Super Snow Days!

Host Bee on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Super Snow Days!

Having just survived our first snow day of the winter and with another looming later this week, I thought I’d share a few games and ideas for a fun and memorable snow day!

Have on Hand (if you can!)

Extra gloves, mittens, scarves, sun screen, lip balm, sunglasses, tissues, dry socks, camera, and snowman trimmings!

Games

A Snow Ball Throwing Contest

Stomp out a large, flat round area in the snow.
Using spray bottles filled with water that has been tinted with food coloring, draw a series of multicolored rings – target style!
Mark each section with a point value on a numbered flag, mounted on a stick.
Have one grown up keep track of the points as snow balls are tossed onto the giant bull’s eye!

Playing Tic-Tac-Snow

Have two snow bunnies stamp out the lines of a tic-tac-toe board in the snow with their feet.
Hop from square to square to mark those x’s and o’s!

Snow Pie Games

Stamp out a large circle in a well snow covered area and divide the circle with pizza style crosswise paths.
Choose one player to be “It” and have the “It” volunteer stand at the center of the circle while the other players stand along the edges of the circle.
At the shout of “go” the chase begins with players who can run along any of the paths, but must stay in the snow tracks and cannot pass each other.
If two players meet head on, one must reverse direction.
The first player tagged becomes the next “It!”

Snow Ball Rolling Contest

You can play this game two different ways!

The easiest is to just have the kids see who can roll the largest snowball within a set period of time.
OR you can divide the kids into teams and see who can create a 5′ snowman first!

Snowy Twists on Traditional Games

Frisbee – If the kids have already made a snowman, compete to see who can land a hat onto his head, Frisbee style!
Baseball – Baseball works in the snow too! Create three “bases” that are about 2 feet high and 20 feet apart. Stack six tin cans (pyramid style) on each of the three bases and challenge kids to knock cans down from a central “pitching mound” using only snow balls and working from first to second to third base!
Hide and Seek – tie a white cloth to a wooden spoon and offer each child a chance to hide the spoon in the snow within a set area. Keep track of how long it takes the group to find each child’s hidden spoon. The one whose hidden flag takes the longest to find wins!

Activities

Study a Snowflake

Snowflakes are among nature’s most extraordinary creations!
Send each of the kids outside with a sheet of black construction paper to catch and study snowflakes!
All of the snowflakes will be six sided, but no two will be identical!

Feed the Birds

This idea is so cute! After the kids make those inevitable snow angels, go ahead and have them fill in that angelic shape with all sorts of treats for hungry birds!
Plan to use birdseed, thistle, corn, sunflower and safflower seeds.

Snowman Photo Op

Build that snowman, but quit before adding the head!
Then have each one of your crew pose behind the snowman body with their faces standing in for the snowman’s head!

Snowball Notes

This one is for the girls! Write a nice note to your friend, wrap it in plastic, pack a snowball around it and then wrap the snowball in aluminum foil.
Swap your snowball with your friend and then store them in the back of your freezer.
Defrost it on a summer day and remember that fun winter day!