Winter Animals: A Cozy January Nonfiction Focus for K–2

After the excitement of the holidays, January feels like a natural time to slow down, observe, and learn together. One topic that never fails to capture children’s curiosity is winter animals. Young learners are fascinated by how animals survive cold temperatures, snow, and shorter days  and these questions open the door to rich nonfiction learning.

For Kindergarten through 2nd grade (especially K–1), winter animals provide meaningful opportunities to explore science, reading, and inquiry in a calm, engaging way.

Over the years, I’ve created a collection of winter animal resources designed to be simple, student-friendly, and easy to use during reading groups or independent work.

These include individual animal fact booklets such as penguins, bears, polar bears, arctic foxes, reindeer, moose, and pandas, along with broader resources like an Animals in Winter fact booklet, a Winter Animals PBL, and a How to Draw Winter Animals activity. Together, they allow teachers to introduce winter survival concepts while building nonfiction reading skills, observation, and curiosity.

Rather than overwhelming students with too much at once, these resources work well when introduced slowly,  one animal, one question, one discovery at a time.

Favorite Winter Animal Read-Alouds (Teacher Favorites)

Pairing nonfiction learning with a good read-aloud makes winter animals come alive. Here are a few well-loved classroom favorites that work beautifully with K–2 learners:

The Emperor’s Egg by Martin Jenkins – A wonderful penguin story that introduces animal care and survival in cold climates.

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson – A cozy favorite that gently introduces hibernation.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner – A beautiful look at animals active beneath the snow.

National Geographic Readers: Polar Bears – Simple nonfiction text with real photographs.

Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft – A clear, kid-friendly introduction to how animals adapt during winter.

These books spark natural questions and make a perfect starting point for discussion.

5 Simple Winter Animal Activities for K–2

Winter animals don’t require elaborate projects. Often, the most meaningful learning comes from simple, thoughtful activities:

Compare & Observe: Compare two winter animals — fur, habitat, food, or movement.

How Do Animals Survive?: Sort animals by hibernation, migration, or adaptation.

Directed Drawing + Writing: Draw a winter animal and write one or two facts.

Build a Habitat: Use paper, blocks, or recyclables to design a winter home.

Winter Animal Research Page: Let students choose one animal to explore using pictures, labels, and simple facts.

These activities work beautifully during January when students benefit from predictable routines and gentle engagement.

Winter animals offer a peaceful yet powerful way to begin the new year. They encourage observation, empathy, and curiosity, all while strengthening nonfiction skills in a developmentally appropriate way for K–2 learners.

If you’re looking for winter animal resources to support your January lessons, you can find all of my Winter Animal fact booklets and activities together in my Teachers Pay Teachers store here:

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/thebeezyteacher

Here’s to a cozy, curious start to the year!