I love snow, snowflakes and snow globes! I like to decorate my classroom with such things to celebrate wintertime, and the possibility of a "snow day", which does occur regularly where I live here in Michigan :). I had some time to do some shopping over my Christmas break, and I found an Austrian snow globe, which I bought for my desk. Here's a photo:
Apparently, Austrian snow globes are special and have superior "snow fall"...which I do think is true as I look at this globe. I tried to take a photo that would capture the effect. If you look carefully, you can see that the snowman is holding a green balloon in his left (your right) hand. It is lovely, and I know it will draw students to my desk. They love the interesting objects I place there throughout the year.
Why place novelties on your desk? It helps to make your classroom a stimulating and interesting place to be. It also helps communicate the message that you are approachable to your students. They might just stay and chat with you a while when they stop to shake your snow globe :).
Happy New Year, fellow teachers! Wishing you love, joy, peace, happiness, good health and success in your classroom in 2012!!