5 January Activity Ideas in Special Education

January is always exciting! It’s the first month of the year and we just got back from winter break. Some of us still have plans to travel to see snow before the winter ends. In January, there are several popular January activity ideas and themes related to its weather and holidays. As a special education teacher, it’s important to create engaging and inclusive activities for the students. Here are five January activity ideas that can promote learning and fun in your classroom:

January Activity Ideas Special Education

1. What are your Hopes and Dreams this year?
Guide your students in creating their Hopes and Dreams that reflect their personal goals for the new year. Help students cut out images or words that represent their resolutions, and assist them in arranging and gluing the pieces onto their books. With the help of visuals, I always like to talk about what is one or two things you would like to do more this year. Anything you would like to improve on- Incorporate the book “Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution” and do a sequencing activity.

Free Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution Sequencing Activity

Free New Year’s Activity Idea Special Education Download

2. Winter-themed Art Projects
Engage your students in winter-themed January activity ideas and art activities. For example, they can create snowflake paintings using watercolors, make penguin or snowman puppets using paper bags, or decorate winter-themed masks. These activities can enhance creativity, fine motor skills, and social interaction. 2022 was the year of the Tiger. 2023 is all about the Rabbit. It’s my favorite animal. It’s always fun to bring that animal to the theme for arts and crafts. You can learn about that animal as well.

Chinese Lunar New Year 2023 Year of the Rabbit coloring posters FREE DOWNLOAD

3. Winter-themed Sensory Exploration
Set up different sensory stations related to winter. For example, you can create a snowflake sensory bin with cotton balls, provide textured materials like fake fur or soft blankets for tactile exploration, or play calming winter-themed music. This activity can help students develop sensory skills and encourage relaxation.

It’s still pretty cold for most parts of the country. The Snowy Day activity will bring joy to the classroom. It is one of the best January activity ideas in my class. Feel free to check out my old post and download free activity worksheets.

Don’t forget to make your own snowflake. Fold a piece of paper, and cut pieces to make your own snowflakes- It’s always fun to make a snow experiment.

January activity ideas in Special Education

4. Winter-themed Science Experiments
Plan hands-on science experiments related to winter. For instance, you can demonstrate the concept of freezing by setting up an ice exploration station where students can observe and experiment with ice cubes and salt. Another idea is to create “blubber gloves” using plastic bags and shortening to explore insulation properties and how animals stay warm in cold temperatures. These experiments promote critical thinking and scientific inquiry. Animals in Winter can be a great unit as well. In a long winter time, some animals go into a deep sleep and hibernate. What are those animals? What are some animals who live particularly in cold weather and region? These are all great topics to learn, read and do crafts around.

5. Winter Sports Adaptations
Introduce your students to different winter sports and adapt them to fit their abilities. For example, you can set up a curling game using bean bags and a target, create a modified indoor ice hockey game using foam balls and brooms, or organize a winter-themed obstacle course. Adaptations will allow all students to participate and enjoy physical activities.

Martin Luther King Jr.
For upper grades students, it’s the name they need to hear and learn about. Make a mini book to read and learn about Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and the great work he did for peace, equity, and justice.