The Friendship Snowball
The snowball starts as a single flake, the teacher, who invites a child to come along hand in hand; the last one in the chain invites the next, and so on until the whole class is linked. Kids warm up on the move and feel that everyone fits in the game.
How to play
- The teacher explains they're a lonely little snowflake who wants to become a huge snowball with everyone (1 min).
- The teacher asks a child “Want to come with me?”, takes their hand and they go invite someone else; the last one in the chain always does the inviting (1 min).
- The snowball grows, jogging gently; children still waiting dance in place like falling snowflakes (1 min).
- Once everyone is in, the snowball rolls: the circle turns one way and then the other (1 min).
- The sun comes out and the snowball melts: we let go slowly and sink down to the ground (1 min).
Rules
- The last one in the chain does the inviting.
- We say “Want to come with me?” and hold hands.
- We don't let go until the snowball melts.
- Snowflakes who are waiting dance in place.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, the chain walks and the teacher reminds them who's last and gets to invite.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the chain jogs and the children invite each other on their own.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, when there are eight flakes the snowball splits in two and both keep inviting until they join up at the end.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the chain moves at their pace and they can be the first one invited to set the rhythm.
- Autism: if they don't want to hold hands, they can join by holding a scarf or a classmate's sleeve.
- Visual impairment: the child inviting them taps their shoulder and says their own name before taking their hand.
Learning goals
- Warm up moving as a chain.
- Include every classmate in the game.
- Match steps with the children on either side.
Teacher tip
Watch who ends up last and, if it's always the same child, ask the chain to invite someone they haven't played with yet. Keep the chain jogging, not running: lots of linked hands means easy falls.
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