This is something I posted last winter, but I think it has a lot of good ideas, so I bring it to your attention again.

Since the local lagoon is frozen and icicles are hanging from my roof, I thought I'd suggest some games that involve ice.

Follow up:

1. Hockey
You don't need an actual hockey stick and puck for a pick-up game of Canada's favorite sport. Find some sticks and a small rock and you are ready to go. A couple larger rocks can frame each goal. Read this for some basic hockey rules, or make up your own.

2. Curling
It's the Olympic sport that most of us just don't "get", but it can be a lot of fun to play. Find a flat rock for each player. Mark a couple lines with a spray bottle of water and food coloring (an official curling field is 150 feet, but choose a distance works for you). Or lay something down (a sweatshirt, rock, leaves etc.) to indicate where the lines are.

Stand on one line and see how close you can get your rock to the other line by sliding the rock on the ice--sort of like bowling, but with less spin. Each player takes a turn. If your rock did not cross the line, take a second turn after everyone else has played. Players may knock each others' rocks off the field. Find out more than you ever wanted to know about curling here.

Photo by trondjs from Flickr

3. Icicle Stirrers
My husband like to tell the story of his parents breaking off icicles for his sister and him to stir their hot cocoa. That easy little trick made a lifelong impression on him. Just be sure it's clean ice if you want to replicate this heart warming moment.

4. Icicle Chimes
Find a piece of wood or a fallen branch that is about 2 feet long. Collect icicles and tie yarn or string around the top (the fat end). If the string slips off, melt the ice a bit and quickly tie the string. As the ice re-freezes it will hold the string in place.

After preparing 3-5 icicles, tie the other end of the strings to the branch. Find the balance point and tie another string there. Hang your "icicle chime" and enjoy the sounds of clinking ice.

5. Ice Creatures
Break ice from a frozen puddle or the edge of a pond. Arrange the ice pieces on the ground to create animals, monsters or whatever creature springs to mind.

Here are a couple books I love for winter play.

The first is for kids ages 9-12, but many of the activities can be adapted for older kids. I've done some of them with my almost-3-year-old. You just have to be a bit more hands-on with the little ones.

Kids Winter Handbook, The (Family Fun) by Jane Drake, Ann Love

I love nature journals. The combination of science, nature and writing makes me giddy. That's just me. But, I'll bet there are kids out there who know what I am talking about. Nature journals are great for homeschoolers, budding naturalists and just about anyone who wants to think about and remember what they are experiencing when they are outside.

This journal is illustrated and has entries from the author's own journal to serve as examples or inspiration for kids. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to write and use a journal.

A Kid's Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities for Exploring the Season by Toni Albert, Margaret Brandt

You might also like:
5 more ways to have fun with ice
Using nature jounrals
Ice ornaments
Ice or snow + food coloring = beauty