Catch the Snowflake Before It Lands

The teacher tosses handfuls of large torn newspaper pieces into the air that drift down like snow, and children try to catch a flake before it lands. Children work on tracking slow-falling objects, guessing where they'll land and moving gently.

How to play

1. Together, tear newspaper sheets into big pieces about the size of an open hand and put them in a box (2 min).
2. The teacher throws a handful up: we watch them dance down without touching them (1 min).
3. Now everyone tries to catch a flake with both hands before it touches the floor (3 min).
4. Try catching it with one hand, with a flat palm like a plate, or on your back while bending over (3 min).
5. The children toss snow up too, and we dance like snowflakes to soft music until we drift to the floor (2 min).
6. Collect all the flakes in the box for the next snowfall (1 min).

Rules

• Look up and move slowly, like snowflakes.
• Catch your own flake; don't take anyone else's.
• Snowflakes never go in your mouth.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the teacher drops flakes right above the child, who catches them seated or on a tray.
• Visual impairment: use brightly colored paper against a dark background and toss it low and close.
• Autism: the child may start by watching from a corner and join when ready; explain beforehand that snow will fall everywhere.

Learning goals

• Track objects falling in an irregular way.
• Predict where something will land and move there.
• Move gently and with control.

Equipment for a class of 25

• large torn newspaper pieces: 60
• cardboard box: 1
• music

Teacher tip

Always keep pieces big: little bits end up in the youngest children's mouths and are impossible to clean up. It works best indoors without a draft; outside the wind steals the snow.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary