Make and Shake a Snow Globe

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

Students make a holiday or seasonal snow globe to give as a gift. Make it, then shake it!

Subjects: Visual Arts, Social Studies

Grade Levels: PreK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Objectives
Students will:

• create a scene for the inside of their snow globes, and
• follow directions to create their own snow globes.

Keywords
snow, snowglobe, snowman, winter, gift, holiday, Christmas

Materials Needed

• Shop local dollar stores, toy stores, party stores, or discount stores that sell birthday party favors, small toys, and the like. Collect a variety of small seasonal toys -- such as Santas, snowmen, and sleighs as centerpieces for students? snow globes. If appropriate for your class, you might also find party favors in the shape of dreidels and other multicultural representations of the holidays.
• small jars with lids
• glitter
• glue gun or waterproof glue
• water

Procedure
Every tourist gift shop has them -- shake the "snow globe" and watch the flurry of snow cascade over the local landmark or seasonal scene! In this lesson, students create their own holiday or winter snow globes to give as gifts.

In the weeks leading up to this activity, set aside a place in the classroom where students can deposit clear, clean jars and lids from baby food, salsa, and other products. When project day arrives, distribute one jar to each student.

Students remove the lid from the jar and flip it over so the inside of the lid is facing up. They choose a plastic toy -- perhaps a Santa, a dreidel, or a snowman -- as the centerpiece of their snow globe display and use a glue gun or silicon glue to attach the toy to the inside of the lid. They might also add a plastic tree or other small toys to complement and complete the setting. Set aside the lids to dry.

When the glue is dry, add cold water to the jar. (Fill the jar about 95 percent full.) Sprinkle glitter into the water and seal the jar. Let the glue dry overnight before turning the snow globe scene upright or test-shaking it.

The next day, if everything holds securely in place when students shake their snow globes, use the glue gun to seal the lid to the jar, so no water will leak out during future shakings.

Assessment
Not applicable.

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