Homeschoolers at the Library
Friday, January 8, 2016 @ 1 PM
Snow Amazing!
Parent Resource List
What We Did This Month
· This month, even though there was no snow on the ground, we talked about snow! We started out by talking a little about what snow is and how it forms. Then we discussed whether snow and ice are the same, and observed ice in a cup. This was then set aside for later.
· We first read Snow by Valerie Bodden. This gave us a good overview of what snow is. Then we read a selection about snow from Wonderful Weather by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone. This led into our first experiment.
· We brought out our ice in a cup. However, it wasn’t ice anymore. We discussed what happened and how snow melts. Then we poured the water into a measuring cup and recorded how much water a full cup of ice made. We then filled the glass with water and then poured the water into the empty measuring cup. We observed the difference between the two and discussed how snow has air in it and makes less water when it melts.
· Our next activity involved ice and salt. We talked about why salt is used in the winter on roadways and sidewalks and why it works the way it does. We then put two ice cubes in separate cups and sprinkled one ice cube with salt and set both cups aside. We then each got a cup with an ice cube and tried to pick up the ice with a piece of string. Since no one could accomplish this, we dipped our strings into a cup of water, lay the end across the ice cube, and sprinkled it with salt. We then discussed why the ice stuck to the string. This idea came from http://hubpages.com/education/Easy-Snow-and-Ice-Experiments.
· We had a take-home activity today as well. We prepared a snowflake experiment to take home, since no snow could be found outside. Taken from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/snowflake.html, we made snowflakes out of pipe cleaners. The snowflakes were sent home in a cup with a bag of borax, string, a stick, and instructions. Once home, the borax and one cup of hot water should be added to the cup, and the snowflake should be suspended in the cup by the string and stick. Left overnight, this will create a crystal snowflake.
· There were also paper snowflake templates available to do after the program or to take home. This were found at http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/snowflake.html.
Take Home
· Snowflake Coloring Pages http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/snowflake2.html
Books Used in This Program
· Snow by Valerie Bodden
· Snow by Honor Head
· Wonderful Weather by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone
Additional resources to use at home:
· Winter Science Activities can be found at http://lemonlimeadventures.com/must-try-winter-science-experiments-for-kids/
· Melting Ice Science Experience http://artfulparent.com/2012/07/melting-ice-science-experiment-with-salt-liquid-watercolors.html
· Snow storm in a jar http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/12/snow-storm-in-jar_9.html
· More winter activities for kids http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/11/winter-activities-for-kids.html
If you are looking for nonfiction books about snow: j551.5784
If you are looking for nonfiction books about weather: j551.5