Over And Under The Snow activity kit

A cross-country skier swooshes through birch and conifer trees in the winter, noticing all the changes that are occurring agains the white landscape.

But what happens underneath the skis, underneath the snow?

We've put together an inspiring activity kit that will captivate kids from 3+ as they explore activities to answer this pivotal question of the story and develop new skills along the way.

The best part is we've done all the heavy thinking on this, and provided you with over 10 open-ended activities and all of the supplies you need (except scissors because this varies depending on skill and age and risk management).

This kit makes for a great holiday or birthday gift for the snow-lover, adventure-lover, or nature-curious child on your list.

So what's included? Inside your box if you select the FULL KIT (options are available for sibling add-ons or kits without the book) you will receive:

• A hardcover copy of Over And Under The Snow by renowned author Kate Messinger
• A set of 6 hardwood track stamps (The animals match the ones seen in the snow in the book)
• A maple rolling pin
• A maple two-part tray
• A plain oak peg doll (to paint and explore options for skin colour)
• Two long flat "skis" to attach to the peg doll
• A thin strip of real wool to use as a scarf for the peg doll
• A bag of loose parts including: real dried moss, real wool, real feathers, a wooden acorn
• A set of real wool felt leaves
• A canvas to paint
• A package of dyed salt (taste safe!)
• A sheet of real wool (black) for the constellations
• A set of glitter gems in two sizes
• A tube of glitter glue
• Additional sticks for the beaver lodge, yarn and real wood slice
• 1 threading needle
• A container of natural handmade play dough
• 1 "s" vocabulary card
• 1 falling leaves Trace and Cut page
• 1 recipe for making gluten-free, processed sugar-free, chemical-free marshmallows at home
• 1 mini wooden paint mixing tray
• 1 bamboo paint brush
• Paint (non-toxic acrylic)
• Organic cotton bags for supply storage
• A large sheet of kraft paper for working on
• Directions for 10+ suggested activities, including extension activities with supplies from your home

*Please note that the Sibling option does not include another book, NOR does it include another set of track stamps. (So NO stamp set for the Sibling option!) The Supplies Only option does NOT include the book but does include a set of track stamps.

Please note that scissors are shown in the photos but are not included in this kit. They are in the photos to illustrate the activities.

All the materials can be used in many open-ended ways, and have been supplied to provide you with the beginning of a wood and felt heritage collection that you return to year after year.

You can mix and match your creating and playing by using the stamps on their own or matching them to the animals of the book. You can use the loose parts in the small world play also or practice patterns, addition, or subtraction, and the sticks can be used for tally marks or as bundles in the small world play. The gems can be used for math to show quantities, addition to 20, small or large sorting, shapes (triangles, squares, rectangles) or creating your own design. And of course play dough has endless options, from forming shapes to letters to small counting balls.

Of course, buried within each activity is a connection to the book and a developmental skill to (secretly) practice, enhancing reading, writing, and math skills through a multi-sensory approach. Whether it's counting, making patterns or shapes, threading, cutting, squishing, pinching, rolling, tracing, or painting, your child will never realize they are learning because all of this is done through the magic of play as the book comes to life in their own homes.

But the most important benefit of all?

Slowing down. Being mindful. Creating with intention. Spending time with you. (Ok, that's more than one.)

Oh, and reading. Did you know that 6 additional minutes of reading per day can significantly improve kids' reading performance? And that children who read at least 20 minutes a day are exposed to almost 2 million words per year?

True story. (Story - get it? Ha.)

About Ignited Play

Ignited Play is what happens when creative worlds unite. It's the combination of two wildly imaginative teaching moms who joined forces from their own hand crafted businesses (Northwest Felts and Modern Imagination) to ignite play in a whole new way by connecting books and natural materials with the power of mindful creativity. Each activity kit will feature a curated new (or classic gem) book that will springboard a series of nature-inspired activities, with natural wool felt and FSC-certified maple wood being the centrepoint for the supplies. Eco-minded, sustainably sourced, and made with minimal plastic, the materials can be used in many ways to explore universal themes and raise literacy success.

Ages 3+ (some materials are choking hazards)