Potato Masher Snowman Art Project

Some of my favorite art projects focus on printmaking, loose parts play, and reusing discarded materials. Today I’m incorporating all three into a fun winter activity that is sure to engage all learners. Your child will love to stamp with a potato masher to make a snowman and adorn it with a variety of loose parts such as buttons, beads, and more. Let’s also reuse some items from the trash such as straws, bottle caps, and newspapers to add creative touches to the snowpeople. Let’s sift through that junk drawer and go through the recycling bin to see what we can find as we create a Potato Masher Snowman Art Project this winter! 

GET A FULL SET OF SNOWMAN THEME PRESCHOOL IDEAS WITH OUR PRINTABLE SNOWMAN LESSON PLANS

Loose Parts

Incorporating loose parts into an art project is a great way to focus on fine motor skill development and cognitive skills, while also highlighting student choice and open-ended art. Search through a junk drawer or use leftover materials from a previous art activity to set up an array of creative choices. Little fingers can pick and choose materials as they wish. Q-tips can become the snowman’s arms, maybe use bottle caps for eyes, or even try a plastic straw for a scarf. The possibilities are endless and each piece of work is sure to be unique!

Open-Ended Art

There are many benefits to open-ended art! Little artists make independent choices, comparisons, predictions, and problem solve as they sort items and use them as they see fit. Each child will explore and express themselves without step-by-step directions or right and wrong answers. Child-directed art is certain to be original and promotes self-discovery and creative independence.

Printmaking

I love printmaking with nontraditional art materials with young learners. Using a potato masher adds excitement and action to the art making process. Children love to see the immediate, and sometimes surprising, printmaking results. Experiment with using less or more paint and also vary the pressure to create a variety of results. Each print will be unique and demonstrate creative cause and effect.

Materials for Potato Masher Snowman Art Project:

• Blue Construction Paper
• Potato Mashers
• White Tempera Paint
• White Glue or Tacky Glue
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Pipecleaners 
• Yarn
• Fabric Swatches 

Suggested Loose Parts:

• Buttons
• Beads
• Qtips
• Straws
• Craft Sticks
• Bottle Caps
• Cotton Balls
• Pom Poms

Step By Step Directions for creating your Potato Masher Snowman Art Project:

1. Potato Masher Prints

Use a variety of potato mashers as printing tools. The dollar store often has a few options. Dip the end into white paint and stamp three times to make a snowman. Let the paint dry. 

2. Loose Parts Play

Set up a collection of loose parts such as buttons, beads, and more for your child to explore. Identify the parts of a snowman and decide what materials to use for each. Glue the objects into place. No glue? No problem. Experience creative play while decorating and redecorating the snowman. Let play and creativity take over as you create a one-of-a-kind snowperson. 

3. Let It Snow

Cut small circles from newspaper and glue to the blue paper to make snow. Add more or less snow if you want to make flurries, a snowstorm, or even a blizzard! Next, see what loose parts you have left and use them as snowflakes. Bottle caps, cotton balls, or buttons work nicely! 

Art and Literacy

Check out the book The Sneezy Snowman by Maureen Wright. It’s a story about a snowman that doesn’t like the cold. Oh no! What happens when the snowman tries to warm up by sipping hot cocoa and warming up in the hot tub? Find out how his friends help him find just the right, comfortable temperature.  

More Snowman Art Project Ideas

Visit this collection of snowman art project ideas for even more winter art inspiration.

Thanks for making art with us today! Please tag @fantasticfunandlearning and @youngschoolartwithmr.g on Instagram so we can see your super snowmen! 

CONNECT WITH VIN GIANNETTO

Learn more about Vin here on his author bio page. Follow along with him on Facebook at Young School Art with Mr. Giannetto and on Instagram @youngschoolartwithmr.g for art project ideas.

MORE ART AND CRAFT PROJECT IDEAS FROM VIN

MORE SNOWMAN FUN WITH PRINTABLE SNOWMAN THEME LESSON PLANS

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

Watch this short video to see just a few examples of the types of activities and printables included in this set:

This set currently includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:

1) Measure the Snowman Activity
2) Roll a Snowman Game
3) A to Z Build a Snowman Activity (focusing on uppercase, lowercase, and beginning sounds)
4) Snowman Pattern Cards
5) Roll and Cover Snowman Math Game Boards (focusing on counting sets and number recognition for numbers 1 to 12)
6) 1-20 Snowman Counting Mats
7) My Snowman Emergent Reader
8) 0-35 Snowman Counting and Calendar Number Cards

GET YOUR LESSON PLANS

Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.