This is part of my 15 Minute Focus series of STEM learning activities that can be done with a small group of four-year-olds gathered around a table.

Supplies: felt triangles, squares and/or rectangles, circles; circle shapes to trace around – I used a button, a plastic llid, and a metal end from an old juice can – you can use anything, just make sure they are three different sizes, paper, pencils

I passed out assorted felt shapes to everyone. We sorted them by color, then we sorted them by type of shape. We talked about how many sides each shape had, we counted the number of corners each had.

I asked them to draw the shapes. (Some of them can barely do a circle, some made all these shapes, plus stars and hearts well. I encouraged each of them, whatever level they are at.)

I asked them how you make a snowman – we talk about making three balls – the one on the bottom needs to be biggest so it doesn’t tip over. (Note to self: next time I do this, I could bring in playdough and model this in 3-D!)

I asked what shapes we would use to draw a snowman. I asked them to “free hand” draw three circles on top of each other. (You can see the blue circles one child drew in the photo above.) Then I showed them how to trace around a circle. Then I told them to flip over their paper, and showed them how we can trace three circles and add features to make a snowman. (See photo.)

Book: read your favorite book about snowmen or snow.

Song: (tune: skip to my lou)
Snow is falling, what do I do? Snow is falling, what do I do?
Snow is falling, what do I do? What do I do, my darling

…I’ll build a snowman bigger than you! … 
…I’ll ride my sled fast, how about you? …