Snowy Fun!

I was inspired by some snow globe ideas I found on Pinterest. Every winter when all the Christmas art comes down, we still love to celebrate the cold season (and the snow we don't get in Texas, but we pretend!)  We have had the kids draw the inside of a snow globe and sprinkle glitter for snow. We decided to put the kids' pictures in their own snow globe this year and have them write about living in a snow globe.  I found so many great ideas on Pinterest (Links here, here, and here) and we just adapted it to fit how we wanted the kids to approach the writing.  Our method was using four square writing in their journals as a rough draft.  I had small groups come up and we brainstormed in four areas (paragraphs): 

• P1. We started with an interesting topic sentence.   Then they continued with: If I lived in a snow globe, I would take…  
• P2. Living in a snow globe would feel…  
• P3. If I lived in a snow globe I would... (what they would do in there)  
• P4. If I had the choice to live in there forever, I would or would not, and why…  And then a concluding sentence would follow.

If you would like a FREE four-square template for your kids to fill in, just click here.

We took pictures of the kids to go into the snow globes. We were able to get three kids in each picture.  The kids in the photos ended up being about 3" tall.  We had them bring hats if they wanted, and we wrapped a scarf around their necks as well as let them wear mittens or gloves.  It cost under $2 per class for us to develop the pictures.  I cut out the outlines of the kids because it was very detailed cutting - and I didn't want any amputations!  

Here are our cut out photos

To make the globe part, we gave each child a circle of light blue construction paper (approx. 5 1/2" diameter).  We had them trace the outline of their cut-out photo in the place they wanted in the snow globe.  They then added details around themselves such as a snowman, trees, or a pet (something they talked about in their writing.)  

I discouraged them from drawing their x-boxes and other electronics from their story and told them to keep the drawings "wintery." They colored the snow white, etc... and we lightly painted the circle with some glue-water.  We then sprinkled glitter over the circle.  When that was dry, we glued the photo into the outline they had traced.  We then mounted the blue circle on a larger white circle (approx 6 1/2 " diameter.)

We outlined the photo cut-out, so we'd know where to glue it in place.
Here is one from last year when we did illustrations only in the circle.  We LOVE the photos we added this year so much more! The illustrations were cute too, and faster.

This is what they looked like last year when we drew their pictures instead of photographing them.

I have to say, this year's final products are precious!!!  The writing turned out fabulous!  I think we really will love these hanging from the ceiling in our third grade hallway!  

I'll post pictures after we get them hung up!

Update:
...and here is how they look hanging in the hall!

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