Does your school want to experience winter during the hot summers in North Texas? Need a little motivation to get kids outside for recess or physical education? Don’t worry if you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A snow day is an event that kids talk about long after their school careers have finished. Although nature tends to shy away from snow day events in Texas, there is no need to worry about the weather when you can create your own magical winter world for students.
Your school campus can host everything from snowy play areas on the elementary blacktop to snow-filled obstacle courses in high school parking lots. Before you pull the plug on a snow day event, there are a few things to consider when taking your school’s outdoor activities above and beyond.
Why Should My School Host a Snow Day?
Many schools focus on connecting with students beyond the classroom. Holding a snow day event is the perfect way to increase student involvement while rewarding them for good grades, extra effort, or fundraisers that exceed their goals. Mental health professionals agree that breaking up structured learning with exercise and outdoor play allows students to develop essential life skills. Taking kids outside to enjoy a morning filled with “snow days” helps students reset their minds and opens opportunities for peer-to-peer social skills as they play in the snow.
PTAs and school boards commonly stress the difficulty of hosting a school event. However, there is less red tape when holding your functions on campus. Say goodbye to school buses, field trip permission slips, and costly admission fees. And because everything is hosted on school grounds, there is no additional fee for students who cannot attend off-campus events with their classmates.
Pro Tip | Start With a Blank Canvas
For best results, schedule snow delivery after the schools night before or early morning before students arrive. It isn’t a snow day without opening the gym doors to a mountain of white snow where there used to be green grass.
Artificial Snow For School Events
Science has come a long way when it comes to freezing water and bringing snow days to life. Believe it or not, kids can enjoy cold, packable snow on days where the outside temperature is nearing 80 degrees. Before scheduling your snow day, make sure to ask what type of artificial snow will be used for your Texas snow party. Most machines use high-output snow makers that convert water into ice crystals. Our artificial snow is safe for kids and mimics the look and feel of natural snow.
When children’s safety is your top priority, make sure the playground area is clear of sprinklers, hoses, rocks, and lawn debris. Place absorbent rugs at the entrance of your school to prevent slips and falls if your kids will be going in and out of classrooms. And because the snow we use is non-toxic and biodegradable, you don’t have to worry about burnt grass or harmful chemicals affecting your family’s pets.
Snow Day Party Game | Quiz
- Do you have easy access to a 20′ x 20’ plot of grass or pavement?
- Can you provide a water source and electrical outlet?
- Are your students willing to change out of their shoes into socks or mittens?
If you answered yes to the above questions, you are ready to schedule your snow delivery day!
Snow Day Ideas For Schools and Students
After the snow hits the ground, it’s time for some fun games and activities. Younger children can enjoy sensory play by creating snow-filled treasure hunts. Hide plastic gold coins or other interesting objects inside bins of snow and let kids dig for prizes. For older kids, some structured competition can help facilitate team building. Stack hay bales or set up inflatable barriers to create your own snowball fight “arena.”
- Build a snowman. Provide students with carrots, scarves, and coal. See which grade can sculpt the coolest snowman.
- Paint the snow. Fill water squirt bottles with food coloring and use snow as your canvas.
- Make a sledding hill. Depending on the amount of snow you order, you can create a hill for students to “tubing” or sled down.
- Try science experiments. Teach kids about states of matter or how animals insulate themselves in the winter by stuffing shortening in plastic bags to make “blubber gloves.”
No matter your students’ interests, there are tons of ways to ensure your snow day event is a success.
Snow Delivery for Your Texas School Event
Most schools have a little reading material when it comes to hosting snow days. Coordinating your snow delivery will require communication between your on-site maintenance team and the snow company. Snow here in DFW is measured by tons, and the average “play pile” can range from 3-10 tons for a small group of students. A whole elementary school “winter wonderland” will typically need anywhere from 10-30 tons of snow.
When searching for snow for events near you, make sure the company you choose can handle everything from delivery to breakdown. Your snow provider should come out to your location to do a site survey, ensuring their trucks and snow machines can access the area without harming campus sidewalks or decorations. Since snow parties are very popular during Christmas time or year-end celebrations, booking your event as far in advance as possible is always recommended. You can find more information on how much area different amounts of snow cover here.
Hosting snow days for fundraising accomplishments or full-school celebrations is an excellent way to get your students involved. Planning ahead will allow you to address any concerns before your big day comes.
Need Snow for School Events? We Got You Covered!
DFW Mr. Cool Snow Parties works closely with Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas schools to transform an average Wednesday afternoon into a magical winter experience. Our experienced team knows how to cater your snow day event to fit your school’s budget and needs. Providing snow for events doesn’t have to be stressful when you work with a company that specializes in snow days for schools. No matter how you plan to build your snowman, we can customize your school snow package to create an unforgettable day for your kids.
Contact us today to get a quote on your next school event!