Snowman in a Snowstorm- An Easy Winter Craft for Speech Therapy

Try this frosty snowman craft this January 

There are so many vocabulary and language opportunities during art activities... and I am wishing for a little snow this winter!

Recycle leftover lamination to create these cute snowmen!

I know many of my friends have been digging out after snowstorms dropped plenty of the white stuff...up to four foot drifts in some places.  But here in North Texas it's been a very warm December. We had a balmy Christmas and even a couple of 80 degree days. That's just wrong, even for Texas. I miss snow angels and catching snowflakes on my tongue. So we'll be making it snow in my therapy room the first week of January.

These cute snowmen will be the jumping off point for talking about the winter season.

You'll Target: Describing, seasonal vocabulary. How does it feel outside when it snows?  What are some of the things you can do in the snow? What do you wear when it's cold?

I have a question about that for you all. Growing up in the Catskill mountains in New York, we wore "ski hats" on our heads to stay warm. My Texas buddies call those "toboggans".  Our toboggan was a long curved sled that went flying down the hill (Fun childhood memories for me). So what do you call those knitted hats?

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Do you ever wonder how to use leftover lamination pieces?

I know when I laminate at school, there is always about a foot of unused lamination in the beginning of the run. I save those pieces for this project. It makes a great overlay to paint your snowflakes on. Layer it over a snowman or snow scene and it gives a nice dimensional effect. You can also put a one-foot square piece under each shoe and go "ice skating" on the carpet!

You'll Target: Categories, describing. Examine the laminate. Is it clear or solid? What else is clear? What is it made of? Name some other items made from plastic.

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Snowmen in a snowstorm paintings. Brrr...

You will need just a few easy-to-find supplies for this project. Gather blue, orange green and black construction paper, scissors, white tempera paint, q-tips, a paintbrush and lamination pieces.

Prep the construction paper parts: 

Use a hole punch to create pebbles for your snowman's mouth. Older children will love doing this task themselves. Cut out larger circles for your snowman's eyes.

For my preschoolers, I pre-cut the scarves from construction paper in several colors so they can choose. Older students can trace and cut out their own if you make a template. Cut out orange triangles for the carrot nose.

You'll Target: Requesting and using descriptive color words: I need a blue scarf, I want an orange scarf. Size vocabulary: large and small circles. 

Paint your snowman 

I use dark blue paper. It provides a nice contrast to the white snowman and is also perfect to go with my favorite winter book: Snowmen at Night by Carolyn Buehner. Add dots of glue to the wet paint to put on the "pebbles" for the mouth, then add the eyes and a carrot nose. 

I have my children ask for each part to work on requesting. What do you need? How many black dots?

Dot the "snow" on the laminate.

Give your students white paint and a q-tip, and let them dot away!

You'll Target: Position and quantity vocabulary. Are you working on the top or the bottom? Do you have a few or many? Who has the most dots?  The least?

Frame your art.

After letting all the paint dry, we make a simple construction paper frame. You can cut strips for this. Lay the laminate on the snowman, then the frame on top. Talk about top and bottom. Staple to secure it. Done!

You'll Target: Sequence vocabulary, retelling,  irregular plural: snowman/snowmen. Tell how you made your snowman. What did you do first, then, last? Are the snowmen all the same? How are they different?

It's Snowing!

Hang up these creations, and it will be snowing even if you are down south like me. 

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A New Winter Freebie for You

FREE Who Has a Scarf? Winter Activity

This cute freebie is just a little thank you for a wonderful year in 2016. I can't wait to see what 2017 brings! I hope it's full of learning, adventures, laughter and love for all of you.

This activity is wonderful for practicing that tricky initial /sk/ blend. Children answer "Who has a scarf?" or "Who does not have a scarf?" Of course you can target asking and answering who questions and has/have too.

 Mix up the fun by laminating the mat and using with dry erase markers, as a smash mat with dough, or with bingo chips. There is also a BW mat included you can color yourself.  Pair the mat with the writing page to use in centers or work on literacy skills in therapy.

Stop by Speech Sprouts store to download. Please leave me some sweet feedback when you do. I love reading your comments, I read every one!

Click HERE to find Who Has a Scarf?

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Need more winter speech and language activities? 

Here are more activities available in my store you may like:

Snowmen at Night Speech Therapy Book Companion

The Mitten Book Companion

Winter Pronouns: I Like Skating

Winter Speech Therapy Vocabulary Games

Now it's time for a little hot chocolate.

Stay cozy my friends! Until next time.