January Kindergarten Resources: Free and Fun Activities for Hands-On Learning

As January unfolds, kindergarten teachers are on the lookout for exciting and effective winter resources to keep their little learners actively engaged in the classroom. To make your planning easier, I’ve gathered a treasure trove of hands-on and FREE winter resources, perfect for whole-group instruction, small-group activities, and independent learning centers. From decodable books to interactive centers, crafts, and printables, these resources promise to bring a burst of enthusiasm to your January lesson plans.

Decodable January Books for Early Readers

Start the year off on a literary note with our selection of free and engaging decodable books. Designed to support early readers, these books are filled with phonetically controlled words to boost reading confidence. Whether you’re reinforcing letter-sound associations or building fluency, these decodable books are perfect for small-group reading sessions. The captivating stories are not only educational but also provide a foundation for independent reading success as the year progresses.

Access free January themed decodable books. This free download provides you with (3) January-base decodable books. You will have fiction and nonfiction decodable books and a bonus ABCs decodable books. Students will be able to read from the standard fold and flip decodable books, MINI decodables, and all-in-one passages. Access this free download HERE.

Interactive and Engaging January Centers

Learning should be hands-on, and our January-themed interactive centers are designed with that principle in mind. These free resources cover a range of skills, from math and literacy to fine motor development. Set up a winter-themed counting center for whole-group exploration, create letter matching games for small-group activities, or establish creative art stations for independent learning. These interactive centers are versatile, adaptable, and sure to capture the attention of every young learner in your classroom.

Access multiple math and phonics centers that are all winter themed and hands-on. These centers can last for the entire month of January providing you with engaging learning for weeks.

We will start with a collection of math centers. These centers will build number sense with numbers through 20. Students can clip, build, match, and roll to color. Click on the images to download.

Up next, winter free downloads that are engaging and skill-specific. Up first is an engaging and interactive approach to working on positional words. Get an instant sensory bin for January with this math-themed snow globe math center. Students love puzzles and you will have a math option with these self-checking puzzlers.

chip and swipe snowman PHONICS center

Students will enjoy this critical thinking winter Chip It! Swipe It! center. Students will focus on the beginning, middle, and ending sounds utilizing the color code.

• beginning sound – GREEN
• medial sound – YELLOW
• final sound – RED

Look at the first image. Students see the red button which lets them know that they’ll listen for the final sound in fun. What picture matches the same final sound, pet or can? Students cover the image of the can. In this center, you’ll also access a response sheet option and “I can” card. Access the free download HERE.

Science of Reading Aligned January Phonics Centers

Do you utilize the Science of Reading in your classroom? These free winter-themed phonics mats will encourage your students to say, tap, map, and write the phonics skill words.

Students will love these engaging December-themed magnetic letter mats. Students can build words, map words, or simply work on letter recognition. The freebie includes color and black and white versions to choose from.

Students will enjoy these engaging snowman match-ups. You have the option to work on beginning sounds and/or cvc words. Do you utilize reader’s theaters as a center option or classroom engagement activity? If not, here’s your chance to start with this free play!

Access this set of January-themed mapping mats. These are a perfect addition to your small-group table. These mats are sure to keep students engaging as they work on phoneme to grapheme mapping.

January Crafts to Inspire Creativity

Fuel your students’ imaginations with the selection of winter crafts that seamlessly blend fun and learning. From snowman directed drawing activities to build-a-snow pup art projects, these crafts provide an opportunity for creative expression while reinforcing important concepts. Use them for whole-group crafting sessions or set up a craft station for small groups to enjoy during independent learning time. The tactile nature of these crafts makes them a fantastic addition to your January curriculum.

Are your students fans of Pip the Pup? If so, the following crafts will be quick favorites. Access a free and engaging build-a-snow Pip and Pip the Pup winter coloring pages.

January Printables for Skill Reinforcement

Balancing the demands of a busy classroom can be challenging, which is why the following collection of printables is here to make your life easier. These worksheets cover a variety of topics, from math to language arts, providing a convenient way to reinforce key skills. Use them for whole-group instruction, distribute them during small-group time, or set them up as independent learning centers. Versatile and engaging, these printables are a valuable addition to your January resource toolkit.

Grab an additional set of 35 January-themed printables. This set of printables includes engaging cut & paste phonics/letter sorting activities.

Access INSTANT printable practice for high frequency words and handwriting practice for both letters and numbers below.

Ringing in the New Year Resources

As you usher in the new year with your kindergarten class, make learning a January jamboree with these free and engaging resources. Whether you’re looking to captivate the whole group, facilitate small-group activities, or foster independent learning, our selection of decodable books, interactive centers, crafts, and printables has you covered. Download, print, and watch as your classroom comes alive with the joy of discovery and the excitement of hands-on learning throughout the month of January. Here’s to a month filled with education, enthusiasm, and endless possibilities!

A One-Stop Shop for Manipulatives

I’ve gathered all of the fun and interactive January-themed manipulatives into one convenient spot for you! Whether you’re looking for engaging activities to bring some winter cheer into your classroom or tools to keep your students motivated, you’ll find everything you need right here. Click the link below to browse and explore these resources!

👉 Shop Thematic Manipulatives on Amazon

Adding fun and engaging manipulatives to learning helps students build hands-on connections to new concepts and keeps them actively involved in the learning process. These tools are a great way to spark curiosity, boost understanding, and make lessons memorable.

Thanks so much for downloading the January themed free resources. Reach out with any questions.

Tara West – Little Minds at Work
littlemindsatworkLLC(at)gmail.com