Here’s how to set up one of my favorite winter activities for preschoolers using a name snowman. Be sure to grab your free printable version of this activity at the bottom of the post.

Related: Free Printable Snowman Game
Working with 4 and 5 year old children, I tend to use names a ton in my teaching. I find it fun to create new ways for children to have fun learning their names, their friends’ names, the letters and sounds in their names, etc.
With a snowy theme for winter, I knew I wanted to do something with snowmen and names. Combining preschool winter crafts, letters, children’s names, and snowmen is a perfect winter activity for preschoolers to try.
Name Snowman
This name snowman craft turned out to be a blast for everyone involved – the kiddos, me, and the other teachers!
Listening as the children worked to create snowmen from their names made me smile!
Remember, you can grab a free printable of this activity at the bottom of this post.
Materials to Make a Snowman Name Craft
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- various colors of construction paper
- wiggly eyes
- stick-on eyes
- craft jewels
- wide variety of pom poms
- buttons
We started with some pre-cut circles out of white construction paper, and some of the children cut their own out as well. They were all about 3 to 4 inches across. I also traced some hat shapes on different color papers.

Related: Symmetry Snowflake Craft
How the Children Made Their Name Snowman
When the children sat down at my table during centers, I explained the plan. Each letter in their first names would have its own “snowball” (white paper circle). The face of the name snowman would also get one snowball.
Each child created his snowman’s face and hat first, and there was a lot of creativity at play! We had upside-down hats, wiggly eyes on hats, huge button noses, and so many more interesting creations. It’s always nice to see each child’s personality and individuality come across in activities like this.
Once the snowmen faces and hats were complete, I had each child write the letters in her name on “snowballs”. The kiddos did a wonderful job writing just one letter on each circle.
Only 1 or 2 children needed help putting the letters in the correct order or writing certain letters.

Related: Sensory Writing Tray for a Preschool Arctic Theme
Winter Activity for Preschoolers with a Focus on Literacy
Then it was on to assembling the name snowman. The kids stacked the letters in their names, then added the snowmen’s heads on top. They all turned out even cuter than I thought they would!
In addition to the fun, creative side of this project, the children touched on many valuable educational tidbits:
- The letters need to be in the correct order to form their names. “Where’d my ‘e’ go? I can’t spell my name without the ‘e’!”
- Some children have longer names than others. “Hey, your snowman is taller than mine! How many letters are in YOUR name?”
- There are some commonalities within the children’s names. “My name ends in ‘-er’ just like his name!”
- Capital letters versus lowercase letters. We discussed this as the children were writing their names, but the kiddos didn’t always apply it correctly while writing (and that’s okay).
- Letter formation. There was much discussion about the different ways we form the letters of the alphabet.
The extra circles were set out during center time so the kiddos could make even more snowmen, with and without their names. Have you ever made a name snowman with your students?

Related: Super Sparkly Fake Snow Recipe
A Word About Left-to-Right Progression
Teaching kids that we read from left to right, and top to bottom is very important in early childhood classrooms. So the name snowman concept might be causing you to scratch your head – because it doesn’t go left to right (because that’s not how snowmen are built).
I tend to have the kids lay their snowballs in a line, left to right, on the table in front of them. Then I have the children write their letters (again, left to right). After that, I have the kids read their name from left to right.
Once that’s done, it’s time to build the snowman.
So it’s not too difficult to integrate appropriate left-to-right progression into this name snowman activity!
Name Snowman Video
Here’s a video to show you the multiple ways kids can create their own name snowman.
Remember, you can grab the free printable version at the end of this post.

Related: Winter Songs for Preschoolers
Free Printable Name Snowman Alphabet
As I mentioned above, I’ve also created a printable that goes along with this activity. I definitely think the hands-on crafty version is worth doing with the kids. But having a printable name snowman could be used a few additional ways!
Materials for the Printable Name Snowman
Alphabet snowman printable (grab the printable at the end of this post)
Laminator (optional)
Prepping the Printable Version
Once you have your printable name snowman alphabet, open up the file in Adobe Reader. It’s a partially editable printable – this means you can change parts of it before printing it.
Then bring your cursor to the snowman’s hat. Highlight where it says “name” and type in the name of the child. Alternatively, use the version that just has a scarf and edit the “name” area there.
Next, print out the pages that you will be using. This includes the snowman head and whichever snowball letters you’ll be using. You can adjust your printer settings if you want to print everything smaller or larger.
Cut the pieces apart next. If this activity is meant to be reusable, you’ll likely want to laminate everything. If it’s going to be a one-time activity you may choose not to.
How to Use the Name Snowman Alphabet Printable
There are a few different ways you can use this. It all really depends on what you’d like to do with the kids. Here are a few suggestions:
- Make each child a name snowman baggie. This baggie will contain the individual pieces of the snowman. Have the kids assemble their snowman during centers or small groups.
- Combine the name snowman craft with the printable version. Let the kids design the hats for their snowman, but use the printable snowballs with the individual letters on them.
- Print out the snowman’s head and hat (with the kid’s name on it), but cut out separate snowballs from white construction paper. Let the kids write their letters on the individual snowballs before assembling the snowmen.
- Turn the snowmen into a math graph, comparing the number of letters in their names.
- You could also use the printable to explore the alphabet, but I’ll share more on that later.
There are really so many ways you can use this printable!
Preschool Snowman Lesson Plans
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for classroom teachers and home preschool families so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
This set includes active hands-on learning ideas, book suggestions, and the following printables:
- Measure the Snowman Activity
- Roll a Snowman Game
- A to Z Build a Snowman Activity (focusing on uppercase, lowercase, and beginning sounds)
- Snowman Pattern Cards
- Roll and Cover Snowman Math Game Boards (numbers 1 to 12)
- 1-20 Snowman Counting Mats
- My Snowman Emergent Reader
- 0-35 Snowman Counting and Calendar Number Cards
Get your snowman themed lesson plans:
Preschool Classroom | Home Preschool Families | Teachers Pay Teachers
Get the Name Snowman Free Printable
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re already a member, enter your email in the form below to have the printable sent to your inbox.
Not a member? No worries! Enter your information in the form to join us. You’ll get the printable sent to your inbox as a welcome gift.
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Originally published December 3, 2012. Updated with a video and a free printable.

I love these – they turned out really great! I’m going to make them this week with my kiddos. Thanks for the idea 🙂
Thank you! I love how they turned out too! 🙂 Let me know how it goes with your kids.
I will. Decided to save this for “S is for Snow” week, which is coming up soon!
My grandson will LOVE making these, can’t wait to do it with him, thx for the tip!
So glad to hear that! Let me know what he thinks of it!
soooo cute!! Planning this for my homeschool group this snowy week – thank you!!
That’s great, thank you!!!
I have everything ready for tomorrow!! My assistant and myself will be working on this great activity!
Awesome! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
This looks like such a fun activity for my two and three years olds.
I hope the kids have a blast with it! 🙂
This will be a great fit for my little Johhny. Let’s see how it goes.
Be sure to let me know how it goes! 🙂
these are cute!
Thank you! 🙂
I want the name snow man please
Click on the large button at the bottom of the post and enter your information to get it sent to your email.
My children loved the activities. Thank you! I was not able to get the snowman alphabet to submit for printing.
So glad to hear that the children are enjoying it! You can check out my printables help page if you need to. Most of the issues boil down to either needing to update Adobe Reader or getting caught in school firewalls. I hope that helps! Feel free to email me if not.
It will be wonderful for my young students.
Thank you very much
Happy to help!
I did this last year and they turned out so cute.
Oh, I love hearing that! 🙂
We are doing a snowman theme in our front foyer
That sounds like fun! The name snowmen would be a great fit then! 🙂
I have tried to get the snowman alphabet numerous times and I still didn’t get it in my email.
Hey Debbie – I just sent you and email. Basically, I think your school email is interfering with my emails, including the email with the snowman printable (as some schools have strong firewalls and exclusions). Your email seems to be bouncing back a lot of emails, so you might want to sign up with a non-school email address or whitelist my email (by adding it to an approved list). The email I sent you has more information.
I would like the snowman name printable
Hi Emily! You can get it sent to your inbox via the form near the bottom of the post. Or you can access the form through this link! 🙂
So cute I can’t wait to have the children make them
Thanks, Jeannine! Let me know what the children think of the name snowmen when you do make them! 🙂
REally awesome ideas. I am teaching art to pre-k/k and need lots of winter ideas!
So glad the name snowman idea can be of help, Patricia! My winter crafts and winter process art posts might have more ideas for you, too!
thanks for the cute idea
You’re very welcome, Gretta! Let me know how it goes if you give the name snowman craft a try!