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Friday, January 31, 2020

A Winter Dance Story: The Most Perfect Snowman

Hello, and Happy 2020!

I have created a new dance story around one of my favorite picture books: The Most Perfect Snowman, by Chris Britt. This is a fun and lively mid-winter activity, perfect for story time!

This beautiful story is about generosity, kindness, and selflessness, and is told in a gentle way. The lovely illustrations and language portray the story of a lonely snowman, Drift, who only has two skinny stick arms, and a mouth and eyes made of coal. He has no hat, scarf, or mittens. He sees the parade of other stylish snow people go by, laughing, dancing, and playing, and he longs for company and to be like the other snowmen. Most of all he wants a nice carrot nose. He thinks that if he were stylish and had a carrot nose, he would be perfect.

Drift spends his days slipping and sliding through the woods all alone. Three children see him and feel sorry for him. One child gives him a hat. Another gives him mittens, and a third gives him a scarf. Then, one of them gives him a wonderfully big carrot, and says that now he is a perfect snowman. Drift is happy and plays with the children.

A furious storm blows in. Drift thanks the children and waves good-bye to them. The wind blows his hat and mittens away, and he tries to find them. He searches everywhere. He's sorry to lose his new clothes, but is happy that he still has his long, warm scarf, and his fancy carrot nose.

He hears a little whimper in the middle of the howling wind. It is a small bunny who is trying to survive the cold winter night. Drift gives the bunny his warm scarf. Then he hears the bunny's tummy growl with hunger. He gives the bunny his carrot, and this makes him "the most perfect snowman of all."

Now, let's dance the story!

THE MOST PERFECT SNOWMAN

Dance Story

Read the story aloud, then use the following prompts to inspire the children to retell the story through movement. Call out each one, and give the children plenty of time to respond through movement. This activity takes about 15 minutes, and works best in a large space.

Play a quiet instrumental selection in the background, such as "Just Before Dawn," by William Ackerman, from the album "A Winter's Solstice," Vol 4.

Begin the Dance Story:

Imagine you are Drift, the snowman. You have eyes, a mouth, and two stick arms.

You spend your days alone, slipping and sliding through the woods, slowly and sadly.

Here comes a parade of fancy, stylish snowmen. Can you parade around proudly, showing your hats, mittens, and scarves?

Have an imaginary snowball fight.

Now do a snowman dance!

Swish and slide through the woods, like Drift, watching the other snowmen play.

Suddenly, you see three children. Wave hello to them. Maybe they will come over to you.

One of them offers you her hat. Put it on your snowman head! What color is it? How does it feel?

Another offers you mittens. What do they look like? Put them on your stick arms.

And now one gives you a long, warm scarf. Can you wrap it around yourself?

What is the little girl holding now? A carrot! She gives it to you! Put it on your face, just like you have always wanted. You are the perfect snowman! Play with the children in the snow.

Imagine you are a snowflake flying around in the storm. What shape are you? Blow side to side, up and down, as the strong wind swirls you around.

Now imagine you are Drift, and suddenly your hat blows away. Oh no! Try to find it. Now your mittens blow away. Slide through the woods and try to find them too.

It's time to hunker down for the night and wait out the storm.What do you hear? Listen carefully. Do you hear a small voice? Look all around.

Look down and see a tiny, shivering bunny who is lost.

Now, imagine you are the bunny. How does it feel to be very, very cold? The snowman is giving you his warm scarf! Wrap up in the soft scarf.

The kind snowman is giving you his wonderful orange carrot nose! Munch softly on the carrot as you snuggle up next to the most perfect snowman of all.