How to Build a

Snowman

*Tips for RAs on this bulletin board idea:

• The pictures can be cut out and hung around the bulletin board separately to add character to the board. Also try adding paper snowflakes.

• Try printing out the slides on a light blue colored paper to add more life to the board.

A A Standard Standard SnowmaSnowma

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STEP 1:STEP 1: Test to see if you have Test to see if you have

'packing snow,' which 'packing snow,' which clumps together easily clumps together easily and isn't too wet. The and isn't too wet. The

snow must pack to snow must pack to make a snowman.make a snowman.

STEP 2:STEP 2: Shape a Shape a handful of handful of

snow into a snow into a ball. Continue ball. Continue adding more adding more

snow and snow and packing the packing the ball until it's ball until it's too large to too large to

hold. hold.

STEP 3:STEP 3: Place the ball on the Place the ball on the snow in front of you and snow in front of you and slowly roll it away from slowly roll it away from

you. As more snow you. As more snow accumulates on the accumulates on the

outside of your ball, pack outside of your ball, pack the snow by pressing on the snow by pressing on

it with your gloved hands. it with your gloved hands.

STEP 4:STEP 4: Roll and Roll and

pack the ball pack the ball over and over and

over until it over until it is the size is the size

you want for you want for the bottom the bottom

of the of the snowman's snowman's

body.body.

STEP 5:STEP 5: Repeat for the Repeat for the

midsection and head. midsection and head. The bottom should be The bottom should be the biggest ball, and the biggest ball, and the top should be the the top should be the

smallest. smallest.

STEP 6:STEP 6: Pack some extra Pack some extra snow between the snow between the

layers to make layers to make them stick them stick

together. Place together. Place sticks down the sticks down the

center where the center where the sections meet if sections meet if your snowman is your snowman is having trouble having trouble

standing straight.standing straight.

STEP 7:STEP 7: Give the snowman a face. Give the snowman a face. Use coal, rocks, buttons or Use coal, rocks, buttons or

anything dark and round for anything dark and round for the eyes. A horizontal stick the eyes. A horizontal stick

or twig will make a good or twig will make a good mouth, and a carrot is fine mouth, and a carrot is fine for the pointy nose. If you for the pointy nose. If you

don't have a carrot, a banana don't have a carrot, a banana or a candy cane will do the or a candy cane will do the

job.job.

STEP 8:STEP 8: Cover the top of his Cover the top of his head with an old plant head with an old plant for hair, or give him a for hair, or give him a knit hat to wear. Top knit hat to wear. Top hats will blow away hats will blow away

unless secured.unless secured.

STEP 9: STEP 9: Add arms, legs and Add arms, legs and

other accessories. other accessories. Push sticks into the Push sticks into the sides of the middle sides of the middle

section and hang old section and hang old mittens on the ends, mittens on the ends, then place boots at then place boots at the bottom for legs. the bottom for legs. Also consider adding Also consider adding

items such as a items such as a shirt, a scarf or shirt, a scarf or

sunglasses.sunglasses.

Tips & Warnings Tips & Warnings • Creativity is KEY! Do something new Creativity is KEY! Do something new

and different and your snowman will be and different and your snowman will be more interesting.more interesting.

• If you're having a hard time rolling and If you're having a hard time rolling and packing the snow into sections, try packing the snow into sections, try using buckets. Find three that are of using buckets. Find three that are of descending size and pack them with descending size and pack them with snow, then upend them, dumping the snow, then upend them, dumping the snow from one bucket on top of the snow from one bucket on top of the other. other.

• You can spray your snowman with You can spray your snowman with colored water to add rosy cheeks. colored water to add rosy cheeks.

• Your snowman's days are numbered, so Your snowman's days are numbered, so take plenty of pictures. take plenty of pictures.

Be sure to brush up Be sure to brush up on your snowman on your snowman

making making ability….you never ability….you never know when there know when there

might be a might be a campus wide campus wide contest this contest this

winter! winter!

Sources:

• Building steps: – http://www.ehow.com/how_9769_build-snow

man.html

• Google Images: – Keyword search: “Snowman”

Submitted by: Ian Kimball, Resident Assistant, Hartwick College