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homeschoolinginwinter

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

November 3, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for homeschool science experiments, you’ll love this easy instant ice activity. Add it to your winter season unit study.

If your kids are like mine, they prefer to get hands-on with their learning rather than just being read to from a book.

Although we love reading, we also love doing.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Whenever you start a new unit, a new week, or a new concept consider adding something that requires a lot more of their involvement like this instant ice homeschool science experiment.

This homeschool science experiment is easy to set up, perform, and requires very little prep.

Other than a watch and wait for the bottles to almost freeze, it’s simple and fun.

Freeze extra bottles so that it can be repeated.

But don’t stop with this hands-on winter experiment, keep the learning going.

Look at how to turn simple ideas into a fun little unit for you and your curious learners.

Fun Winter Ice Facts

Check out Why Does Water Turn Into Ice and Where do Icicles Come From to learn more about incredible ice.

Read a few interesting ice facts to see what you both can learn and reinforce what they already knew.

Interesting Ice Facts:

  • Fresh water will freeze at 0 ℃.
  • Ocean water will freeze but at a colder temperature of -2 ℃.
  • The Inupiaq of Alaska have 100 names for ice.
  • There are two types of ice on the earth. Land ice consists of fresh water and sea ice is made of salt water.
  • More than ⅔ of the earths fresh water is in the form of glaciers.
  • Ice is not only on earth but it can also be found on some of Saturn’s rings, in comets, the Moon, and on Jupiter.
  • The thickest ice ever recorded was 2.97 miles thick by an Antarctica research aircraft
  • Scientists believe there to have been 5 different ice ages which are the Huronian, Cryogenian, Andean-Saharan, Karoo Ice Age and the Quaternary glaciation.
  • Glaciers do not melt in very cold areas like the arctic but continue to build up and create massive ice sheets.
  • Ice is a mineral and meets all four of the requirements to make it a mineral.

The four requirements are it’s naturally occurring, a solid, has organized crystal structure and is inorganic.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

So, technically, ice is a rock.

Ice Vocabulary Words

Next, add a few science words about ice.

  • Supercool- a liquid that is below its freezing point without solidification or crystallization.
  • Ice- Frozen water, a brittle transparent crystalline solid.
  • Freezing- When the temperature of the air falls below the freezing point of water- 0 ℃.

Then move into learning about the science behind instant ice.

Instant Ice Science

First, purified water can be chilled below its freezing point and remain in a liquid state. This is a supercooled water.

There are not enough impurities in the water for ice crystals to grow on. Hitting it on the counter or pouring it over the ice gives it a kick start.

When a new material phase begins to form that is the water changing to solid ice.

It is called nucleation. 

Nucleation is when there is an imperfection in the substance.

For instant, dust in the water that the state it is changing to (ice) can anchor to and thus create a nucleus.

Just one molecule forms an ice crystal at the nucleus.

And the molecules next to it and on top of it begin to change state due to the icy surface.

This creates a chain reaction of ice until your supercooled water forms a little tower of ice.

We used the ice cubes to help us get that process started.

Take this experiment further and use different types of water in the water bottles.

Try these different waters.

  • tap,
  • salt water,
  • filtered,
  • add coloring, or
  • sugar.

Do you get the same results?

Have your child record it in a science journal and tell them the why of the bottled water working after they have tried their different ones.

Instant Ice Homeschool Science Experiment

This experiment will amaze your kids.

You will need:

  • Ice
  • 5 or 6 water bottles
  • Sheet pan or tray
  • Small bowl or cup
Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Open and reclose the caps.

This will help keep it at the supercooled state later without disturbing it too much when you open.

Place bottles in the freezer for an hour (set a timer so you don’t forget) how long it takes to freeze will depend somewhat on your freezer, how full it is and etc.

Check them after one hour, then after 30 minutes, and then every 15 minutes.

You want them to be close but not yet frozen.

A good way to test this is to remove one and hit it on the counter.

If you see a bit of slush form at the bottom of the bottle it’s perfect.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Here is a quick video of me tapping it on a chair to demonstrate that kick start effect of your supercooled water.

Fill your bowl or cup with ice when you are ready.

Learn from our mistake. Put a tray or baking sheet under it to catch overflow.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Carefully remove your bottles from the freezer and set them down gently.

Quickly remove the cap from your water and slowly pour the water over the ice from just slightly above it.

You should see an ice tower begin to grow.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

You should be able to get at least 2” to 3” before it begins to melt.

You need to be sure to work quickly because the ice will begin to melt within 30 second.

Therefore it’s a good idea to freeze a lot of bottles so you can try it over and over.

Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments

Want to see it in action?

More Winter Homeschool Science Experiments

Also, you’ll love these other winter homeschool science experiments.

  • How Does the Power of Ice Shape Mountains Activity
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders

What do you think? Ready to give it a try?

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, homeschoolscience, ice, science, winter crafts, winter season

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

October 20, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This fun snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten can be used for a winter unit study. Grab more craft ideas on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

Whoooo doesn’t love owls? Sorry, corny pun. If you are working on an owls unit study or talking about winter I have the perfect hands-on winter craft to add

You probably won’t even need a trip to the store to put together this snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Whether you are learning about winter, owls, or even just looking for an O or W craft for your letter of the week this simple activity is fun and cute to include.

You can find pinecones on your nature walk.

But if not, you can also find them at craft stores in the seasonal section.

Add a few books and additional activities like videos and you have a quick mini snowy owl unit study ready to go.

Snowy Owl Facts

  • Female owls remain with the babies while the male owl brings food back.
  • A baby owl is called an owlet.
  • They have feathers all over their legs and feet to keep them warm.
  • They are quite large. Their wingspan can reach 4’-5’ wide.
  • Snowy owls are diurnal, unlike most other owls. Instead of hunting at night they hunt during the day.
  • Male owls are pretty much solid white. Females have brown markings on their white plumage.
  • Snowy owl pairs mate for their whole life.
  • Lemmings make up most of the snowy owls diet.
  • By the time they are just 6 weeks old, snowy owls can fly well.

Snowy Owl Books

Nature Anatomy is the perfect companion spine for little learners, even if they are not reading yet.

The illustrations are fantastic and the little pieces of info they give are just enough for you to read and keep their attention.

I found a two page spread on owls to go along with the craft.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Gail Gibbons books are also a fantastic choice if you love the idea of Charlotte Mason style living books.

Owls are perfect to go along with this activity too.

The classic Owl Babies would also be a wonderful addition to your book collection.

Look below for more ideas.

Winter Unit Study Ideas

Try these other activities along with your winter craft

  • Listen to these Snowy Owl Sounds while you craft from YouTube.
  • Also look at my Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity. It is a fun way to demonstrate how Arctic animals keep warm.
  • How to Make fake snow with 2 ingredients for your owlet to hide in or for your little learner to play with in a sensory bin.
  • This Owl Babies Craft is absolutely adorable and would make for a great companion activity to this one.

Finally, measure out 5’ with painters tape on the floor to demonstrate to your child how large the snowy owl wingspan can be.

Next, let’s make a pine cone snowy owl craft.

Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

You will need:

  • A large pine cone
  • Craft glue
  • White and yellow craft felt
  • White feathers, cotton balls, or cotton batting.
  • Tan or yellow pipe cleaner
  • Googly eyes
Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

First, prepare small pieces of cotton batting, cotton balls, or white feathers.

Cut wing shapes from white felt. Cut them a little bigger than you think you need.

Try on your pinecone and trim as needed.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Draw w’s with a paint marker or sharpie to create feather definition on the wings.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Cut a small beak and two circles slightly larger than your google eyes from the yellow felt..

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Squeeze a generous amount of school glue into the openings between the scales of the pinecone.

Stuff in your cotton pieces to make it fluffy.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

I had originally intended on using fiber fill on the owl because I had it on hand but took a run to Hobby Lobby and found this cute little fluffy boa on sale for $1.50.

It looked so soft we couldn’t resist.

I cut it into little pieces to make stuffing all over easier. Encourage your child to fill it in and create a sweet little fluff ball baby owl.

When the pinecone is stuffed and fluffy to their liking, glue the wings, beak, and eyes in place with a generous amount of glue.

We found that laying it on its back to dry helped keep the pieces from sliding off.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Finish off by gluing small v shaped pieces of pipe cleaner/chenille stems to the bottom for his feet.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Other Winter Craft Ideas for Kindergarten

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten
  • Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids
  • Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow
  • Winter Nature Craft: How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders
  • 3 Fun Cocoa Winter Hands on Science Activities
  • How to Make an Easy Build a Snowman Kid’s Game (free printable cube)

2 CommentsFiled Under: Teach Kindergarten Tagged With: arctic, crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, kindergarten, owl, winter crafts, winter season

Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids

October 1, 2022 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

You’ll love this free winter lapbook for kids. Add to the other lapbooks I have here and you can create your own unit studies. In addition add it to my winter unit study.

And if you have multiple ages of children, this free winter lapbook has several minibooks with various topics.

Add the lapbook to a winter unit study or do it alone as an enhancement to your studies.

Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids

Besides, when your kids create a lapbook it becomes a tool for review.

In addition, the lapbook should reflect what interests the child.

If you choose to do one lapbook for all your children, then your children can do one or two minibooks each.

However, if you want to spend a longer time on the topic, let each child prepare their own lapbook.

Winter Unit Ideas and Books

Then add some fun books for reading aloud and ideas for crafts. I’ve included books for a variety of ages.

29 Winter Books to Read to Kids and For Kids Who Love to Read

Add in a few books to make your winter unit study complete. Add books for all ages.

Winter Is Coming

Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter.

As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins.

Hanna's Cold Winter

Hanna was a hippopotamus in the Budapest Zoo. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs which flowed from the ground. One winter, however, it was so cold that the river froze.

Over and Under the Snow

Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow.

Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow. 

ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the "subnivean zone" (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world.

The Snow Day

A young rabbit wakes up to wonderful news: A snow day! School is canceled, and the day that follows is rich with the magic and delight of the falling snow.

Animals in Winter

This is a clear and appealing book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom. Introduce kids to basic science ideas as part of discussions about the seasons and animals.

Miss Maple's Seeds

What happens to seeds that don't sprout? Fortunately, they have Miss Maple to look after them.

Every year, she rescues orphan seeds, taking them to her cozy maple tree house. All winter long, she nurtures them and teaches them the ways of seeds and the paths.

Breadcrumbs

Once upon a time, Hazel and Jack were best friends. But that was before he stopped talking to her and disappeared into a forest with a mysterious woman made of ice. Now it's up to Hazel to go in after him. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen,"

Brave Irene: A Picture Book

This winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on as she ventures through a bitter cold snowstorm in William Steig's classic Brave Irene.

Icefall

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle.

Poetree

The poem is indeed about the yearly cycle in the life of a tree. But it is also an intriguing poetic concoction.

The initial letters of each line in each stanza spell out a word that pertains to that tree's life cycle - SEED, GERMINATE, SHOOT, ROOTS, LEAVES, FLOWERS. It's a kids' acrostic.

Moominland Midwinter

Everyone knows the Moomins sleep through the winter. But this year, Moomintroll has woken up early.

So while the rest of the family slumber, he decides to visit his favorite summer haunts. But all he finds is this strange white stuff. Even the sun is gone! Moomintroll is angry: whoever Winter is, she has some nerve.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

Blessed--or cursed--with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she's known to her family) has always been seen as strange.

And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn't hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servants

If Polar Bears Disappeared

The freezing ecosystem in the far north of the globe is home to many different kinds of animals.

They can be Strong, like a walrus Tough, like a lemming Resilient, like an arctic fox.

But no arctic animal is as iconic as the polar bear.

The Very, Very Far North

An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making

The Longest Night

It is the longest night of the year, and the snow lies deep. All through the forest, animals long for dawn's warmth.

Strong and clever creatures boast that only they can bring back the sun. But the wind knows better.

The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A novel of snow and courage

Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says.

The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig.

Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life.

Wolf in the Snow

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

The Snowflake Sisters

Crystal and Ivory snowflake take full advantage of this beautiful snowy evening in New York City as they travel to the park, fly through Time Square, journey past the Statue of Liberty, and more before coming in for their final landing of the day.

Mr. Popper's Penguins

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.

One Snowy Night (Percy the Park Keeper)

Percy the Park Keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives.

But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food and he must find a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night.

Dog Driven

From the author of Ice Dogs comes a riveting adventure about a musher who sets out to prove her impaired vision won't hold her back from competing in a rigorous sled race through the Canadian wilderness. Perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter.

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy (Nature)

Forest animals, awakened by the birds' warning that there is a stranger in the woods, set out to discover if there is danger and find, instead, a wonderful surprise.

Owl Moon

Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream.

Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.

Here Comes Jack Frost

One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with―even all the birds have flown south.

When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend . . . or to discover how enchanting winter can be!

Twelve Kinds of Ice

With the first ice—a skim on a sheep pail so thin it breaks when touched—one family’s winter begins in earnest. Next comes ice like panes of glass. And eventually, skating ice! Take a literary skate over field ice and streambed, through sleeping orchards and beyond.

Blizzard

With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow.

Grandmother Winter

Grandmother Winter lives all alone with her snow-white flock of geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why?

To bring snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. To the woodland and all of its creatures, the arrival of winter is a gift.

Wild Child

Lynn Plourde's text snaps and crackles like the leaves of fall as Mother Earth gently gets her daughter ready for bed.

And Greg Couch's extraordinary illustrations take readers from the soft greens of late summer through the fiery oranges of a fall sunset to the peaceful blues of early winter's eve.

How to Start With the Lapbook

Also, when I begin a themed lapbook, there are a few steps I do each time.

First, I decide if we will use a book or if it will be strictly interested-led. Even if it’s interest-led, you still want to add beautiful books.

Second, my kids do the minibooks after they study each topic instead of waiting until later. While the information is still fresh on their mind, they write their thoughts.

The very last step is putting the lapbook together.

Besides, it’s easier to cut and prepare a few minibooks at a time each day.

As you can see lapbooks are not meant to be put together in hours, but over a period of time.

A week or longer to prepare minibooks is a good rule of thumb if you want to go a relaxed pace.

It doesn’t take long to do minibooks. We normally do a few each day.

Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids

Do not force crafts on your children. Some of the kid’s lapbooks are real crafty others not so much.

That is the beauty of a tool the child creates. It’s a personal project.

Other Winter Posts

Also, look at these other winter activities to go with this winter lapbook.

  • Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
  • 16 Ways to Make Homeschool Memorable During Winter
  • 21 Hands On Homeschooling Ideas to Keep the Winter Chill Off {Activities for Tots to Teens}
  • Free Winter Copywork for Middle School – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
  • Fun Winter Craft Ideas for Middle School Homeschool
  • 50 Keep Me Homeschooling Activities During the Long Cold Winter Days
  • Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-On Ideas
Free Amazing Winter Unit Study and Winter Lapbook for Kids

How to Get the Free Winter Lapbook

How to Grab the Free 40 page lapbook and freebies
This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access my subscribers library and this freebie.

However not all of my freebies are in the library (wink).

And because I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

I hope it’s not too inconvenient but it takes just a minute. And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. If you’re a new follower, just follow the steps below.

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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

2 CommentsFiled Under: Hands-On Activities, Lapbooks Tagged With: homeschoolinginwinter, lapbook, lapbooking, lapbookresources, lapbooks, seasons, winter crafts, winter season

Easy Hands on Snowflake Winter Craft for Kids Who Don’t Have Snow

September 22, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, we’re making an easy hands on snowflake winter craft. Add this to my winter season unit study.

While not everyone gets to enjoy the splendor of white crystal winters, we all appreciate the beauty of that type of winter.

Even if your winters rarely reach below 70℉ you can still at least touch on all that it entails for the cold months.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids Who Don't Have Snow

This craft allows your child to bring out an artistic side while also getting in some science.

Too, this activity works great for kids in early elementary through middle school.

And can be adjusted to give more or less information.

Next, look at some research questions for kids to dig deeper into a topic.

They can either find the answers in living books or on the internet. Research skills is another component to add to this unit study.

Flake Facts

Look at these facts to get you started

  • What US state gets the most snow? Vermont
  • Approximately how many crystals make up a flake? 1-200
  • How big is the largest lake ever recorded? 15” wide, 8 “ thick – Guinness World Book,1887
  • What are the smallest flakes called? Diamond Dust Crystals
  • How many sides does a flake have? 6
  • How long does the average flake take to reach the ground? 1 hour
  • What temperature does it have to reach for flakes to form? 35 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)

And then add some of these resources for a mini unit study.

Watch a couple of YouTube videos:

  • Where do flakes Come From?,
  •  The Science of Snowflakes, and
  • Dr Binocs

If you live in a place which gets mountainous drifts try out some of these Activities That Celebrate Snow for more fun. 

Resources for a Winter Unit Study

Also, look at my How to Make Easy DIY Bird Feeders and work birds into your winter study as well.

Winter is an especially important time to give them a little extra help as food is scarcer.

If you want to continue adding activities to your mini winter unit study give your child some copywork.

Grab my Free Winter Copywork for Middle School

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Or chose a writing prompt like:

  • The little dancing snowflake was on its way to…
  • We ran out into the snow and….

Finally, be sure you spend some time learning about the science of how and why borax creates these crystals on objects. 

Crystals are molecules that bind together ionically. Borax crystals have a square shape.

First you heat the water and the borax dissolves into it. Warm water holds more powder and it becomes super saturated.

As the solution cools the molecules they need somewhere to grab onto. So, they cling together as well as the object that you put in the solution.

Try different amounts of borax in the different bowls. Too, try different temperatures for the water to continue the experiment.

I love how the crystals make the pipe cleaners sparkle like real flakes.

There is a double page spread in Nature Anatomy that I love to recommend as a must have science reference. It covers a little on flakes and their characteristics.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Let’s make this winter fun craft.

How to Make a Borax Fun Easy Craft

Look at this easy list of ingredients:

You will need:

  • 2-3 colored pipe cleaners per flake
  • Large glass bowl or other container
  • 2 cups water
  • ⅓ cup borax
  • Pencil, skewer
  • String

Then look at the directions below.

Easy  Winter Craft for Kids

For each flake you will need 3 longer pieces 3”-4” long and least 12 pieces about 1” long.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Twist the 3 long pieces together in the center and spread them out evenly to create 6 spokes.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Twist each of the small pieces around the end and center of each spoke, bend to point outward slightly.

You want your flake to be slightly smaller than you container so it doesn’t touch the sides.

Tie a piece of string around the center of each flake and then around the skewer or pencil so that it hangs down into bowl.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Heat 2 cups of water to boiling. Stir in ½ cup borax until mostly dissolved.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Pour liquid carefully into the bowl.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

Let your flakes sit for 24 hours or more. Here is what mine looked like after about 5 hours.

Easy  Winter Craft for Kids

After just about 16-18 hours.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

And a little over 24 hours.

Easy Winter Craft for Kids

They are so fun to make you are going to want to create all kinds of shapes. Make them over and over to celebrate season and event. Try making your name or initials.

Other Winter Fun Resources

Finally, here are some other resources you may love.

  • 16 Ways to Make Homeschool Memorable During Winter
  • 21 Homeschooling Ideas to Keep the Winter Chill Off {Activities for Tots to Teens}
  • Fun Winter Craft Ideas for Middle School Homeschool
  • 50 Keep Me Homeschooling Activities During the Long Cold Winter Days
  • Colorful Winter Bird: Northern Cardinal Lapbook & Unit Study
Easy Snowflake Winter Craft

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: crafts, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, middle school, middleschool, seasons, snow, winter crafts, winter season

How Animals Cope With the Cold (Easy Nature Study)

December 29, 2017 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I was given this product free because I asked for it and couldn’t wait to use it. ALL opinions are my own and for sure I will always tell you what is on my mind. When I do accept a product it’s because I’m giddy to tell you about it. Read my full disclosure here. Now on to the fun stuff!


Winter is a wonderful season for learning about animals with kids. Animals go through so many different behavioral changes to adapt to cold temperatures and, when you can study those changes in your own backyard, it really makes scientific concepts come alive.

So I was excited to try the NaturExplorers ebook “Coping With the Cold”. I’ve been wanting to add in nature studies to our homeschool but didn’t need anything that requires a lot of fuss.

Winter is a wonderful season for learning about animals with kids. Animals go through so many different behavioral changes to adapt to cold temperatures and, when you can study those changes in your own backyard, it really makes scientific concepts come alive. Click here to grab this easy nature study!

NaturExplorers ebook “Coping With the Cold” is a Charlotte Mason-inspired nature study program for learning about how animals adapt to winter temperatures. And it’s loaded with simple DIY projects, science activities, and plenty of notebooking pages too!

Take a look at what all is included in this excellent science curriculum!

NaturExplorers Review: Coping With the Cold

Since NaturExplorers is a Charlotte Mason-style program, the curriculum includes plenty of nature study activities and hands-on learning ideas for studying winter animal behavior.

Nature Explorers Coping With the Cold

And, along with all the printed activities for kids to complete, there are loads of notebooking pages and drawing prompts so they can record what they observe outdoors.

Nature Explorers Winter Animals Notebooking Pages

Winter NaturExplorers 1080x1080 (Instagram)
What I really like about NaturExplorers is that the program encourages kids to spend plenty of time outside in nature, finding out what animals do for themselves.

Nature Explorers Migration Activity

For example, the activities about bird migration were really informational and geography-based too.

Did you know that birds actually follow “flyways” – a version of bird highways? I didn’t!

Migrating Animal Research Planning Page

This migrating animal research planner was such a neat idea, because it’s a great way to help children plan a research topic, organize their ideas, and outline an essay.

This is an excellent activity for middle school language arts.

Studying Winter Animal Adaptations

By the way, these are just some of the notebooking and journaling activities in the program!

Easy Nature Study!

Winter Animal Observation Sheets

Charlotte Mason strongly encouraged art and journaling and NaturExplorers does a fantastic job of prompting kids to draw what they see and note what it tells them about animal behavior.

It’s art and science in one activity!

Winter Adaptations Research Activity

And, because I always love to encourage reading, I was thrilled to see that the program featured an activity for kids to complete using a nonfiction book about winter animals they choose from the library. (My favorite place!)

Winter Adaptations Art Activity

Even if you can only observe one or two different kinds of animals (depending on where you live), the idea of adaptations is so thoroughly covered that kids will be able to spot other adaptations in animals they read about.

Migrating Flocks Observation Sheet

Some of the other notebooking pages include questions for kids to answer, based on their own observations, and charts for them to fill out.

Studying Winter Animal Behavior

I also loved that NaturExplorers is so open-ended. There’s no weekly schedule or layout included, so you can pick up and pause as you need to. It’s a very relaxed curriculum and you adapt it to your own schedule.

Perfect for us eclectic homeschoolers!

I’ll be sharing a few of the NaturExplorers activities in upcoming posts, but – trust me – this is a fabulous winter nature study program that you’ll love as much as the kids do!

How to Purchase It.

►Product Name: Coping With the Cold.
►Website: Our Journey Westward.
►Type of product: Ebook instant download.
►Ages: Multiple grades 1st to 8th grade.
►Price: $12.00

Winter is a wonderful season for learning about animals with kids. Animals go through so many different behavioral changes to adapt to cold temperatures and, when you can study those changes in your own backyard, it really makes scientific concepts come alive. Click here to grab this easy nature study!

See even more ways to include hands-on science in your homeschool!

  • Free Moon Journal for Homeschool Science
  • Middle School Homeschool Science: 50 Free Spring Activities
  • Free Carnivorous Plants Notebooking Pages

Hugs and love ya,

2 CommentsFiled Under: Homeschool Curriculum Review, Product Review, Science Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, hibernation, homeschoolinginwinter, middleschool, nature study, notebooking, science, winter season

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