Let's Build Snowmen!
Skill: Run
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: Snowman parts for each group:
Body – 3 hula hoops
Buttons – 3 beanbags
Arms – 2 hockey sticks
Eyes – 2 tennis balls
Nose - 1 pylon
Mouth – 5 beanbags/tennis balls/birdies/footballs or 1 skipping rope
Hat – a skipping rope/rope (they have to place it down so it looks like a hat)
Additional equipment:
4 pylons for each group to create their building area
Objective:
Groups work together to collect all of their snowman equipment, in order to build their snowman.
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 3-5 participants.
Please see the attached document for an example of the set up.
Set up an area at one end of the activity space with all of the snowmen equipment for each group. If there are 4 groups, be sure to have at least 12 hula hoops, 4 pylons, 8 hockey sticks, and so on.
At the other end of the activity space (or 15-20 meters away from the equipment), place four pylons to create a building area for each group.
Participants will start by standing in their building area.
The leader will build an example snowman for all participants to see (please see attached document for the example snowman).
Step by Step:
1. Participants will be divided into groups and standing in their group's building area (please see the set up section and the attached document for an example of the set up).
2. Groups will study the example snowman, so they know what equipment they have to collect (see the equipment section for the equipment).
3. When the activity begins, one participant from each group will run to the equipment area and collect one piece of their snowman. They will run back to their group and place is in the building area, and then the next participant will run to the equipment area and collect one piece for their snowman.
4. The participants that are waiting in the building area cannot touch or move the equipment that is brought back. Only the participant that brought the piece back can place it down for their snowman.
5. The first group to build their snowman with all the correct pieces and equipment wins.
6. Optional:
- Add one tagger from each group who will stand between the equipment and the building areas. If they tag a participant from another team when they are in between the equipment and building area, then they have to do 5 jumping jacks before continuing.
- Participants have to skip, jump, run backwards, or another movement when going to the equipment area.
Variations:
Use different equipment for the snowmen.
Allow participants to choose what equipment will be for what part of their snowman.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.