Snowman Project

1. Name Project guidelines
The Snowman Construction Company
What a winter! It hasn’t snowed in Snow Falls for three
months! The people of this little town miss the snowmen that
always decorate their yards. Now the mayor of Snow Falls has
asked your company, the Snowman Construction Company, to
build some snappy snowmen for the town to buy.
Requirements: Your job is to build a snowman for your
construction company to sell. You may spend no more than
$25.00 in materials. Also, because of the weight limitations of
the delivery van, the snowman cannot weigh over 50 pounds.
You may use any of the materials listed on page 62 to build the
snowman as long as you stay within the price and weight limits.
Materials: Due date: ___________________
copy of the materials list
12” x 18” sheet of white construction Steps:
paper 1. Review the list of materials.
crayons, markers, or colored pencils 2. Choose the materials you will use. Double-check your
2 sheets notebook paper calculations to make sure you stay within the price and
4” x 6” index card weight limits described above.
paper clip 3. On the white paper, draw and color a picture of your
access to stapler snowman, showing all the materials you selected in
calculator (optional) Step 2.
4. On a sheet of notebook paper, list the materials you
used and their costs. Then show your calculations to
prove that you spent no more than $25.00 in materials.
Check the page to make sure you didn’t make any
errors.
5. On another sheet of notebook paper, list the
materials and their weights. Then show your
calculations to prove that the snowman doesn’t weigh
more than 50 pounds. Check the page to make sure
you didn’t make any errors.
6. On the index card, write a brief sales pitch for your
snowman. Include the snowman’s name and at least
three reasons why the people of Snow Falls should
buy it.
7. Staple the index card on the bottom of your picture.
Paper-clip your calculations to the back of the
picture.
The Snowster 2000
©The Mailbox ® • www.themailboxcompanion.com • Dec./Jan. 2009–10

2. The Snowman Construction Company
Materials List
Remember: 16 oz. = 1 lb.
Snowballs: 5 lb. = $0.99 (must use at least two)
small medium large extra large
5 lb. 15 lb. 25 lb. 30 lb.
Carrots Arms
(free, donated by local tree farm)
small medium large
4 oz. = $0.12 5 oz. = $0.14 6 oz. = $0.20 small pair = 6.5 oz. large pair = 9 oz.
Scarf Hats
1 scarf = 6 oz.
blue = $2.49
red = $3.72
green = $4.05
purple = $5.26 6.5 oz. = $4.25 8 oz. = $6.50 9 oz. = $8.00
Buttons Coal
1 oz. piece = $0.02
regular large
0.25 oz. = $0.03 0.5 oz. = $0.05
Brooms
8 oz. regular = $3.99
10 oz. large = $4.99
Shovels
1 lb. regular = $6.99
1.5 lb. large = $8.99
©The Mailbox ® • www.themailboxcompanion.com • Dec./Jan. 2009–10

3. What Is the Snowman Construction Company?
The Snowman Construction Company is a creative math activity that requires students
to use problem-solving strategies to solve an intriguing problem. An imaginary town is
experiencing a snowless winter and has asked your class to produce a supply of ready-
to-buy snowmen. As students try to build these snowmen within certain budget and
weight limitations, they’ll use math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division. They will also practice computing with money and converting measurements. All
in all, it’s a math activity that students will never forget—“snow” foolin’!
Getting ready: Make student copies of the pages. Also gather the materials listed on the
materials list page for each child. Schedule two one-hour class periods: one for complet-
ing the snowmen and one for presenting them to the class.
Introducing the project:
1. Tell students that you’ve just been contacted by the mayor of Snow Falls. The town
hasn’t had any snow yet and its citizens miss the snowmen that usually decorate
their yards. Your class has been asked to start a new business, the Snowman Con-
struction Company, and sell ready-made snowmen to the town.
2. Give each student copies of the pages. Read the project guidelines with students.
Also announce a due date for students to write in the appropriate blank.
3. Build a sample snowman with the class to model the steps and thinking processes
involved.
4. Give students the materials listed.
Presenting the project: After students have completed their projects, have each student
present his snowman and read his sales pitch to the class. Then celebrate the end of the
activity by snacking on hot chocolate and snowman-shaped cookies. Bind the projects
into a class catalog to present to the city council of Snow Falls.
©The Mailbox ® • www.themailboxcompanion.com • Dec./Jan. 2009–10