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.

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.

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!