When the weather gets cold in New York, people spend more time indoors. They cook yummy winter foods, decorate their homes, and spend time with family and friends. What are your favorite things to do when it’s chilly outside?
People live in different kinds of homes and get ready for winter in their own ways. On the 3rd floor of The Rockwell Museum, there’s a painting called The Tanner. Take a look—what kind of home does the person in the painting live in? What do you think she’s doing to prepare for the colder weather?
Have you ever noticed that an envelope looks like a house when you open the flap? Let’s turn envelopes into cozy winter houses! We can fill them with people and animals to tell stories about what we do in the wintertime.
Materials:
- a card envelope with a pointy flap
- construction paper
- scissors
- glue or a glue stick
- markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Step 1: Make Your House
Open the flap of your envelope so it points up—that’s your house’s roof!
Step 2: Decorate Your House
Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to decorate the front of the envelope. Add windows, a door, and maybe some snow. Want to get fancy? You can glue on pieces of paper to make a brick wall, wooden siding, or even a gingerbread house!
Add fun details like plants, animals, or holiday decorations. What makes your house feel warm and cozy?
Step 3: Fill Your House
Cut out people and animal shapes for your house. You can draw your own or print and cut out the templates we have provided. Will your house have family, friends, or maybe some pretend characters?
- What kind of hair and eyes will they have?
- What clothes will they wear?
- Will they smile or look serious?
Now you have a cozy winter house! You can use it to tell stories about what you and your favorite people do when the weather gets cold.
What winter story will you tell?