The Three-Kid Snowman That Melts

In groups of three, children roll like snowballs and build a snowman with their bodies (one crouching, one kneeling and one standing) that slowly melts when the sun comes out. It builds muscle tone control, group building and expression.

How to play

1. We're snowflakes twirling down and landing on the ground (1 min).
2. Make snowballs: each child rolls lying down until they meet their group of three (2 min).
3. Build the snowman in a line: one crouching in front, one kneeling behind and the third standing, with one arm as a broom (3 min).
4. The sun comes out: the snowman melts very slowly, from head to toe, until it's a puddle on the floor (2 min).
5. It snows again and we rebuild the snowman, switching spots (3 min).
6. Name our snowman and wave hello to it (1 min).

Rules

• Everyone in their spot in the snowman, not leaning on anyone.
• I melt slowly, without flopping down.
• I roll without bumping into other snowballs.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: from the wheelchair, the child is the snowman's head and melts by lowering arms and head.
• Visual impairment: the child rolls along the wall or is walked by the hand to their group by a friend.
• Autism: the child can be the sun who melts the snowmen, pointing to them one at a time.

Learning goals

• Go gradually from tension to relaxation.
• Make a group shape with different heights.
• Show a transformation with the body.

Teacher tip

Rolling needs a clean floor and space: push tables aside or use mats if you have them. The melting is the best part: count slowly to ten and have them reach the floor right on ten.

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