Building an igloo is easy all you need is nothing but the kitchen sink! …Oh and a spade, that helps…and snow of course, lots of snow…and while you’re at it some thermals!
The Finished Igloo,
Ta-dah!
A year or so ago a friend of mine Fiona, from Tots on Tour, told me about this idea and my boys have been keen to try it ever since. I was amazed by how well it actually worked.
Draw a rough circle in the snow as a guide then simply fill a washing up bowl with snow and stamp it down to compact it. Tip it up to place your snow brick onto your marked circle and repeat until you’ve gone all the way round, leaving a small gap for the door. Then do the next layer making sure you overlap the joins just like you would with Lego. To make a dome simply bring in each row by a couple of centimeters and eventually they’ll meet at the top.
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- Fill and stamp
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- Stamp it down.
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- The last brick
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- Crumb in the igloo
The teacher in me couldn’t help but take the opportunity for the children to develop their skills with this design and make activity. They’ve had the opportunity to develop their ideas, plan, make and evaluate their igloo and the construction process and they’ve had an immense amount of fun doing it.
At first they spent time at home chatting about what equipment they’d need and planning a sequence of actions.
When we were out I let them make what I could see would be mistakes so that they had the opportunity to problem solve for themselves. To begin with they started on a gentle slope and soon realised their mistake and moved. Later they quickly spotted that rather than doing it all with the spade, the bowl could be filled more quickly by scooping up the snow initially and then topping up with the shovel. They also realised at the end that their initial circle had been too small and the finished igloo only accommodated one person at a time, on the plus side it was very quick to make because it was so small.
I loved how this project gave the boys a super opportunity to work together as a team and really listen to each other and communicate and adapt their own ideas.
Of course they had great fun knocking it down when they’d finished with it too!
Kicking Down The Igloo
We finished the day with lots of sledging and snowball fights…well it had to be done didn’t it!
This activity supports Design and Technology at Key Stage 1 and 2: Developing, planning and communicating ideas; Working with tools, equipment, materials and components to make quality products; Evaluating processes and products; Knowledge and understanding of materials and components.
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Wow, this is great, if the snow is around at the weekend I know my boys would love to give this a go. If you fancy it this post is perfect for the outdoor play party which runs again next Friday. I thought you might like this link, it takes igloo building to the next level (it also took 5 days!) http://pinterest.com/pin/192740059024712013/. If its alright I’d love to share this post with my Facebook followers on Friday?
Wow, Hannah, thanks for sharing that, I’ve repinned it too. Their igloo is amazing, and so beautiful!
I’d love to link up again and please feel free to share away! Thanks x
Oh wow! What an incredibly simple idea but so effective. Love it!
TheBoyandMe recently posted…The Perfect Hot Chocolate
Thanks, it was surprisingly easy. I guess we should have spent time smoothing down all the edges and filling any little gaps but we were too cold by then and had to head home for our hot chocolate. Yours looks really yummy.
Just to say hello again, nipping over the Country kids linky!
TheBoyandMe recently posted…Days 20-26 of Project 365 (Country Kids)
What a great idea! We didn’t have enough snow here but we did managed a small snowman and snowdog.
What a shame you didn’t get much snow! Loved your little snow dog though, very cute.
Thank you for the design and idea of the washing up bowl. I have seen some lovely igloos on Country Kids the past 2 weeks and was only guessing at how they were made. Armed with your instructions all I need now is some snow! I love the way you allow the children to make their own mistakes and learn from them, looks like they got there in the end really well and all the better for being team work! Thank you for sharing on Country Kids.
Coombemill recently posted…Silent Sunday / Project 52
Thanks for popping by. I’ve really enjoyed linking up to you, so thanks for hosting. It’s so lovely to see so many great ideas. x
This is fantastic!!! What a great idea… I want an igloo but all the snow has gone now
Sonia Constant recently posted…More snow fun – Country Kids
Thanks Sonia. What a shame you haven’t had much snow
I’m posting a ‘How to make an indoor igloo’ tomorrow, maybe that will work for you. x
That looks amazing! Well done!
Funky Wellies recently posted…On Her Broomstick
Thanks Funky Wellies.
Such fun! I can’t wait till Scamp and Ozzy are old enough to do this!
Mammasaurus recently posted…Silent Sunday
Yours looked like they were having a great time with all that water this week.
brilliant!
HPMcQ recently posted…365 19.01.13
Thankyou. We loved your snowman’s enormous carrot nose.
wow that looks amazing, great job xx
wendy recently posted…#SilentSunday
Thanks for popping by and telling us you liked it Wendy.
I liked seeing your on with his book. It’s great when kids love to read isn’t it.
That igloo was awesome…what fun x
shahnaz recently posted…Mini Adventures
Thanks Shaznaz, looks like your little ones had a great time in London too.
I wish we had thought of this. the kids soon got over the snowman but I think an igloo project may have kept them busy for longer. Next year.
fivegoblogging recently posted…Silent Sunday
You never know we may get some more snow before winter’s over.
Wow! that Igloo is awesome!! my fav yet!
sarah recently posted…Years that are lived well…
Thanks sarah
Thats a great idea one for the next batch of snow
Thisdayilove
thisdayilove – leyla recently posted…the mind of an 8 month old
Thanks
Fingers crossed we’ll get a little more before winter’s completely over. I do love it so!
How awesome that your kid built an igloo all by themselves! Thank you so much for linking up to the Outdoor Play Party. It’s great to have ideas for older kids linked up.
I love your Outdoor Play Parties so thanks for letting me be part of it. It’s so great to see such a lot of wonderful ideas out there and people having great fun with their children.