Melting Snowman Art Project for elementary school

This adorable art project integrates color theory, science and the joy of winter. Students will create a snowman in the cold weather and a melting snowman in the sunshine. This project covers Common Core Standards for Science and Language Arts for grades K-1 which can be found at the end of the lesson.

Grade Level

Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st grade. This project was created by Transitional Kindergarten students.

Objective for Melting Snowman Art

Students will paint cool colors and warm colors and illustrate a snowman in each environment.

Time

2 – 30 min lessons

Materials

Black Sharpie Marker – Sharpie Permanent Marker, Fine Point, Black, Pack of 5
(Black, White, Orange) – Crayola Washable Kids Paint Set, 10 Count
9×12 Watercolor paper – Canson (100510941) XL Series Watercolor Pad, 9″ x 12″, Fold-Over Cover, 30 Sheets
Brushes – Acrylic Paint Brush Set, 1 Packs / 10 pcs Nylon Hair Brushes for All Purpose Oil Watercolor Painting Artist Professional Kits
Liquid Water Colors – Sargent Art 22-6010 10-Count 8-Ounce Watercolor Magic Set
- Or this mini version for homeschooling – Sargent Art 22-6210 10-Count 4-Ounce Watercolor Magic
Snowflake stamps – DECORA 6 Pieces Snowflake Floral Wooden Rubber Stamps for Card Making Scrapbooking and Crafts
White stamp pad – Lsushine Craft Ink Pad Stamps Partner Diy Color,15 Color Craft Ink Pad for Stamps, Paper, Wood Fabric (pack of 15)
Royal Blue Paper – Tru-Ray Construction Paper, Blue, 12″ x 18″, 50 Sheets
White paint (I do not recommend washable paint for this as the paint blurs with the watercolor paint as you can see in the yellow area of my example) – Sargent Art 24-2496 16-Ounce Acrylic Paint, White
Orange and blue marker or oil pastel
Glue Stick
Watercolor paper

Inspiration/Artist

I was inspired to make this Melting Snowman project from a posting by Pam Smader

Instruction with Questions

First

Read the book, “Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations” by Laura Purdie Salas. This is a wonderful age appropriate story that combines poems, math and science.

Second

Show them this Slide Deck that I created that shows warm and cool colors. The key here is that things in nature help inform what is cool and what is warm. Naturally the sun is hot.

Warm-and-Cool-Colors-TK-1 Download

Warm and Cool Color Worksheet

Third

Students now understand what happens to snowmen when it is cold vs. when it is hot. It is time to create!

Prepare two 6″ squares using Watercolor paper per student. At a center, I have students paint using blue and purple watercolors. In a separate area, students use red, yellow and orange. I remind them not to paint in one spot over and over. This way each color gets a turn to show off their beauty.

Fourth

After the paint dries, on a different day, I help the students one at a time to use white paint and their finger to make a three level snowman on the cool color side, and a messy puddle on the warm color side.

Fifth

On the white board discuss what a snowman looks like. Draw one as a class. Include stick arms, a hat, button eyes, a carrot nose, a dotted mouth and three buttons down the middle. For fun add a scarf.

Next to the snowman show the melted area by drawing a blob. Ask the students to recall which items were added to the snowman and put them in random areas of the blob. They giggle and think this is hilarious.

Using sharpies and markers or oil pastels, students make their warm and cool snowmen.

Sixth

Glue down their masterpieces on a large piece of 12×18 Blue Construction paper. Use the snowflake stamps and have students decorate the falling snow around on the remaining blue areas. I think it is fascinating to see which students do this methodically and strategically and which ones go for it with gusto and improvisation.

Check out these finished Melting Snowman art pieces!

Common Core Standards for Melting Snowman Art

Kindergarten – Science

Physical Sciences

Properties of materials can be observed, measured, and predicted.

Earth Sciences

3. Earth is composed of land, air, and water.

b. Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.

Investigation and Experimentation

4. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
a. Observe common objects by using the five senses.
b. Describe the properties of common objects.
e. Communicate observations orally and through drawings.

Grade 1 – Science

Physical Sciences

1. Materials come in different forms (states), including solids, liquids, and gases.
a. Students know solids, liquids, and gases have different properties.