How to Use a Simple Yeti Craft and Read Aloud with Students this Winter

Engaging in crafts is a fantastic way to inspire creativity and learning in young children. This Yeti craft is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary classrooms. It is designed to complement the book The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel. Learn how to read the story and create this Yeti craft with your students below.

Why Use This Yeti Craft?

This Yeti craft offers numerous benefits for young learners, making it an excellent choice for any classroom. Here’s why it stands out:

• Develop Fine Motor Skills: Cutting and pasting the Yeti templates provides valuable practice for small hand muscles, which are essential for writing and other tasks. Use the craft in fine motor centers during the winter.
• Encourage Creativity: Students can personalize their Yetis with colors and accessories, sparking their imaginations. If you have the time, adding their unique touches will make them smile.
• Reinforce Thematic Learning: It ties beautifully into winter or snow-themed units, enhancing students’ understanding of seasonal topics. You can also use it in summer since the yeti in the story misses summertime.
• Support Literacy Connections: Pairing this craft with books like The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel fosters a love for reading and deepens comprehension. Stop every so often to ask questions and spark conversations.
• Facilitate Collaboration: When used as a group project, it promotes teamwork and cooperative learning. Put students into pairs or groups to reread the story before they complete the craft.
• Provide a Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a hands-on craft gives students a tangible product they can be proud of, boosting their confidence. They will love seeing the yeti craft on the walls once complete.
• Engage Multiple Learning Styles: The activity appeals to visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learners, making it versatile and inclusive. Students of all ages and learning styles will appreciate this craft.

Materials Needed

Creating this craft is very simple. You only need a few materials outside what is provided by the download. To make this Yeti craft, gather the following materials:

• Colored cardstock or construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue sticks
• Markers or crayons (if students are coloring their craft)
• The included craft templates (provided in the PDF)

Optional: A laminator if you want to make the templates reusable or laminate their creations afterward.

How to Make the Craft

Follow these simple steps to create adorable Yetis:

1. Prepare the Templates: Print the templates directly onto cardstock or construction paper.
2. Cut the Pieces: Have students cut out the templates to practice fine motor skills or pre-cut the pieces for younger children.
3. Assemble the Yeti: Use the step-by-step instructions and photo guide to glue the pieces together, creating an adorable Yeti. (The video below is also very helpful).
4. Personalize It: Encourage students to add their flair with markers or crayons. They can give their Yeti fun accessories like scarves, shoes, or glasses!
5. Display: Hang the finished crafts on a bulletin board or hallway wall for a stunning winter display.

See the Yeti craft in action in the video below!

Books and Activities to Pair with the Craft

If you love extending an activity as much as the next teachers, here are some ideas. Pair the activity with a great book or worksheet to make it more meaningful.

• Read Aloud: The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel. This delightful book captures the charm of these mythical creatures and ties perfectly into the craft. Even yetis miss the summer. Read the story and discuss your favorite months.
• Letter Study: Use the Yeti craft as part of a lesson on the letter “Y.” After talking about the letter sound and other words that start with “Y,” create the craft to illustrate what was learned.
• Winter Unit: Incorporate the craft into a broader study of winter themes, including snow and mythical creatures. The bulletin board can feature the yeti creations and words that say, “Cutest Yetis Around” or “We are YETI for the new year.”
• Small Group Stations: Use the Yeti craft in small group rotations or literacy centers as a creative break. Read the book by Vin Vogel and talk about the words read, themes introduced, and innovative ideas!

When to Use the Craft

If you struggle to fill in the gaps during lessons and need activities to keep kids engaged and learning (or working on fine motor skills), this craft can help. Here are some ways to use it effectively:

• It is a fun classroom activity during the winter months to complement your seasonal lessons.
• Use it to fill in time between lessons while keeping students actively engaged.
• Add the craft to bulletin boards and hallway decorations, showcasing student creativity.
• Kids love crafts as part of a reward system or during a class party; the event is enjoyable and productive.
• The craft complements storytime sessions or themed lessons, adding an interactive element to your teaching.

Imagine it’s a chilly January day, and the students feel restless after indoor recess. This Yeti craft can provide a calming, hands-on activity that re-focuses their attention and seamlessly ties into your winter curriculum.

Make Winter Extra Special

This Yeti craft is an easy and effective way to bring winter magic into the classroom. Not only will students enjoy creating their adorable creatures, but this activity also provides countless learning opportunities and memorable moments.

For more winter fun, explore the January Book Crafts Bundle, which includes engaging activities for:

• The Thing About Yetis by Vin Vogel
• Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
• Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr.

Bring joy and creativity to your January lessons with these delightful crafts. For more winter crafts, check out these posts:

Polar Bear Craft: A Hands-On Way to Practice Sequencing

Personalized and Colorful Winter Name Hat Craft for Little Ones

A Simple Snowflake Craft to Bring Winter Fun