling for supplies.
This is an open-and-go homeschool unit study, meaning you’re not piecing together a plan from a dozen tabs. The crate includes Jan Brett’s Winter Collection (four hardcover picture books: The Hat, The Snowy Nap, Cozy, and The Three Snow Bears) plus a clearly organized printed guide with step-by-step directions and extension ideas. The learning isn’t worksheet-driven. Instead, kids practice real skills through sequencing, storytelling, creating, experimenting, and playing—because at this age, that’s where the “sticky learning” happens.
What makes this theme special is how naturally it supports early literacy and comprehension without feeling like a lesson. Story sequencing and retelling are built in with hands-on tools like The Hat story sequencing (create-your-own retelling cards) and The Three Snow Bears sequencing cards. You’re not just reading the story—you’re helping your child understand beginning/middle/end, recall details, build vocabulary, and tell the story back in their own words. That’s a big deal for preschool and kindergarten learners, and it’s the kind of “quiet powerhouse” skill that supports reading later on.
The activities are also very intentionally “little-kid friendly”: lots of cutting, tearing, painting, gluing, and building—without requiring you to gather special materials. The crate includes winter-themed art like Polar Bear Art, a Torn Paper Igloo Collage, Mosaic Hat Art, Paper Hedgehog Art, Directed Drawing: Hedgehog, Icicle Art, a Snowman Snow Globe art activity, and Winter Process Art. There’s also a Cozy Winter I Spy mat for visual scanning and attention skills, plus a Cozy Kindness Chart that turns the book’s message into an easy, day-to-day character habit (simple, practical, and age-appropriate).
And because winter learning needs a little “wow,” this unit includes sensory and science elements that feel exciting but stay manageable. The crate features Steve Spangler Insta-Snow, a Snowstorm in a Cup science activity, a Roll & Poke Hedgehog science exploration, Hatchin’ Grow Arctic Friends, and a sensory playdough setup with accessories. These aren’t just “fun extras.” They support observation, cause-and-effect thinking, early science vocabulary, and fine-motor strength—while your child feels like they’re simply playing with snow and experimenting. (Which, honestly, is the dream.)
Early math is included in a way that matches this age range: hands-on, visual, and connected to the theme. The Snow Bear Math Mat supports early number sense and math readiness, and it pairs nicely with the storytelling and sequencing work, so your child is practicing multiple skills without bouncing between unrelated subjects. There’s also a Slip and Slide winter movement activity for gross-motor breaks—because little learners focus better when their bodies get a turn, too.
Now, about timing (because “How long will this take?” is always the real question). We create a free 4-week plan families can follow if you want a simple, week-by-week rhythm. But this unit is also designed to flex with real life: you can complete it faster if your child is on a roll, or stretch it longer if you want a gentler pace (or if winter is busy and you’re doing school in the margins). The activities don’t rely on a strict calendar—you can pick up where you left off without losing the thread of the theme, because the books and projects keep everything connected. The companion blog post is there for families who want to “see it before they do it”: it walks through how we used the pacing plan, shows several activities in action, and shares homeschool tips that work in a real-life setting (not a picture-perfect classroom where nobody spills the sensory snow).
Bottom line: Winter with Jan Brett gives you a complete preschool winter unit study and kindergarten winter unit study option in one cohesive, literature-based experience—books, hands-on projects, sensory play, early math, and simple science—without the prep work that usually comes with planning a seasonal unit. If you want a screen-free winter theme that feels cozy, practical, and genuinely educational, this unit makes winter learning feel doable again.
Additional Resource: Want to see this unit study in action? See Our Blog Post Here
Additional Information: Items may vary based on availability. This unit study crate contains products not manufactured by the seller. Some items may not be suitable for children under 3 years. Crate contents are not for consumption.
