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Snow Day Activities

By Dr Melinda Bossenmeyer

A little snow doesn’t mean students can’t go outside. They should be properly dressed for the snow with coats and mittens for safety. The following activities lists include games for in the classroom and outside with a snow or winter theme.

Outside Activities

1. Follow the leader: snow version. With sturdy boots, make a path in fresh snow (or have one of the kids do it). Tell the rest of the kids to see if they can try to step exactly in the footsteps, to make it look like only one person has walked through the snow. Select multiple leaders for multiple snow tracks.

2. Treasure Hunt: Hide objects in the snow and allow students outside for a treasure hunt in the snow. (plastic easter eggs work well or small toys & items). Keep track of the number of hidden eggs. Once all eggs have been found students and turn their backs and hide the eggs again. It may be necessary to make multiple areas to limit the number of students in one area.

3. Build a snowball centipede: Have each classroom build a centipede making equal size balls to form the body. Have a contest to see which class can make the longest centipede during recess.

4. Build a milk carton Igloo: Fill student milk cartons with water one day and put outside to freeze. The next day when cartons are frozen use them to make an igloo out of the of milk cartons.

5. Create a tic-tac-toe game in the snow and play with bottle caps

Original Content & Methodology © Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer. Media formatting generated by AI. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Indoor activities with an academic focus and movement themes.

AKA Brain Breaks

2-Go Games Rugs which are great for Brain Break Activities integrate physical activity with academic learning standards designed for indoor classroom movement and learning. The 2-Go Games Program includes 6 colorful large game mats and 180 matching student table cards with markers. Enough for 6 full classrooms!

TAKE RECESS INDOORS WHEN EXPERIENCING INCLEMENT WEATHER

Recent years are bringing hotter summers and colder winters. Instead of eliminating recess, an alternative strategy is to bring it indoors with brain breaks like these recess indoor rugs. Including brain breaks and indoor recess is a new factor to include in every schools plan for keeping children active and giving mandatory recess minutes. These are now sometimes being referred to as Extreme Heat Action plans or Inclement Weather Action Plans. 

Over the last 25 years we've been gathering research, tools, articles you may find helpful. The content library just had a refresh and we want to make sure you're aware of these free resources!

The online courses take 1 hour to complete and provide a certificate of completion for PD credits

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The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is a nationally recognized and award-winning physical activity program touching nearly 4 million children annually for over 28 years!

Fundamental Movement Program

allows you to create an outdoor motor learning lab painted on preschool and elementary school playgrounds for preschool children. An easy, do-it-yourself layout plan transforms your play space into a colorful arrangement of learning games and motor skills activities.

You can teach movement skills like jumping, balancing, hopping and more.

Active Kids. Confident Educators. Zero PE Experience Needed.

YOU'LL LOVE IT BECAUSE:

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Just open and teach—each activity is ready to go with step-by-step instructions and visual guides.

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Build your skills while helping kids develop strength, coordination, balance, and focus.

Any Space, Any Time

Works in classrooms, cafeterias, gyms, playgrounds—or wherever you have room to move!

You can choose the Full Kit which includes options for painting the blacktop or the option for the Curriculum minus painting.

January 2026 Winner



Hayden Weber - Huber Ridge Elementary OH

Enter your school today in the "Learn to Play" US Map Playground Map Stencil Giveaway. The beautiful geographically and proportionately accurate educational map stencil is 20 feet by 36 feet and extends the classroom curriculum to recess and outdoor play. History and geography come alive with the games and activities included in the stencil set.

You might be the next winner. Good Luck!

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