Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

by Elizabeth (Cabral) O’hara Print This Article

Snowman with a red scarf, black hat, and stick arms against a dark background.

Learning math may be quite boring, but add a snowman (to the equation…haha) and the joy of learning comes to life. Building a snowman is always a generational favorite. So, why not build a snowman indoors while learning basic math skills. Add some music and the fun will never end.

Play

Goals

Eye-hand coordination Target throwing

Counting Learning Arithmetic

Developing fine motor coordination

Supplies

Snowman

3 small white laundry baskets (Dollar Store)
1 roll of black crepe streamer (eyes and buttons)
Orange cone shaped marker or a long carrot taped to the bottom of one of the baskets (nose)
2 fallen tree branches (arms)
Scarf
Winter hat or a cut out top hat
3 separate cards numbered 1, 2, 3

Snowball

White yarn (snow balls) or you may want to buy a bucket of “Snowtime Anytime” (picture) http://www.snowtimeanytime.com
Scissors

Math Supplies

Equation chart example: (__ + __ = __) Template included

Play

Snowman Set-Up

Place the three white baskets next to each other in a straight line.
Tape the number 3 alongside the snowman’s head, the number 2 alongside the body and the number 1 alongside the base.
Tape a cut-out top hat or winter hat to the end of the basket representing the snowman’s head.
Place the orange cone or tape the carrot inside the basket representing the nose of the snowman.
Wrap the black crepe streamer around the strips of the basket to make its eyes and the buttons.
Place the scarf around the snowman’s neck (between the head and body)
Place the branches (arms) between the strips of the body of the snowman so that it stays in place.
Refer to picture for the finished product.

How To Make the Snowballs

Begin by wrapping the white yarn around the non-dominant hand/fingers (not including the thumb) approximately 100 times.
Remove the yarn carefully so it doesn’t come apart.
Cut a 1 foot long piece of yarn and wrap it around the middle of
the gathered yarn. It will look like the number 8.
Tie the piece of yarn tightly to keep the gathered yarn from coming apart
Take your scissors and cut through all the loops as evenly as possible.
Trim around it and fluff it up. Enjoy tossing them.
Refer to video

Directions:

1 on.

What is Being Learned

· Basic math and writing skills

· Eye-hand coordination skills are developed

· Developing their fine motor coordination when making the snowballs.

· Instilling their creativity as they create their own snowman.

Variations
· Change the math function from addition to subtraction, multiplication, or division
· Play with others and add up the score to see who reaches 100 points first.

Modifications

If a child is not able to write, use cut out numbers to place on the lines of the equation.
If a child doesn’t recognize numbers, ask the child to count popsicle sticks and place them on each line of the equation. Add the sticks after tossing both snowballs into the baskets.
If the child can’t stand for a long period of time, they may want to sit in a chair while they are tossing the snowballs.
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Elizabeth O’Hara Bio
Owner of Gymsters, a physical education program for all children with a concentration on early childhood and the special needs population.
Executive Board Member to plan the construction of our local all-inclusive playground, Adapted Physical Education Teacher, tutor and volleyball coach.
·Mother of 3 beautiful children, a grandmother of 3 precious toddlers and married to a loving husband, Dave. Available for consultation. Email: [email protected]

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/let-it-snow-4-indoor-activities-with-homemade-snow/

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/the-polar-express/

More Fun Activities

This post originally appeared on our January/February 2021 Magazine

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

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