Winter is here, and it’s the perfect time to bring a little seasonal magic into your classroom — without adding extra prep for yourself. Whether you’re teaching in French, English, or both, these hands-on math ideas are simple, fun, and keep students engaged while they build important number skills.
1. Hidden Numbers Winter Math Centre (French & English)
This one is always a favourite! Students hunt for hidden numbers in a winter-themed picture, then match or trace the numerals they find. It’s a sneaky way to practice number recognition, fine motor skills, and visual scanning — all while keeping little learners excited and moving.
And the best part? It’s ready in both French and English, so you can use the same centre across both language groups without extra prep.
👉 Check it out here.
2. Snowball Number Toss
Crumple up some white paper into “snowballs,” and write numbers or ten frames on them. Students toss the snowballs into bins or baskets with matching numbers — it’s a perfect way to practice number sense while also getting in a little gross motor movement.
Pro tip: Use different colours for odd and even numbers to add a fun sorting twist!
3. Mitten Match-Up
Cut out pairs of paper mittens and write numbers, dot patterns, or simple math facts on each side. Students have to find the matching pairs — easy to set up, and always a hit.
You can make it simple or challenge students a bit: numeral-to-quantity matches, addition facts, or even skip counting patterns all work beautifully.
Wrapping It Up
Winter doesn’t have to be all worksheets and routines. With a few simple materials and one ready-to-go centre, you can keep your students building number skills, having fun, and feeling excited about math all season long.
💛 If you love low-prep, hands-on math ideas like these, check out my TpT store — I’ve got tons of centres and activities designed to work for both French and English classrooms!