The Modern Snow Day: Ideas for Art Teachers

I have some wonderful memories of snow days as a child. There was really nothing quite like the thrill of a threatening winter storm and the anticipation of a snow day. I may be dating myself, but when I was young, school closures were announced on local radio stations. When I was a new teacher, we had a snow day phone chain to get the word out among faculty. That gave way to the scrolling bar on TV, and then automated calls. Soon, all our devices were beeping and ringing in the early hours of the morning.

More importantly, the thrill of sleeping in and playing in the snow has changed as well. In the early 2010s, districts began experimenting with ways to avoid tacking days to the school year. States like Ohio and Indiana pioneered “Blizzard Bags”—pre-packed folders of worksheets and assignments that students were expected to complete at home if school was canceled. This was the first major step toward “instructional continuity” without physical attendance.

Then came the pandemic pivot. Since schools were forced to build robust remote-learning infrastructure (Zoom, Google Classroom, and 1-to-1 laptop programs), the “logistical hurdle” of a snow day vanished overnight. There is really no uniformity today. Some states, like my own, Massachusetts, have actually prohibited remote learning from counting toward the 180-day requirement, effectively forcing schools to keep the “old school” makeup day model. Other areas of the country, like Missouri and Arkansas, have AMI days. AMI stands for “Alternative Methods of Instruction.” Pennsylvania has Flexible Instructional Days (FID). Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois all have some form of e-learning days- the details and requirements vary by state.

While most subjects can pivot to laptops and digital textbooks, art teachers face a unique set of logistical and pedagogical hurdles when the physical classroom is unavailable. But, we art teachers are also a resourceful and creative bunch of folks. So, let’s share some ideas for making snow-day learning work for our students and us.

Macro Snowflake Photography: Have students use a dark piece of clothing (like a black glove or sleeve) to catch snowflakes and take the most detailed close-up photo they can with a phone camera.
Resources: Online Articles, How I Take Snowflake Photos with my Cell Phone, and How to Photograph Snowflakes — Nature’s Fleeting Work of Art

Coffee or Tea Painting: An old-school classic. Students can use brewed coffee or tea as “watercolor” to create monochromatic paintings with a vintage, sepia-toned look. Find a fun landscape demo on YouTube.

Choice Board Activities: Giving students a choice allows for flexibility- who knows what materials a student might have, so choice boards can give students some autonomy. Middle School art teacher Shawna Collins Chesser shared her Snow Day Choice Board Google Doc.

Online snowflake maker: You can find several online, such as these: Snowflake Maker 1, Snowflake Maker 2, Snowflake Maker 3, Snowflake Maker 4.

Object Color Wheel: This is an oldie but goodie that took off in the pandemic. Find information on how to create one here.

Adam Hillman-Inspired Photography: Hillman is a prominent artist and photographer known for creating intricate, colorful, and “oddly satisfying” patterns using everyday household items like Q-tips, candy, and breakfast cereal. He is often referred to as an “object arranger” who meticulously arranges, cuts, and organizes items into geometric, symmetrical, or art-inspired designs.
Resources: Article, Object Arranger: Adam Hillman finds beautiful patterns in everyday objects
YouTube Video, Adam Hillman: The Master of Symmetry and Visually Satisfying Arrangements

Art History Mysteries: Art Teacher Meghan Zick uses her snow days to focus on Art History. She writes, “I have a few modules ready to go for e-learning days. I call them Art History Mysteries, and the students have a video to watch, an article or presentation to read, and then a quiz. Why is the Mona Lisa so famous? What really happened to Van Gogh’s ear, and The Curse of King Tut.”

Find some inspiration with Reader’s Digest online article, 13 Strangest Unsolved Mysteries of the Art World

Recreate A Famous Piece of Art at Home: Another pandemic-era-inspired activity. Have your students recreate a masterpiece at home. This requires so much creative thinking and problem-solving.
Resources: The world’s most famous works – created with everyday household items