January has arrived, and with it the cold weather. We are also FINALLY getting some snow here in Colorado, so now is the perfect time to explore nature’s snow crystals.
Here are some simple ideas for snow science lessons and activities, and a FREEBIE to get you started.
Snow Science Experiments
What’s In Snow?
I got the idea for this from our town’s newspaper and it’s pretty cool. (And super easy.) If your kids eat snow ALL THE TIME like mine, be prepared to be grossed out. Sorry.
- Grab three clear cups or jars, fill one halfway with water, one halfway with snow and one with ice cubes.
- Put them on your counter side by side and note the time. See how long it takes for the ice and snow to melt.
- Questions to Spark Discussion:
- What does the ice look like while it’s melting? How about the snow?
- Which one melted fastest? Why?
- How do the melted ice/snow levels compare to each other? Which one is higher and why do you think that is?
- Now, take the jar of melted snow and look closely. You should see lots of little particles. We couldn’t identify them but read that they are most likely bits of dirt, grass, and even ash and animal waste. See, I told you – gross. (Upside – one of my children has not tried to eat snow since this experiment.)
- If your students are interested, they can get out their nature journals and take notes and draw pictures.
Examine Snow Crystals
(Note: This activity has to be done while it’s actually snowing.)
- First, get a piece of black construction paper and put it outside for a bit to get cold. While you’re at it, grab a magnifying glass and put it outside with your paper.
- Now spend the next 40 minutes getting your children bundled up in their 37 layers. I’ll wait.
- Go outside and hold the black paper up toward the sky to catch some snow. You should get a mix of snowflakes (the larger clumps) and individual snow crystals which have broken off from their groups.
- Have your kids examine the snow crystals (not the clumps) with the magnifying glass.
- Here are some questions to ask:
- What shapes do you see?
- Are there some with broken sides?
- Do all of them have 5 sides or do some have more?
- Are they all different?
- And so on.
- When you’re done, go play in the snow since you’re all bundled up anyway!
Learn About Snowflake Shapes (Free Printable!)
Use this free Snowflake Shapes Printable to learn how a snow crystal forms and how it gets its shape.
If you print the flashcards out on watercolor paper or cardstock, you can paint them. Fill in the snowflake shapes with watercolor paint, and sprinkle salt on top. Allow it to completely dry. Once dry, brush off the remaining salt pieces. Cut out the flashcards and use them to identify snow crystal shapes next time it snows!
Snowflake Shapes Free Printable
Snowstorm in a Jar
Making a snowstorm in a jar is an easy science experiment you can do at home. It’s so satisfying to watch the snowstorm in action, and it’s a super fun way to learn about weather, density and more.
We like this Snowstorm in a Jar tutorial.
Paint a Snowflake
Make snowflakes magically appear before your eyes with some salt, water, and construction paper. This is SUCH a fun art activity to try at home with your kids on a snowy day. Get the instructions here.
Make Snow
If you live in an area where you don’t get actual snow – make some! I like this fake snow recipe because it’s easy and doesn’t stick to your hands.
- Pour a 2 lb. box of baking soda into a large plastic container. Add one can of shaving cream, a little at a time, mixing it into the baking soda as you go.
- Keep mixing with your hands until it is the consistency of snow. It’ll feel soft and cool to the touch.
- Alternatively, you could make crushed ice by blending ice cubes a little at a time in a blender. This will look a lot like snow but will melt quickly if your kids want to play with it.
Our Favorite Read-Aloud Picture Books
The Story of Snow, by Mark Cassino is fascinating and beautiful. I usually prefer to get books from the library but, in my opinion, this one is good enough to add to our collection.
Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton. We really love this one, but all of her books are amazing.
Winter Story, by Jill Barklem. We read this almost every day in the winter. Just do yourself a favor and get the whole Brambly Hedge series right now.
Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. The true story of Wilson Bentley and his determination to photograph and catalog snow crystals.
The Big Snow,by Berta and Elmer Hader. This one tells a story about which animals hibernate during the winter and which ones stick around.
If you’re looking to go deeper, this is a fun website that delves more into snow crystals, with lots of information on how they form.
**I’m an affiliate of Amazon, which means every purchase from product links helps keep this website going. I only write about things I’m truly passionate about, and products I actually recommend and use for our family.**