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Name of Activity:

Cooperative Snowman Building

Purpose of Activity:

To improve teamwork and cooperation.

Suggested Grade Level:

K-2

Materials Needed:

Hula hoops, hockey sticks, bean bags, jump ropes, hats, gloves, scarves, balls of many sizes, rubber rings, frisbees, poly-spots, rackets, and anything else you might have in your supplies that would work to help build a snowman.

Description of Idea

This is a fun holiday idea to have students do the day before a holiday. In this case we did this in the winter around Christmas time.

Get students into groups of 3 or 4, spread out around the perimeter of the gym. Explain to the students how they are going to create a Snowman with their team, selecting items from the big pile in the center of the gym. The first person will get one item, then the next person will go, and so on. They want to get as many pieces as they can, but can only pick up one item at a time, to return it to their team. I find it best for each child to go get items 3-4 times, then, as a group they make their snowman/winter scene. After a set amount of time, the teacher signals to stop picking up items and start creating the snowmen.

Leave enough time for the students to walk around and look at all the different snow scenes and creations that were created. Students return all items to center court when finished.

Variations:

This idea can be used before spring break and build Easter bunnies or before Thanksgiving and build turkeys.

For older children, after they build their snowman have them make up a game of their own using all of the materials/equipment that they chose.

Assessment Ideas:

The teacher can walk around and take notes on how the groups are working together. As a closure to this activity, describe some of the good things that you noticed, and stress how working together and cooperating, helps get the job done!

Adaptations for Students with Disabilities

Have students paired up with an able-bodied peer. If the student with disabilities is unable to pick up a piece of equipment, he/she can tell the other student what item to get.

Images:
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Submitted by Nicki Case who teaches at Marion Elementary School in Marion, KS. Thanks for contributing to PE Central! Posted on PEC: 6/15/2015.
Viewed 68394 times since 4/6/2015.

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Cooperative Snowman Building

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Let others know how this idea went when you implemented/tried it with your kids. Include any variations, suggested teaching tips, positive comments, etc. so others can benefit from your tips. Please be helpful and positive with all comments. Look below to see all posted comments.

 

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Previous Comments:

Justin Woodruff

Change the name to "Do you wanna build a snowman?" and the kids will be excited from the jump.

Mike Lamb, Greenland Elementary, Greenland, AR

Hi Nicki,

Yesterday was my first time to use your activity and the kids and I loved it! I have not previously given them many opportunities to use their creative and cooperative skills together. There were amazing creations and I took pictures with them of all of them. I will print them and give them to their teachers for sharing and discussion. Thanks for the chillin'idea!

m.w.

My students loved this activity! A great activity to help students work on cooperation and teamwork. I had my students do different motor skills as the went to the center to retrieve a piece of equipment in the middle of the gym. This was a lot of fun to do with my students thanks for sharing.

Amy Johnson

This is great! Thanks for sharing, it was literally exactly what I was looking for...a snowman building activity. Did it right away today and the kids had a blast.



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