Materials
1/2 gallon (2 L) plastic bottles with caps, one per child
Poster board
Scissors
Permanent markers
1" (3 cm) wide strips of fabric in 18" (45 cm) lengths
Fabric circles, 7" (18 cm) in diameter
Yarn or ribbon cut in 12" (30 cm) lengths
Instructions
What to do
1. Ahead of time, cut 1" (3 cm) off the bottom of each bottle and remove the cap. On poster board,
design a template of a ruler that will fit inside the bottles: draw a straight line, mark off 1" (3 cm)
intervals, and number them one to six.
2. When the forecast calls for snow, help the children insert the template in their bottle. Show
them how to trace the ruler onto the side of the bottle with a marker.
3. Have the children tie a fabric strip, or the snowman's scarf, around the bottle at the 6" (15 cm)
mark.
4. Above the scarf, ask the children to draw eyes
and other features.
5. Have the children screw the cap onto the
bottle and center the fabric circle, the snowman's
hat, over the cap. Secure the fabric with
a rubber band and tie a length of yarn over
the rubber band.
6. After a snowfall, stand the snowmen in the
snow and measure the accumulation.
More to do
Math: Graph snowfall on a picture graph using
paper snowflakes. Hang adding machine tape
in the classroom and measure the children and
objects around the room.
Music: Play soft music and tap a drum, play a
triangle, or ring a bell and dance, pretending
you are a snowflake.
Science: Bring some snow inside and measure
one cupful (250 mL), then let it melt and measure
it in its liquid form.
Snack: Mix shaved ice and fruit juice.
