Snow is just not one of those things we get much of in southern California. Despite that, my students still love the thought of snow! Last year while I was visiting my friend Sarah’s classroom I saw so many wonderful student projects! One of the projects I fell in love with was the snow globes that she had her students make! She had her students make them for Christmas and they were covered with a clear plastic plate to resemble the glass. They looked adorable!
Fast-forward to this year.
聽
We made these snow globes in January to go along with our writing lesson! I was trying to figure out how to incorporate their picture into the snow globe when I saw what Hope did with her class. Then our snow globes were born!
I planned a whole day of snow-related learning and had my students wear snow gear to school on our “snow day.”聽I brought in my portable picture printer so I could print the pictures off at school.
聽Materials:
- Light blue construction paper
- Grey construction paper
- Clear plastic plates (I got mine from a local store but them have some good ones on Amazon too like these and these!)
- Snow glitter
- White paint
- Colored paint or markers for adding details
- Portable photo聽printer (I wanted to print the pictures that same day, so I brought in my Canon Selphy. The model I have is no longer available, but I found a similar one here.) You could also just print from your printer at school if you have a color one, or order prints from a local print shop!
Snow Globe Instructions:
The day we worked on our snow globes was a “snow day” in our classroom. I told the kids ahead of time to come dressed for the snow! Since we live in southern California so we聽don’t get much snow, but most of my students still had hats and gloves to wear! I took their pictures in front of a blank background, and told them to pose how they would like to be positioned with their snowman in the snow globe! I聽then printed all the photos using a portable photo printer so they were able to work on their snow globes that afternoon!
To make the snow globes they traced the plate on light blue construction paper and carefully cut it out. Then they glued their picture on the paper, painted their snowman, and added accessories when it was dry!
After that they put lots of glue around the outside of the construction paper (and I added snow glitter in the middle of the paper), then glued the plate on top!
Displaying Our Snow Globes:
They turned out so well! I put them up on the door outside our classroom so everyone could see them!
Disclaimer: The glue does not hold super well, and we have had a couple snowfalls from plates being bumped open! Still, the kids have enjoyed having them up and hearing everyones’ compliments! You could also use a hot glue gun to help them hold better!
Also, while we were enjoying our snow day they wrote a fictional narrative about “The Day I Spent in a Snow Globe.” They described how they got stuck in the snow globe, what they did in there, and how they got out. Then they published their stories on some snowy stationary!
Our snow globe project and writing were a huge success and definitely something that I will be doing in the future! It’s nice to be able to have all the snowy fun without having to deal with the actual freezing temperatures and hassle of real snow! Update: A lot of people have asked about the snow glitter. You can get it on Amazon here!
This is such a great idea! My goodness! I love this. I am totally stealing this.
xoxo,
Sierra. AKA Ms. Ainge 馃檪
Oh, Just Living the Dream
OMG!I love these!! I'm going to have to try it. I especially love the writing activity that tied it all together. Going on the lesson plans ASAP. Thanks for sharing 馃檪
Kelly
First Grade Fairytales
Those are adorable. We had a real snow globe kind of day here in Wisconsin today so they will be a perfect project for next week. Love the writing idea, too!
Thanks-
Jane
Learning in the Little Apple
Hope you'll come check out the give-a-way I'm having this week!
Your door is so cute with those snow globes! I am embarrassed of how my door looks compared to yours! :-/ It isn't pretty!!!!
Those turned out absolutely and adorably amazing!!! So Cute!!!! I wish I could squeeze those in in our room but we have the state writing test in 4 weeks!!!! ugggs! Your globes and writing wall are so cute!
4th Grade Frolics
Oh my gosh!! I love them!!!
I bought all of my supplies for the snow globes and I ended up doing it without the plates. I heard that the glue kept coming undone and I didn't have any hot glue. Maybe next year. It looks super cute!!
Jennifer
Darling Little Learners
You can usually find hot glue and hot glue guns at the dollar store. 馃檪
Molly, these are so adorable!!! I love that you put their picture in there, too. Great idea.
Another awesome project from you!
Kate
Second Grade Sparkle
So cute!!! We will doing this on Friday. The kids are so excited!
These are super cute! How was I not following your blog before?
Terri
Terri's Teaching Treasures
What is the "snow" glitter?
It is literally called snow glitter! ha! You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/School-Smart-Silver-Snow-Glitter/dp/B003U6SBRA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391999839&sr=8-2&keywords=snow+glitter
I've also picked some up at my local craft store around the holidays!
How many snow globes does 1 bottle of snow glitter fill?
Thanks! Love them!
Just interested – are you a public or private school teacher?
Hi Kristin! I teach in private school. 馃檪
Hey Molly!
I hope you are doing well! I linked to this post in my blogpost today, I hope that's ok? I couldn't find pictures of when I did this with my class last year and your picture was the main one that came up on pinterest. :O) I didn't think you'd mind if I linked to your post?
Happy New Year!
Amanda
Collaboration Cuties
Hey Amanda!! Thanks so much!! And of course it's ok!! These are such a fun project… can't wait to do them again this year! Happy New Year to you too! xo
How many containers of the snow glitter would you purchase for 26 students? Thank you for the creative idea!!
Hi Michelle!! I just used one when I did this with my students… it depends on how much snow glitter you put in each snow globe! Maybe get two just in case… then if you have leftovers you can always use it for other projects or next year! Hope your students have fun making these!
These are awesome!!! We started making them in my class yesterday. What did you use to hang them up? They're a little heavy so I'm afraid they'll fall down eventually.
What kind of plates did you use? Are they clear plastic?
Such a cute idea!!! Love it, I will totally follow in your footsteps. Thank for the ideas.
Hi, sooo cute!! I’m ready to try with my kids. How big was the picture or what size photo paper did you use? Thanks again for sharing!!
I love your idea! Where did you find these plates? And what size? I鈥檓 a room parent and I have to decorate our classroom door for every season. Thanks for sharing!
I love this!! We are having a door decorating contest at our college and I’m going to try this with some of our students!
What kind of glue did you use to glue the plate on? I don’t want any of the “snow” to escape!