Start a new Holiday Fun tradition with this DIY gigantic snowman. It will be a big hit, guaranteed!

How do I know?

Because over the years I have built him several times in my classroom and home! Follow-up this collaborative project with songs and a snowman book, or use him as a backdrop for a "Photo Op" at your Holiday Party!

Take a close look at the image above. Do you see the embedded Christmas trees, jingle bells, snowmen and candy-canes? 

See here for a pre-made gigantic snowman kit.

Snowman Do it Yourself ...

***Please note that this collaborative snowman can be built by children of all ages. However, the younger the child, the simpler the snowflakes should be to make. For instance:

• KINDERGARTEN | BASIC SCISSOR SKILLS- Fold the paper twice (fold in half, and then in half again) before cutting out wedges on the folds, when creating the snowflakes. You may want to round off the edges to make a more circular snowflake.
• 2nd GRADERS AND UP | GOOD SCISSOR SKILLS- Fold the paper 3 times before cutting out designs. Watch this 2-minute VIDEO to see how to fold the paper before cutting out your snowflake design. (you can create your own design or let the kids make their own) If you pay close attention, you will also notice how I embedded a Christmas tree design right into the snowflake!

STEP 1 Classroom Snowman - Creative some paper snowflakes as in "LOTS" of them!

Watch video. (link in previous paragraph)

A tip for success is to remind your students not to completely cut out a fold line or else when they unfold the snowflake, they will end up with snippets of paper instead of a beautiful snowflake. (which has happened to me more than once:)

STEP 2 Classroom Snowman - Cover your wall space with dark paper

Why dark paper? Because... It will make your paper snowflakes POP!

First, think about how large you want to build your classroom snowman. Perhaps you want to make more than one? Cover your wall with some dark butcher paper or something similar.

OR, If you are doing this at home, an alternative is to build your snowman against the backdrop of a large glass window or door. At night, this will also produce the dramatic effect of making your snowflakes really stand out against the dark sky.

STEP 3 - Turn on some Holiday Music and arrange the Snowflakes

Take a look at the picture below for an idea of how to arrange the paper snowflakes. Of course, you can make him much taller. (The accessory cut-out ideas are in the next step.)

Do you have any leftover snowflakes? Hang them around your gigantic snowman, put them in your windows, or hang them from your ceiling!

STEP 4 - Cut out Accessories such as Eyes, Nose and Mouth, then affix to your snowman

You don't need to make it fancy, or you can if you want:) Here are a few examples. Your learners could even do these!

Don't forget to take pictures with your giant snowman!

Follow Up Fun...

How about having your students give the snowman a name, singing carols around your new snowman and/or reading a snowman book together?

Here are a few recommended books about a snowman.

• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (It is wordless, but has great illustrations and is great to get children discussing what they understand from the pictures.)
• How to Catch a Snowman by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton (This one is sure to cause a few giggles!)
• The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll and Jeni Bassett (Kind of goes with the gigantic snowman theme we have here!) It is a very simple but sweet story of two little mice that are in a snowman-building competition.

Also, make sure to invite the classroom next door, your neighbor, and friends to see your "biggest snowman ever"!

***As mentioned earlier, I have put together a printable PRE-MADE KIT that can save you time and includes really special snowflake templates with embedded designs in them. Scroll up to the image at the beginning of this post. See if you can find the hidden Christmas trees, candy-canes, jingle bells and snowmen. The kit is intended for grades 2 or 3 and up (depending on scissor skills).

Blessings, Annette