Master Cause and Effect Writing with a Cute Melted Snowman Craftivity

Here in Ohio, if there’s one thing I can guarantee each winter, it’s snow. Lots and lots and LOTS of snow…which makes snowmen the perfect (long lasting!) bulletin board theme. Build your students' cause and effect writing skills with this fun melted snowman craftivity! Don't have enough time to read all about it? Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a video that shows this project in action.

One of my favorite snowy read alouds is Maureen Wright’s Sneezy the Snowman. In the book, Sneezy gets too cold out in the snow, and tries – hilariously but unsuccessfully – to warm himself up. Each time he tries something new to get cozy warm, he melts! This book, of course, is the perfect inspiration for cause and effect writing.

Before reading, the kiddos build their own snowman head using a white paper bowl, a half sheet of black construction paper, and a scrap of orange construction paper. I do not provide them with a pattern for this because I think their snowmen turn out much cuter and more unique this way! (Don't worry, pattern lovers...I've still included patterns in my TpT set. ;D) We set our snowmen aside to enjoy our read aloud by the Netflix fire.

After, we work together to build a “cause” list...all leading to the effect of, “My snowman melted!” We first start with the examples from the book: He drinks hot cocoa. He sits in a hot tub. He stands by the fire. We then start building the list using our own imagination. I encourage my students to think outside the box and pretend their snowman is alive like Sneezy, Frosty, or Olaf. This gets them thinking more creatively, and also stirs scientific discussion. What makes cold things melt? Heat! What produces heat? The sun! A hair dryer! A volcano! We then record more of our own causes individually with the help of a graphic organizer (included, see top image).

As kiddos brainstorm, I circle around, helping each student choose their most creative idea for their final product. Once we're ready to write, I give my littles a print out of a melted puddle. Some have a blank sheet and others get a sentence starter (see above) depending on their needs. Students have just enough room to write three to five sentences, explaining how their snowman (or snowwoman!) melted. We trace our writing with a marker so it's easy to read on our bulletin board. Finally, I add a few staples or tape loops to attach the head to the puddle and boom! Our melted snowmen are ready to be displayed.

Your bulletin board (mine stayed up from late November to February, no shame) is a snap to put up thanks to the low ink, low cut bulletin board letters included in this TpT product. Multiple messages for your bulletin board are included! Personally, I think this craftivity pops on a black background. I also like to use Astrobrights in cool colors for the letters.

Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of this post to see this cause and effect writing craftivity in action and be sure to tag me in all your melted snowmen posts on Instagram @fromsept2mrsmay! Happy melting!

Shop this lesson:

(Please note: These are affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission with your purchase. I have used all of these products in the past, and am confident you will love them too!)

• Melted Snowman Craftivity and Bulletin Board Set
• Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright
• White paper bowls
• Astrobrights "Cool" Colored Paper

 Tried and True Teacher Reviews:

"I can not say enough wonderful things about this resource! My first graders LOVED this writing topic, and we had so much fun thinking about ways our snowmen could melt. This was engaging and I loved how the writing templates were differentiated for my various levels of writers. One of my favorite purchases from TPT for sure!" - Kaitlyn Z.

"If you haven't read "Sneezy the Snowman," I highly recommend it! This craftivity goes along with the story perfectly! Received lots of compliments on the finished products in the hallway!" - Jessica H.

"My kids did not even realize they were writing so much! Love this" - Breana W. 

"This was such a great product! My students loved listening to the story that was paired with this craftivity and had so much fun coming up with different ways there snowman could melt. The directions were very easy for my students and I to follow and the end result was adorable! We got lots of compliments on our melted snowman bulletin board! Thank you!" - Cynthia V.

"These make an adorable display and my kids got very creative when writing about why their snowman melted! Liked the different writing options offered." - AnnMarie M.

  

See it in action: