Coffee Filter Snowflake Snowman

Using coffee filters is a beautiful way to make an indoor snowman this winter! This unique activity is great for all ages and can be done at home or in the classroom.

Supplies:

1. Coffee Filter
2. Scissors
3. Construction paper
4. Glue
5. White crayon

Instructions:

1. Create a snowflake using the coffee filter. This will be the snowman’s belly. Fold the coffee filter in half and then fold in half again twice more. You will have a triangle. Cut shapes into the sides of the triangle and at the tip of the triangle. Open up and see your snowflake! For little ones it will help to draw on the coffee filter where they should cut. See the step by step example below.

2. Use white construction paper to cut out a circle to be used as the snowman’s head. Be sure that the circle is smaller than the snowflake that you just made.

3. Cut a hat out of the black construction paper. You can also cut a colored strip to put on the snowman’s hat.

4. Glue your snowflake near the bottom of a piece of blue construction paper. Then glue the snowman’s head above the snowflake.

5. Glue the snowman’s hat on and the colored strip on the brim of his hat.

6. Draw a face and arms on your snowman.

7. Use a white crayon to make snowflakes around him.

Hang up your snowman and enjoy!

Classroom Connection:

Once they create their beautiful snowmen, students can write a sentence or creative story to go along with them. Talk to your students about how each snowflake is unique just like the belly of their snowman. Here are two great books about snowflakes to connect to this project:

1. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

-This story is about a character named Wilson Bentley who is determined to capture snowflakes on his camera. He learns about how each snowflake is unique and beautiful! This 1999 Caldecott Medal is perfect for students to fall in love with snow.

2) The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story by Neil Waldman

-This story talks about the fascinating water cycle and the journey a snowflake has over the course of a year traveling through the water cycle. This text allows for a great opportunity for students to practice close reading while strengthening their scientific reasoning skills.