Grades
1 - 6
Teach Money & Math Using This Winter-ful Snowman Activity
Your students will love this winter activity that combines math, writing, art — and snowmen!
During the winter season, engage your students in an activity that is both fun and challenging by combining reading, writing, and math with lots of holiday cheer. Elementary math teacher Meghan Everette adapted an activity originally published by The Mailbox and kicked it up a notch with extra crafty fun and a persuasive writing component.
Kick off the lesson with your favorite books about snowmen! Next, it’s time for your class to build their own.
The lesson starts with a seemingly simple task: your students must make a snowman that costs less than $25 and weighs less than 50 pounds in order to help the mayor of a snowless town this holiday season.
First, students must decide which materials they want to use to construct their snowman while still coming under their $25 budget. The materials list is leveled in three ways: for students who can only add with even amounts, for students who can do more complex addition problems, and for students who are learning to convert weights.
Students should sketch their snowmen ideas based on the supplies they intend to buy from the materials list. They should record their materials and weights (if applicable) and make sure everything they want to buy comes in under budget (and under the weight limit).
When the students have made their purchase decisions, you should review their calculations or assign students to check the tallies with calculators.
After your students have selected the materials that fit their budget, it’s time to get crafty! There are two ways your students can construct the snowmen out of their chosen supplies.
Option One: Print out several copies of these snowmen accessories and have students color and cut out the supplies they are “purchasing”. They should then assemble and glue their snowman on a larger piece of construction paper.
Option Two: If you are feeling crafty yourself, you can create a “shop” of snowmen supplies that students can “purchase” and assemble. Here are the suggested materials and prep work needed for each part of the snowman:
Lay out plates of each supply with a label and let students make their “purchases” by referencing their list of materials. Tell them they can only visit the “store” once so they should shop carefully and be sure to get everything they need!
Wrap up the activity by having students write sales pitches that explain why the mayor should invest in their snowman. Using descriptive writing and persuasive writing techniques, students should write at least three reasons why their snowman would make a great purchase for the snowless town this winter season. (At under $25, it’s quite a bargain!)
The weeks that lead up to winter break are hectic, and a lesson that brings together a variety of skills and can be adapted to various levels is essential for keeping students engaged. Alternatively, save this project for after the holidays as a fun way to get back on track in the New Year.
Shop books about snowmen and their friends below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
This picture book features simple rhymes about common winter activities enjoyed by a group of young friends.
Filled with charm and fun, this wordless picture book lets kids tell their own version of the story.
In a family of big people, little Nell thinks she's too small to do anything. But with the help of her friends Reindeer, Hare, and Bear Cub, she builds a great BIG snowman, the best snowman that ever was.
From celebrated cartoonist Chris Britt, The Most Perfect Snowman is a touching story about kindness, friendship, and the importance of giving.
The Mayor of Mouseville announces a contest, awarding a prize to whomever builds the biggest snowman. Clayton and Desmond race against the clock to compete for the prize, only to discover that by working together, they can build the biggest snowman ever!
From celebrated cartoonist Chris Britt, The Most Perfect Snowman is a touching story about kindness, friendship, and the importance of giving.
This bundled-up gal isn't playing in the snow; she's slurping it up as fast as she can. Raccoons, reindeer, and bears look on with stunned amazement as she gobbles up even stranger items like a pipe, a scarf, two lumps of coal, and even the branches of a tree. What could she possibly be up to? What do all of these items add up to?
A small boy's enchantment with a city's snowfall has him making snow angels and snowballs, sliding down snow mountains - and looking forward to going outside again.
Everyone loves snow! It's fun to play in and makes wonderful snowmen. But where does snow come from? The answer is at your fingertips. Just open this book and read about the wonders of snow....
When all of the big kids go outside to play in the snow, Max and Mo want to join in the fun. Since it's too cold out there for even the bravest hamsters, they decide to bring the fun inside and make their own version of a snowman.
Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it?
What does a snowman like to eat? Snowball soup, of course! Join Little Critter®, Little Sister, and Dog as they make their new friend a tasty treat.
Wearing festive hats and scarves, snowmen are coming together—one, two, and more at a time! They're getting up to all sorts of wintertime activities. As the rhyming text introduces the activities of each new group, an equation shows just how many snowmen there are on the page.
On a bright, snowy day George builds a snowman that magically comes to life to share a snack and have a snowball fight with George. In this original tale, Tegen captures the magic of the snowman, while Dorman's beautiful illustrations truly bring him to life.
It's summertime in Stermont! And it's...SNOWING?! With the snow comes the snombies! Snombies are snow monsters that can build armies of themselves! Will the S.S.M.P. be able to stop their coolest monster yet?
