This post was inspired from the amazing Shannon Miller’s blog post on this topic.
A traditional classroom favorite activity is to place your students into a snow globe. In the past this has been done by capturing a photo of your students, then shrinking down the photo’s size, and possibly even cutting out the background. But, now there’s an easier way - just in time for the virtual learning holiday season.
In this blog post, you’ll learn (click on any subheading to jump to that section):
How To Remove the Background from a Picture
Removing the background from your images is easier now than ever before. This can be done on apps like PowerPoint or Adobe Spark. But, a simple and efficient method is through the website Remove.bg. Follow these simple steps:
Visit the website Remove.bg by clicking here
Upload the photo of your student by clicking the blue “Upload Image” button
Select your file, then download the download the new file with a transparent background!
How to Create Virtual Student Snow Globes
Now that you have your student images with transparent backgrounds, you’re ready to add them into a snow globe. Start by creating a Buncee slide and having students build their own snow globe. Search Buncee to find several created ones (try searching for the term “snowglobe”), or have students piece one together using the selection of image stickers.
In addition to the globe itself, students can also spend time adding in items to create their own winter wonderland scene within the globe.
Once their snow globe design is set, it’s time to add the student’s selfie that was created in Remove.bg. Follow these steps to add the photo:
Click the “+” sign to add a new item on Buncee
Click “Upload",” then select your file
Then, click the green “Upload” button to add it onto your Buncee
Students can add additional items such as snowfall, snowflakes, or even trees. If you’d like to keep it simple, just make a copy of our template for yourself! To do so, follow these steps:
Make sure that you’re logged onto your Buncee account (or create one ahead of time)
Click “Copy” to place it into your Buncee library
Here’s a link to our template:
How to Integrate into Lessons
There are many ways to get students creating in Buncee right within other subject areas and lessons. Below are a few ways you could integrate this project into your classroom to use with students of any age.
Ornament: Print out your Buncee (maybe even laminate it), punch a hole at the top, then tie a string on it to send home!
Virtual Class “craft”: Just because you don’t have the ability to send home craft materials doesn’t mean you can’t make them! Use Buncee to create virtual class “crafts” and then share them on a Buncee Board or Wakelet collection!
Connect to Literature: Tie this activity in with books (see below for a list of recommended titles)
Family Holiday Card: After creating their own snow globe in class, students could go home and create their own family holiday card
Books About Snow Globes
(and Other Winter Themed Titles)
Here are a list of books that you can tie into this activity:
Snow Globe Wishes
A little girl makes a wish on a snow globe and, in the morning, the sun rises on a winter wonderland--beckoning all outside. And what if, on this snow-filled day, families shake their busy lives and everyone goes out to play?
The Great Santa Stakeout
He has Santa posters, Santa action figures, and even Santa underwear. But there is one prize Freddy desperately wants: A photograph taken with Santa, fresh out of the chimney.
Snowglobe
When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew. The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.
Stay #interACTIVE!
-👗➕🕶️
For more tips, tricks and lesson ideas for making learning more interACTIVE, check out our book The InterACTIVE Class on Amazon!
