Do You Want to Build a Snowman - Lesson Plan Development
Circa 2015-Present
Olaf from Frozen
In January of 2015 we introduced our first Snowman themed lesson plan inspired by Olaf from the hit feature film, Disney's, "Frozen!" Frozen had just been released in 2013 and it's popularity was swift and formidable!
I was an immediate fan myself, but found myself loving one character in particular...Olaf! The silly snowman sidekick of Anna and Elsa. I loved how Olaf was often featured "rearranging" throughout the film and wanted to use this idea in our dance curriculum. I thought, "How fun would it be to create an Olaf Puzzle that would allow dancers to put him together in topsy-turvy ways!"
That's how our "Do You want to Build a Snowman?" Dance EdVenture™ Lesson Plan was formed.
An Olaf Doll and a self made puzzle made of construction paper was created to accompany us to all of our schools and preschools much to the amusement of all of our tiny dancers.
(photo Exploration Kids Enrichment Facebook Page 1/5/2025)
Olaf visited several preschools helping us 'Build a Snowman' from the years 2015-2016
Photos courtesy Exploration Kids Enrichment Facebook Page
Snowman Theme
In 2016, although Frozen was still widely popular, we began shifting from the character of 'Olaf' to a generalized Snowman theme.
As the Curriculum of a popular mobile dance program, we reached a wide range of demographics and thrived to reach all children in our program and an animated snowman was not all inclusive of our demographic.
Our hand-made Snowman made of construction paper became made of 3 circles of different SIZES and LEVELS to depict a more real-world representation of the snowman our students would experience outside of dance class.
(photo Circa Exploration Kids Enrichment Facebook Page 11/30/2016)
Conceptualized Dance
In 2016, our Olaf Rearranging Puzzle expanded from a Concept Play Display to a complete Dance Concept Exploration!
The Snowman Theme, while very diverse and can compliment an array of concepts, we felt was fit best with the Element of Body and Concept Size as well as the Element Space and the Concept of Levels!
As we explored Building a Snowman we could explore the size of the snowballs: a BIG snowball for the bottom, a MEDIUM snowball for the belly, and a SMALL snowball for the head. This could also cross over to levels: Low, Middle and High!
We assigned these dance concepts to the skill Port de bras (carriage of the arms) as we lifted our arms to low, middle and high shapes!
(Photo Circa Exploration Kids Enrichment Facebook Page 1/5/2016)
Snowman Manipulative
In 2019, we moved to a more hands-on, multi-sensory experience for our dancers to build a 3-D Snowman using Manipulatives.
Our 3D Snowman was made up of Dollar Tree Dice (painted white) and snowman ornaments which we disassembled to create more snowman pieces.
The Manipulatives allowed our dancers to experience a more tactile experience that a piece of paper could not provide. They were able to stack the pieces to expand the conept of LEVELS in a more three dimensional way.
(Photo: Circa Exploration Kids Enrichment 12/7/2019)
Exploring a Snowman Manipulative 2019
Photos courtesy Exploration Kids Enrichment Facebook Page
Printable Resources
In 2020, we began expanding our printable resources, such as coloring pages, skill progress games, dance a dot (like connect a dot), dance by numbers (like paint by numbers) and mystery dance (I spy) games.
These supplemental resources improved our Family Engagement and added opportunities for dance at home learning beyond the classroom.
Giant Snowman Manipulative
In 2023 we discovered this Giant Snowman Manipulative which quickly became the featured prop in the 'Do you Want to Build a Snowman?' Dance Lessons.
The Snowman's 3 levels and progressing sizes made it the perfect conceptual accessory along with it's assortment of snowman outerwear such as his buttons, scarf, stick arms, mittens, hat and of course the carrot nose.
The current 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' Dance Lessons feature this beloved snowman friend who helps us dance, learn and explore the dance concepts of sizes and levels!
Giant Snowman 2023-Present
The Dance to Learn® Archive
Updated Activities
In 2025 we updated the dance exercises and activities inside the 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman?' Dance Lessons including:
- New NeuroNarrative™ Warm Ups
- New Story Dance EdVentures™
- New Developing Skill Exercises
- Updated Story Dance Pathway™
- Expanded Thematic Single Skill Exercises
- New Magazine Style Teacher's Guide
- Freshly Designed Printable Resources