Making our mark in the snow

Build pre-writing skills in your students with this neat multi-sensory experience!

We have had a lot of snow already this season and we are always looking for new and interesting ways to play with it!  This activity is quick and easy to set up and a really interesting way to explore snow in the classroom…

Preparing the Invitation to Explore

For this activity, we gathered up two trays full of snow and set out some markers.  Now, these markers don’t have to be the best markers.  They could be old ones that are on the verge of being thrown away.  The wetness of the snow helps to pull the old ink out of the marker.  This activity is a great way to get one last use out of an old set of markers…

Building Pre-Writing Skills

In preschool, we often refer to very early attempts at name writing as “making your mark.”  For some children, it may just be a line on the paper, but for others, it may be the beginning of letter formation.  Our children weren’t limited to just writing their name for this activity.  They could explore the snow and markers however they wished.  And as you can see, our children were eager to give it a try…

The children sat down to explore this activity and quickly discovered that the markers do not write the same on snow as they do on paper.  The snow is bumpy, and gritty and not at all like the smooth texture of paper…

Exploring Color and Texture

The children were challenged to figure out the best way to use the markers because the texture of the snow created such a different type of writing surface.  Some children simply made dots in the snow by dabbing their marker…

Other children were more determined to cover their snow in marker, trying to figure out how to best adapt to their new coloring surface…

It was interesting to see how each child approached this process differently…

Whenever you use color to explore snow, whether it be with water color paints or with markers, the color mixing process is always so beautiful…

A Wonderful Sensory Experience

For some children, the sensory experience of using their fingers to draw in the snow was more exciting than using the actual markers and that’s okay too…

A gingerbread man even joined in on the fun…

Using markers in the snow was a great multi-sensory way to explore color and pre-writing skills…

Available on Amazon

Links to Grow On

Kool-aid Snow Paint from Growing a Jeweled Rose

Painting with Snow from The Seeds Network

Exploring snow all around the classroom from Teach Preschool

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Latest Blog Posts

P is for Pizza!

While learning about the letter “P” we decided to explore with pizza! Pizza is an all-time favorite food for many preschoolers, and activities involving pizza

Read More »