No-Prep Winter Brain Break: Keep Students Moving with Hey Snowman!

As teachers, we know the importance of incorporating movement into the classroom, especially when it’s quick, easy, and supports lesson goals. That’s where Hey Snowman! comes in! This playful brain break combines language skills with movement, helping students stay engaged while reinforcing listening and syllable awareness. Best of all, it’s completely no-prep and can be used as a simple classroom management tool to refocus your students during transitions or between lessons.

How to Play Hey Snowman

Call out a winter-themed word.
If the word is a 3-syllable word, students repeat it while touching their toes, waist, head – then back down: head, waist, toes – ending with a cheerful: "Hey Snowman!"

Example:

You say: "Icicle!"
Students repeat: "I-ci-cle!" (toes, waist, head, head, waist, toes) and add: "Hey Snowman!"

Make It Magical

To introduce the activity, draw a 3-part snowman (bottom, middle, top) on the board or chart paper. Use a wand, pointer, or even your finger to tap each part of the snowman as you model syllables with words like "icicle" or "snowflake." This fun visual helps students connect the movement with the syllable pattern and adds a playful touch to the game.

Why Hey Snowman Works

It’s quick, easy, and effective.
This simple brain break packs a punch: No prep: You only need your voice and a list of winter words.
Classroom management: It’s a great tool to re-engage students during transitions or when they need a quick energy release.
Encourages active listening: Students must focus on auditory cues to identify the correct syllable pattern.
Incorporates movement: A great way to help kids stretch, wiggle, and stay engaged while learning!

Wintery Words to Call Out

Here’s a ready-to-go list of 20 winter-themed words to use with Hey Snowman:

Snowflake, icicle, hot cocoa, sledding day, penguin, reindeer, snowman, Christmas, blizzard, skating rink, holiday, mittens, fireplace, frosty day, marshmallow, candy cane, snowball, December, hot chocolate, and scarf.

Feel free to mix them up and adjust the difficulty for your students!

Make It Your Own

This activity is flexible! Use it to:

Support literacy with syllable awareness.
Transition between lessons or as a quick movement break.
Tie into your winter or holiday themes.

Your students will love the playful magic of "Hey Snowman!"—and you’ll love how easy it is to implement.

Extend the Fun with a Snowman Craft!

Looking to take this activity even further? Try this Snowman Craft and Writing Pack for a hands-on fine motor practice and learning opportunity! Students can create their own 3-part snowman while practicing cutting, gluing, and writing skills. It’s perfect for tying into your winter-themed lessons or building a cute bulletin board display.

Hey Snowman supports language and movement standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2.B: Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1.A: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions, like listening and taking turns.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.2: Demonstrate understanding of spoken language, including word meaning and structure.

I hope your students enjoy playing Hey Snowman! as a fun way to break up their day while building language and listening skills. If you found this activity helpful, be sure to bookmark this blog and visit again for more engaging classroom ideas, creative learning activities, and teacher-friendly resources to make your lessons even more magical!