It's Snowing Inside!
AUTHOR: Dr. Suan Guess-Hanson
SUBJECT: Art and Special Education
GRADE(S): Elementary
PROBLEM:
This idea was not a bad dream, but rather, an "Inside job: working with snow in the art classroom." Maybe some educators have memories of the winter of 1993-1994, for those of us living in central Illinois, we had a little more snow that we have for several winters and school was even cancelled because of the white stuff. Even though this snow played havoc with shortened spring vacations and extended school calendars, this very same white stuff provided unique experiences as we explored and used this free renewable resource that was shipped at no charge.
Many teachers undoubtedly took students outside (if they wore their boots, snowsuits, scarves, hats, mittens or gloves, etc.) for recess and other activities. But what about students in the classroom in wheelchairs? Did they go out too? Have they experienced playing in the snow? Just ask them. It had not occurred to me that their experiences might be very different from their peers until I worked with several third grade students in wheel chairs last winter. Some of them had never made snow angels with their bodies in the snow. They did not play in the snow, they did not get to handle, pack, sculpt, mold or even melt the snow. Indeed, some had been out in the snow, but pushing a wheelchair or even being pushed in a wheelchair on uncleared walks can be a real challenge. Because many of these same students have various respiratory problems, breathing cold air for any length of time can aggravate their condition and can be dangerous for them. It becomes apparent why they may not spend any time outdoors other than to get from one place to another.
It is not that their parents do not have time or are not willing to take their children out in the snow. You might wonder, "why can't these children ride in a sled?" Some children require support for sitting which their wheelchair affords. In their chairs, their hands are some distance from the ground, so that it is difficult to work with the snow. A table that can accommodate a wheelchair might be an option. But because the children may have a limited range of motion, it is more difficult for the child to generate enough heat through activity to stay warm. Thus the child who is being pushed in a chair or pulled in a sled will definitely have more difficulty staying warm. You would probably agree that it is not much fun to be cold outside while you are "playing in the snow."
SOLUTION:
Playing with snow can be a lot of fun, so why not bring it inside? I got out buckets and pails to gather up the snow. Then I put the snow on trays on the tables. I found scoops, spoons, containers of various sizes for students to use. While the students worked with the snow (gloves or mittens helped keep fingers warm), they talked about their memories of stories about snow or TV programs they had watched. Here they were working with the cold wet stuff. Our running commentary covered such topics as weather, climate, seasons, states of water that change with the degree of heat such as solid-ice, liquid-water and gas- steam. We talked about snow travel: by sleds-whether pulled by people, dogs, horses or reindeer, skis, snowshoes, and the more modern snowmobiles. Figure skating, racing, ice hockey, downhill and cross country skiing were mentioned as winter sports. Celebrations such as winter carnivals with various sports and art of snow and ice sculpture were mentioned. Uses of snow included preserving food. We also discussed winter fashion in clothing as well as safety tips such as wearing several layers of clothing, covering heads, faces, hands and staying warm and dry. Carrying emergency food and blankets in the family car or van were also mentioned.
Meanwhile, back at the snow trays on the table, we watched the snow melt, but before it did, we used old markers to color the snow of our "transitory art" creations which were captured on video tape to be viewed during the heat of the opening of school at the end of summer.
Another snow activity that we have done when conditions were right was to try to look at snowflakes under a microscope. We found this very difficult to do because the flakes melted inside before we could get them in focus. We found it helpful to refer to the beautiful photographs of unique snowflakes made by Wilson Alwyn Bentley (1865-1931) that are included in his book, Snow Crystals,NY, Dover, 1962.
We had discussed symmetry, cut paper snowflakes from thin paper, but had even more fun "creating" our own snowflakes by using Apple IIe computers with either Print Magic (black and white) or 816 Paint (color) using " mirrors" option to create symmetrical six-sided snowflake designs.
"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Dr. Suan Guess-Hanson 7000 Metcalf Laboratory School Illinois State
University Normal, IL 61790-7000 ph 309 438-7621 fax 309 438-2580
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