Before the real snow started to fall, our class discovered that a surprisingly fun substitute for snow turned out to be three bags full of large, fluffy cotton balls. Cotton balls certainly don’t have all the qualities of real snow but they are white, fluffy, and do a nice job promoting conversation and pretend play when used to create a cotton ball blizzard in a box…
We started our day exploring cotton ball snowballs by reading the book “Snowballs” by Lois Ehlert…
“Snowballs” by Lois Ehlert is really more about snowmen but as you know, every snowman starts with a snowball. This book shares wonderfully illustrated pictures of snowmen with faces made from corn seeds, raisins, nuts, bolts, and other items that promote lots of conversation about snow and snowman faces…
Before reading our book, I thought it would be fun if we could get into the winter mood first so I invited the children to help me create our own mini-blizzard by tossing some cotton ball snowballs into our large box…
Then the children all climbed into the box and Mrs. Courtney read “Snowballs” to the children…
After reading our story, we left the box filled with cotton balls in the center of our circletime/block center floor for the children to explore…
The children came and went from the blizzard box all throughout the morning. We explored how to make cotton ball snow angels in our box…
We found it was best to actually pack the snowballs around our bodies then stand up so we could see the shape left behind…
Our cotton ball blizzard play took on different forms as the children played including building snow forts or caves with our blocks and animals…
All throughout the morning, the children came and went from our cotton ball blizzard box…
The blizzard in the box was only one of the ways we explored cotton ball snowballs so stay tuned for my next post so I can share with you some of the other amazing things we came up with….
And by the way, for those of you with toddlers, I thought you would like to know that my grandson loved the cotton ball blizzard in a box too…
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Love this we are doing a winter wonderland unit and we live in FL so this is great, dose anyone know if you need the buffalo snow flakes for the frosty snow fluff want to make it but don’t have the flakes, it seems to me they are just for sparkle?
I used the flakes, but didn’t like how it came out. Next time I will just use the corn starch and shaving cream….maybe add some glitter, but probably not.
I had some toddlers who were really into throwing and so I hit upon throwing snowball cotton balls. The children loved it! It was a nice switch from bean bags, balls and other missles!
Very nice activity, and it reminds me of making Snow Angel outside, after a heavy snowfall. During the Fall Season we gathered leaves to do a similar activity. Thank you for sharing this Cotton Balls idea. Mary https://projectsbyMtetar.wordpress.com
hello! amzing idea! I ‘ll put It into practise! but here in Argentina we can’t get such a big box. where did u get it?
thanks for sharing!
MIRIAM
We TOTALLY did this yesterday before seeing your inspirational post. I will have to check out that book. Thanks, K!
Erh…that “K” should be a “D”…sorry Deborah! 🙂
I love your giant box as much as the cotton ball idea.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! It is the perfect activity after the break. Thanks for sharing!
Really love this idea and will be trying it out this week.
Where did you get that big box from?
Hi Whitney,
I got the box from our local recycling center. There is actually a center just down the street from my house:)
Deborah
Thanks for the great idea! My ECSE class enjoyed a surprise snow storm in Louisiana! Now the water table has turned into a flurry of snowflakes! Endless hours of investigating are sure to come.
Love it Jen! I hope you informed the weather man in Louisiana of your winter storm:)
Thanks for the reply!! I have enjoyed your power points for years and love the endless ideas on Teach Preschool! We have the best job in the world. 🙂