DIY: Snowman Wobbler | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Snowman Wobbler

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Create a cheerful Christmas snowman wobbler using recycled bottle caps in just a few simple steps. This delightful holiday craft also teaches children about the science of centre of gravity.

Materials Needed

White card paper
Brown card paper
Black card paper
Plasticine
2 bottle caps
Marker pens
Googly eyes
Pencil
Double-sided tape
Scissors

Laid out on a light wood-grain surface are various art supplies, likely for a children's craft project. On the left is a stack of rectangular paper: a white sheet on top of brown and dark gray sheets. To the right of the paper are, from top to bottom: a small, sealed package of pink modeling clay, two white bottle caps, a small pile of googly eyes, a roll of clear tape, three white markers with red, green, and orange caps, a gray pencil, and a pair of black scissors. The arrangement suggests preparation for a crafting activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Using the bottle cap as a template, draw its outline with a pencil, then draw another circle below it. Repeat this process on the brown card paper, drawing two circles.

Two hands are shown tracing a circle on a white sheet of paper using a gray pencil. The left hand holds a white bottle cap against the paper, using it as a template, while the right hand guides the pencil around the edge of the cap. The paper rests on a light wood-grain surface. This close-up image suggests a simple crafting or drawing activity.

Step 2

Cut out the circles along the outlines from both papers. These will be the bodies of your snowman and reindeer.

A pair of hands is shown cutting a white sheet of paper with black scissors. The left hand holds the paper, which rests on a light wood-grain surface, while the right hand operates the scissors. Two pencil-drawn circles are visible on the paper, and the scissors are cutting along the edge of one of them. This image depicts the process of cutting out a circular shape from paper.

Step 3

Stick the googly eyes onto the snowman and reindeer cut-outs, and draw your favourite expressions using the marker pens.

light wood-grain surface. On the left, a white cutout resembles a snowman, with a small orange triangle for a nose, rosy cheeks, and a small o for a mouth. On the right, a light brown cutout, possibly intended as a gingerbread person, has a red circular nose, rosy cheeks, and a smiling mouth. These figures appear to be part of a childrens craft project.

Step 4

On the remaining white card paper, draw accessories you like, plus arms for the snowman and antlers and ears for the reindeer. Ensure the accessories are sized appropriately to fit on your characters.

On a piece of white paper lying on a light wooden table, a hand holding a red marker is coloring in a drawing of a red scarf. Other simple drawings, including a Santa hat, a stick arm, and an orange and yellow striped scarf, are also visible on the paper. Another hand is partially visible on the left side of the frame. The scene suggests a crafting or drawing activity, likely related to creating snowman decorations.

Step 5

Cut out all the accessories you've drawn.

Arranged on a light wood-grain surface are various paper cutouts, seemingly for a snowman and gingerbread person craft. A white snowman figure with googly eyes, an orange paper nose, and drawn rosy cheeks and mouth is positioned on the right. Next to it is a light brown gingerbread figure, also with googly eyes, a red paper nose, and drawn features. Scattered above and to the left are additional cutouts: a red and white Santa hat, two black stick arms, a red paper scarf, a striped orange and yellow paper scarf, and two black mitten shapes. The arrangement suggests the components of a children's craft project, ready to be assembled.

Step 6

Use double-sided tape to attach the accessories to your snowman and reindeer.

Two completed holiday-themed crafts rest on a light wood-grain background. On the left, a reindeer figure made from light brown card stock features googly eyes, a drawn red nose and smiling mouth, black card stock antlers, and a red paper scarf. On the right, a snowman crafted from white card stock includes googly eyes, a drawn orange carrot nose, rosy cheeks, and an o shaped mouth. The snowman also wears a striped orange and yellow paper scarf, a red paper Santa hat, and has black card stock arms. These simple, child-made decorations evoke a festive spirit.

Step 7

Next, cover both bottle caps entirely with double-sided tape.

Step 8

Attach the snowman and reindeer to the bottle caps.

Two hands are shown assembling a snowman craft against a light wood background. The snowman's body, a white circle with drawn features (googly eyes, an orange carrot nose, rosy cheeks, black buttons, and a surprised expression), is being attached to a white plastic bottle cap. The snowman wears a red and white Santa hat and a striped orange and yellow scarf. One hand holds the bottle cap while the other hand positions the snowman cutout, suggesting the process of gluing or taping the pieces together. Black stick arms are also attached to the snowman figure.

Step 9

Fill each bottle cap halfway with plasticine.

Hands are shown in the process of making Christmas crafts on a light wooden surface. In the center, a snowman figure made from a white circle with drawn features (googly eyes, an orange carrot nose, rosy cheeks) and a red and white Santa hat is being attached to a white plastic bottle cap filled with pink putty or clay. Black stick arms are affixed to the snowman. To the left, another bottle cap with pink putty is visible, with a partially completed reindeer head (light brown card stock with black antlers) positioned above it. The scene captures the midway point of creating these festive decorations.

Step 10

Stand your characters upright, and your wobblers are complete.

Two charming, finished Christmas crafts stand on a light wood-grain surface. On the left, a reindeer figure is constructed from light brown card stock, featuring googly eyes, a drawn red nose and smiling mouth, black card stock antlers, and a red paper scarf. On the right, a snowman is made of white card stock with drawn features: googly eyes, an orange carrot nose, rosy cheeks, a surprised o shaped mouth, and black buttons. The snowman wears a striped orange and yellow scarf, a red paper Santa hat, and has black card stock arms. These simple crafts evoke a festive holiday spirit.

Step 11

Now you can gently push your snowman wobbler and watch it play!

A small paper reindeer and a paper snowman wobble gently on a green patterned surface. The reindeer is brown with black antlers, googly eyes, a red nose, and a red scarf. The snowman is white with black twig arms, googly eyes, an orange carrot nose, a red and orange striped scarf, and a red Santa hat. The background suggests a festive, possibly Christmas-themed setting.

The Science Behind It:

The wobbler stays upright because of the heavy weight at its base, which creates a low centre of gravity. Additionally, the wobbler's base is large and rounded, making it easy to rock. When the wobbler tilts to one side, gravity pulls it back to centre, creating a rocking motion that continues until friction or air resistance eventually stops it.

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