winter crafts

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

October 29, 2023 | Leave a Comment
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This stuffed heat pack winter owl craft is not only a fun and easy craft, but it makes a wonderful heating pad for cold feet or for headache relief. Grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

Felt is a very easy to use and forgiving material for learning how to sew and this activity does not require a pattern or fancy materials.

You need just a few pieces of felt and a bag of rice, both of which can even be found at Dollar Tree making it a $3 or less craft.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl & Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

While it is a great craft to make for learning a basic life skill it is also ideal for gifting and can also be used with essential oil to create another layer of soothing comfort.

First, look at these facts about the snowy owl.

6 Facts About the Snowy Owl

Snowy owls are the largest Arctic bird predator and one of the largest of all the owls in the world.
When their wings are fully expanded the span can be as wide as 4 to 5 feet from tip to tip.
The Snowy owl is also known as the arctic owl, ghost owl, great white owl, and Scandinavian night bird but their scientific name is Bubo scandiacus.
Unlike most other species of owls, snowy owls are diurnal, which means they are active during the day instead of night.
In the wild a snowy owl has a lifespan of 10 years or more. But owls in captivity can live almost 30 years.
Snowy Owls fly at an impressive speed of up to 46 mph.

Next, I have some fun resources to learn about snowy owls.

Books and Resources for Learning about Snowy Owls

Add some of these fun resources to your unit study about snowy owls.

Snowy Owl Family Animal Adventures

Each member of the Snowy Owl family has a special role in the flock. Kevin Torline's colorful artwork showcases how a special family of birds works together to live in the frosty Arctic tundra.

This book is special because:

Sharing books with your little one strengthens your bond
Adorable books support empathy for animals
Educational focus: reading skills, early learning, animal facts, snowy owls, arctic, birds

Snowy Owls

Snowy owls make their homes in the icy white lands of the north. In these snowy places, they are perfectly camouflaged. Learn more about this giant owl with full color photos, range maps, and carefully leveled text.

Snowy Owls Are Awesome (Polar Animals)

Snowy owls call the bitterly cold Arctic their home. Learn how they live in this harsh environment. Snowy Owls tells readers how these birds find their prey, what dangers they have to watch out for, and more.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you. Nature Anatomy is the second book in Rothman's Anatomy series – you'll love Nature Anatomy Notebook, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Farm Anatomy, too!

Snowy Owl Figurine

This adorable snowy owl would be great for a diorama, sensory bin, or even just to add to a winter themed science shelf.

A Snowy Owl Story (Wildlife on the Move)

One winter, as food gets scarce, a snowy owl finds himself forced to look in new and unfamiliar spots in order to find food and a place to call home. Based on a true story, A Snowy Owl Story describes, through the tale of one particular owl, the recent irruption of snowy owls all across the United States. Through this simple narrative, youngsters will learn about migration, adaptation, and respectful human interaction with nature. This unique title (first in a projected series of four board books) is written and designed specifically for a preschool market; few board books exist that tell conservation stories for this age range. Published in cooperation with Maine Audubon.

Also, here are more winter craft ideas.

Winter Craft Ideas

Finally, look how to make a stuffed heat pack winter owl craft.

You can absolutely make your owl any color you like but we opted to avoid white for this project since it gets dirty so quickly.

Stuffed Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can follow the same steps below but sewing by hand instead.

You will need:

2 pieces of 9×12 felt for the body- same color
A half piece of any color for the wings
A small scrap of black, white, and yellow felt
Sewing machine or needle and thread
1 to 2 pounds of rice.
Fabric or tacky glue

The first thing that you want to do is lay your two pieces of felt together and either trace with a white pencil or marker or free hand cut an owl shape.

You can see here it’s just a modified oval with two points on the top for ears.

Take the color that you chose for the wings and lay it across the bottom half of the body where you would like to position the wings.

Then flip your fabric over and cut along the edge of your main felt so that they are the same size.

Flip it back over and cut your wing piece in half, then cut one side into the shape of a wing.

Lay it on the other piece and cut out the exact same piece so that they match.

Now, taking into consideration the scale of your owl that you’ve chosen, cut out a yellow beak shape.

And two large white circles, and two smaller black circles to create the eyes.

Keep the small pieces in place while you sew by gluing them with tacky glue or a fabric clue rather than pins.

The first thing you want to sew is about a quarter inch all the way around the wings to secure them to the body piece on each side.

Next, sew a circle around the white eyes and inside the black as well as around the nose.

Trim off the excess thread everywhere, use a black permanent marker to blend the white thread into the black eyes.

Heat Pack Winter Owl Craft

Now you will need to match up your two main body pieces with the wings and the eyes facing inward, so it is “wrong side out”.

Sew all the way around the body except for the bottom.

There are two ways you can do this.

First, sew leaving just a couple inches unsewn, use a funnel to fill the bag.

Fold the remaining sedition inward and sew a hidden seam in between the folds.

Second, if you have a beginner sewer or just want an easier method, leave the bottom completely unsewn.

Fill it up, and then hold the weight of the bag up as you do an external stitch all the way across the bottom.

To heat up your warmer, throw the rice pack in the microwave for 30 second intervals until desired heat is reached.

You can also add a few drops of essential oil like lavender, which is great for headaches and anxiety.

On cold days, you might wish to use a warm seasonal scent like cinnamon or peppermint.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

August 6, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have some fun ideas for easy Arctic animal crafts. Too, you’ll love my Arctic and Inuit Unit Study. Free Lapbook – Hands-On Ideas and my Arctic Region pages.

If you are studying the Arctic with your little one these peg doll animals are a great craft project to do together.

They can be used in sensory bins, for small-world dramatic play, or as part of a simple diorama and can be kept as simple or as elaborate as you would like.

How to Make Wooden Peg Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

You can make an entire family of polar bears. Or craft a village of all different arctic creatures to round out a nice keepsake collection using the variety of sizes and shapes that unfinished peg dolls come in.

A wonderful resource to add to your study is Ocean Anatomy, besides the gorgeous illustrations it offers a treasure trove of information on icebergs, polar bears, narwhals, seals, and more arctic animals.

Next, look at some facts about animals of the Arctic.

10 Arctic Animal Facts

Snowy owls hunt during the daytime instead of at night like other owls.
Male snowy owls are easy to distinguish from females as they are almost completely white and female snowy owls have black and brown markings.
Polar bears can smell a seal 3 feet below the snow.
An Arctic Fox’s fur is not always white, sometimes during the summer months it can be gray or brown.
Beluga whales start gray or brown when born but eventually turn white as they grow up.
A Narwhal tusk is not a horn, rather it is a large tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long.
Both the male and female walruses have large tusks that are used for things like pulling themselves out of the water onto the ice.
Polar bears are the largest living carnivores on land at about 8 feet long and nearly 800 pounds.
Arctic Hare’s eyes are set on the side of their heads so they can look forward, backward, and sideways without needing to move their head so that they can avoid predators.
Learn why there are not penguins in the Arctic.

As you make your peg dolls together you will find lots of opportunities to talk about topics like camouflage in the white snow, predator vs. prey, and different adaptations like fur-covered feet to help them survive the extreme cold.

Use some of the facts from above as conversation starters as you work on each animal.

More Easy Arctic Animal Crafts

How to Paint Peg Dolls to Look Like Farm Animals is perfect if you are learning about the farm theme and would make a great handmade gift.
Julie of the Wolves Free Hands-on Arctic Unit Study
DIY Peg Doll Woodland Animals, find out how to make adorable woodland creatures like a fox and raccoon as well as their babies.
Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
Free Arctic Ground Squirrel Lapbook & Unit Study Resources

Also, look at these books about the Arctic.

12 Arctic Books about People & Animals of the Arctic

Studying about the region of the Arctic is a fascinating topic. Grab some of these books about life in the Arctic and animals of the Arctic.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity. Perfect for reading on winter days, this book by a nature photographer and a snow scientist will inspire wonder and curiosity about the marvels of snow. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included for aspiring young snow scientists!

In Arctic Waters

This arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region.

Arctic Fox: Fascinating Animal Facts for Kids (This Incredible Planet)

Fascinating Animal Facts Arctic Fox Learn all about the amazing and adaptable Arctic fox. This small yet hardy creature survives in the harshest of environments!

This Incredible Planet series provides young readers with interesting information about the Earth’s most fascinating creatures.

Beautiful color photography makes each animal come to life. Learn about the Arctic fox’s habitat, diet, breeding, lifespan, behavior, threats, and so much more!

Over and Under the Snow

A wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! 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.

Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science)

Read and find out about how animals cope with winter in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.

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.

Have you ever seen a butterfly in the snow? Probably not. Butterflies can't survive cold weather, so when winter comes, many butterflies fly to warmer places. They migrate. Woodchucks don't like cold weather either, but they don't migrate; they hibernate. Woodchucks sleep in their dens all winter long. How do these and other animals handle the cold and snow of winter?

Read and find out in the proven winner Animals in Winter!

This is a Level 1 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores introductory concepts perfect for children in the primary grades.

The Inuit Thought of It: Amazing Arctic Innovations (We Thought of It)

Today’s Arctic communities have all the comforts of modern living. Yet the Inuit survived in this harsh landscape for hundreds of years with nothing but the land and their own ingenuity. Join authors Alootook Ipellie and David MacDonald as they explore the amazing innovations of traditional Inuit and how their ideas continue to echo around the world. Some inventions are still familiar to us: the one-person watercraft known as a kayak still retains its Inuit name. Other innovations have been replaced by modern technology: slitted snow goggles protected Inuit eyes long before sunglasses arrived on the scene. Andother ideas were surprisingly inspired: using human-shaped stone stacks (Inunnguat) to trick and trap caribou. Many more Inuit innovations are explored here, including: • Dog sleds • Shelter • Clothing • Kids’ stuff • Food preservation • Medicine. In all, more than 40 Inuit items and ideas are showcased through dramatic photos and captivating language. From how these objects were made, to their impact on contemporary culture, The Inuit Thought of It is a remarkable catalogue of Inuit invention.

Mini Arctic Animals Figurines Set, Polar Animals Toy for Kids Plastic Arctic Reindeer,Walrus,White Whale,Polar Bear,Arctic Fox,Wolf Figures,

Tiny Animals Figures Party: 18 PCS Package include orca, walrus, white owl, reindeer, husky, 2pcs seal, 2pcs beluga whale, 2pcs arctic wolf, 2pcs arctic fox, 2pcs arctic rabbit, 2pcs polar bear figurines and igloo model.

Who are the Eskimos? Arctic People's Traditional Way of Life

Who Are The Eskimos is perfect for early to middle elementary students and makes a great addition to your library.

North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration

“A treat for middle-graders of an ecological bent.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it attracts animals from every corner of the earth. This lushly illustrated picture book celebrates the resilient wildlife and barren, beautiful landscapes of the Arctic Circle, tracing the awe-inspiring spring migration of millions of creatures to the Arctic and reminding the reader of the hardships and harmony of life in the wild.Back matter includes additional information about the arctic, a glossary, and an index.

Arctic White

When you live in the Arctic in winter, everything is a shade of white. A young girl looks around her home in the Arctic and sees only white, white, white...but one day her grandfather takes her on a journey through the tundra. And at the end of their cold walk across the ice, they find something special that brings color into their world.

Farthest North: The Incredible Three-Year Voyage to the Frozen Latitudes of the North (Modern Library Exploration)

In 1893, Fridjtof Nansen set sail in the Fram, a ship specially designed and built to be frozen into the polar ice cap, withstand its crushing pressures, and travel with the sea’s drift closer to the North Pole than anyone had ever gone before. Experts said such a ship couldn't be built and that the voyage was tantamount to suicide. This brilliant first-person account, originally published in 1897, marks the beginning of the modern age of exploration. Nansen vividly describes the dangerous voyage and his 15-month-long dash to the North Pole by sledge. Farthest North is an unforgettable tale and a must-read for any armchair explorer.

This Place Is Cold: An Imagine Living Here book

Can you imaging living in a place where it's so cold your breath turns instantly into tiny ice crystals that glitter in the sun? Where temperatures can drop fifty degrees below zero and even lower and the sun only comes out for a few hours per day? In This Place Is Cold readers will learn how people and animals survive in Alaska's ferocious cold, and how because of global warming this region is now in trouble. Vicki Cobb and Barbara Lavallee travelled the world together to research this groundbreaking geography series, that is now updated and redesigned to appeal to today's readers.

More Arctic Region Unit Study Ideas

Finally, look how to make these adorable easy Arctic animal crafts.

How to Make Peg Doll Animals of the Arctic

You will need:

Peg dolls
Craft paint
Paint pens
Small wood beads
Air dry clay
Hot glue gun/sticks
Paint brushes

First, I like to add my details to the peg dolls using beads or air-dry clay.

Small wooden beads make the work go quicker as hot glue dries fast but I like the detail and shape that I can get with air dry clay.

For ears, muzzles, and wings you want to pinch off a small bit of clay and press it into the wood. Heavier pieces like ears or muzzles you want to glue in place.

I made a polar bear using beads and one with clay for ears so you can see the difference and choose for yourself.

For the snowy owl, we just smoothed some clay over the sides for wings.

To make a narwhal roll out a little piece of clay into the horn shape and twist gently, hot glue to the top of the peg doll head.

Allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Animals of the Arctic Craft Ideas

Then paint all your peg dolls white, including any clay you added.

Even though some of our animals aren’t white or at least not all white it gives you a good prep base to work from and it will be the majority of your animal’s fur color.

Now, here is where those paint pens will come in handy.

You can do the details with a tiny brush dipped in paint, but it is so much easier to get crisp lines and details with a fine-tipped paint brush.

Use the paintbrush to draw on some basic details like eyes, noses, and outlines.

Allow to dry, these dry quickly faster than a coat of brushed-on paint.

Now layer on more detailing like whiskers, spots, etc. to make your creatures a little more realistic.

If you want to give them a little bit more life and durability you can either seal them with a clear coat or give them a mod podge seal coat or two.

Add some fake snow or even cotton batting to your animals to spark your child’s imagination.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

January 20, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you’re looking for more winter craft ideas for kids, you’ll love this snow slime inspired by the book Animals in Winter. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Slime has been a hot sensory activity for years and it shows no signs of slowing down.

So, when I looked for a fun winter craft idea for kids, I looked no further than the box of borax to turn it into a wonderful stretchy slime as a base for winter animal play.

Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Animals in Winter Fun Snow Slime

Even older kids love the relaxing and appealing texture of slime sliding through their fingers.

Playing with slime is a great way to take up some time on a long winter afternoon when you are stuck indoors.

In addition, it can be very calming as well.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn it into a simple lesson by adding a book and some winter animals.

This slime as I mentioned was inspired by Animals in Winter, Let’s Read and Find Out.

These books are great for younger elementary and teach concept in simple way without talking down to kids.

Winter Books and Snow Resources

When you add in more hands-on activities learning sticks.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

It is the fall of 1930, and America has plunged into the Great Depression. On a remote dirt road deep in the snowy woods of northern Wisconsin, misfortune forces the impoverished Sparkes family to take desperate measures.

A wayfaring quartet consisting of thirteen-year-old Araminta (nicknamed Minty), her recently unemployed father-a poetry-quoting widower called Pops-and her younger sister, Eglantine (known as Eggs-a dreamer like Pops), and their dog, Buster, are on their way to Minneapolis to live with the curmudgeonly Aunt Amy. When their car breaks down and they are unable to fix it, the homeless four stumble upon a vacant summer cottage by a lake. In desperate straits, they decide to settle in.

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

2. Sneezy the Snowman

B-R-R-R-R! AH-CHOO! Sneezy the Snowman is cold, cold, cold. To warm up, he drinks cocoa, sits in a hot tub, stands near a warm fire–and melts! But the children know just what to do to build him up again–and make him feel “just right”.

3. Snowmen at Night

Have you ever built a snowman and discovered the next day that his grin has gotten a little crooked, or his tree-branch arms have moved? And you've wondered . . . what do snowmen do at night? This delightful wintertime tale reveals all!

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever. But building a huge snowman alone is hard! They work and work, but their snowmen just aren't big enough. Soon they have an idea. As the day of the contest approaches, Clayton and Desmond join forces to build the biggest snowman ever.

5. Over and 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 exploring the subnivean zone 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.

A Hat for Minerva Louise

"Stoeke's second book about that intrepid screwball, Minerva Louise, is a rare find."—The Horn Book, starred review. The other chickens hate snowy mornings. But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day—like everything else—is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds—and how she finds it—will keep young readers cackling.

6. How to Catch a Snowman

Our heroes' entry for the snowman contest has magically come to life―and ran away! Can YOU help catch it? Get ready for snow much fun as you travel through a winter wonderland with running, skating, and bouncing through trap after trap to catch the snowman and claim the winning prize. Will the snowman teach our heroes a lesson they'll never forget?

The Big Snow

When the geese begin to fly south, the leaves flutter down from the trees and the cold winds begin to blow from the north, the animals of the woods and meadows, big and small, prepare for the long, cold winter ahead when the countryside is hidden under a deep blanket of snow. They gather food and look for warm, snug places in the ground, trees, caves or thickets, where they can find protection against the icy winds.It might have been hard for the birds and animals of the hillside to survive when the Big Snow came if their good friends, who lived in the little stone house, had not remembered to put food out for them.Here, in many beautiful pictures, the Haders show how winter comes to the woodland as the busy animals make their preparations.

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. 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.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

SET OF 10 FUN AND FRIGID FIGURES – It’s hard to stay warm at the North Pole, but you can discover its wonders in your home with these frigid friends. This TOOB includes a Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, and Polar Bear.

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Then, add in ideas for studying about animals in the winter.

You can focus on one animal or just ask general questions about animals survive in the winter.

Animal Themed Questions

Talk about and explore the answers to some winter themed questions using books or the internet while your child plays with their snow slime

Why are some animal coats white?
What is hibernation?
Which types of animals hibernate?
How do animals get ready for winter?
How do animals not freeze in winter?
What is adaptation?
What is migration?
Do animals in your area hibernate or migrate?
What makes it snow? Does it snow where you live?

Besides the craft aspect of snow slime this is a great opportunity to talk about the science behind slime.

Slime is simple chemistry, and it is made through a chemical reaction between two main ingredients which are polyvinyl alcohol (glue) and borate ion (baking soda or borax).

Try dividing your mixture and adding more and less borax to it.

Then ask, what happens to the texture of the slime.

Additionally, here are more winter unit study resources.

More Winter Craft Ideas for Kids Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

Finally, let’s make some fun snow slime.

How to Make Snow Slime

Here is a list of supplies:

8 oz bottle school glue
1 cup warm water
1-2 teaspoons borax
Blue glitter
Craft paint-optional
Bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Spoon for stirring

First, pour the school glue and half of the water into a large bowl and stir to combine thoroughly.

In a second container dissolve 1-2 teaspoons of borax into the other ½ cup of warm water.

Mix in as much glitter as you like, you could also add a little paint at this point if you wanted to color it. Blue would be so pretty.

Add the borax mixture to the glue mixture just a teaspoon or two at a time until your slime has the right consistency.

It may take a minute for each addition to mix in well and reduce the stickiness.

You want it just a bit sticky but not enough to make it hard to get it off your hands.

Two to three tablespoons seemed about right for us and you can always add more borax but once you add too much it’s hard to fix it.

Now, add bowls, plastic animals, winter themed cookie cutters, craft sticks for cutting, and other small play items to your slime to keep the fun going for hours.

Store slime in an airtight container between uses.

Remove slime from bowl and knead for 1 minute to combine. Heads up: Children should wash hands well after each use.

Snow and Snowflake Facts for Kids and Fun Hands-on Exploding Snowman

January 13, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have some fun snowflake facts for kids and an exploding snowman. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Snow can be a hard concept for a younger child to grasp if they have never seen it in person. Sure, they know it’s white and cold from books and TV and may see it fall at home.

Most of them are familiar with Frosty and Olaf but really grasping the properties and the conditions needed for snow to form can be more challenging.

Snow and Snowflake Facts for Kids and Fun Hands-on Exploding Snowman

As with any topic you can layer on the information as they are able to understand it.

Start with what they know and build on concepts forming a “snowball” effect, pun intended.

Use books, movies, and hands-on activities to bring it to life until they can go walk in a winter wonderland for themselves.

Snow and Snowflake Facts

How is snow formed?

(Answer: Snow forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together and become snowflakes.)

When enough of these crystals stick together, they become heavy and fall to the ground.

How do snowflakes form?

(Answer: A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water drop freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky.)

This creates what is known as an ice crystal.

As the ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the initial crystal, building new crystals and creating the six arms of the snowflake.

Then add some snow vocabulary.

Here are some fun snow vocabulary words.

Snowflake For Kids Vocabulary

Hexagon -A shape with 6 sides
Crystal- When frozen water molecules bond together and have 6 sides.
Precipitation-Snow, sleet, rain, or hail falling to the ground.
Water vapor-the gas phase of water.
Frozen- When something has turned to ice.

Snow Movies

Next, here are a few fun movies to share about the concepts of snow, ice, snowflakes, and winter.

Wild Kratts- How a Snowflake is Formed.
SciShow Kids Brr 5 Videos About Winter
Peekaboo Kids–Everything About Winter Season
The Snowman
Daniel Tiger Snowy Adventures
The Snowy Day

Also, look at these fun snow and winter resources.

Add a book or two to your snow day.

13 Snow, Snowman, Animals, and Winter Books

Add one or more of these books to your learning day if you're learning about snow, snowflakes, winter or just for fun.

Winter Cottage

Immerse Yourself in This Story of Love and Companionship Amidst Deprivation

1. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder

2. Sneezy the Snowman

3. Snowmen at Night

4. The Biggest Snowman Ever

5. Over and Under the Snow

A Hat for Minerva Louise

6. How to Catch a Snowman

The Big Snow

7. Curious About Snow (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian does things right and this Curious About Snow book is a
great introduction for curious kiddos with real images and simple explanations.

8. 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.

9. Arctic Figurines, Including A Harp Seal, Husky, Caribou, Arctic Rabbit, Killer Whale, Walrus, Arctic Fox, Beluga Whale, Igloo, And Polar Bear

10. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

In addition, there are more hands-on snow and snowflake ideas below.

More Winter Unit Study Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

Additionally, before you began this hands-on activity, look at some exploding snowman science.

Exploding Snowman Science

When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) combines with vinegar, carbon dioxide is created.

The bag starts to fill with the carbon dioxide gas, and this is what causes the bag to swell up.

If you create enough gas your bag will open, and the pressure will make the bag explode.

This recipe below did not pop the bag, in fact it stayed inflated for quite a while because the gas did not escape and could be repeated over and over.

If you want your bag to pop open you can add a bit more of the ingredients to create more gas.

And also use a regular gallon zip top instead of a zippered one which holds more securely.

How to Make an Exploding Snowman

You will need:

A gallon ziploc bag (zippered is best)
Black and colored permanent markers
Rubbing alcohol/towel
Baking soda
Vinegar

Directions:

If your bag has printed designs or writing on it, take some rubbing alcohol and pour it on the baggie over the design.

Then rub gently with a towel and it will easily remove the design from the bag leaving it plain.

Next, create a fun snowman or snow lady face with markers.

Give him rosy cheeks, a wide smile, and a cute carrot nose.

Pour ¼ cup of baking soda into the bottom of the bag and take it outside.

Once outside pour in 8 oz. of white vinegar and quickly close up the bag.

Ziploc bags work best to give you a quick closing top.

Your snowman will swell up immediately.

If you put in extra ingredients your bag will pop open within 30 seconds.

Look how inflated the bag was within just seconds!

If you have more than one kid, you can let them have a contest to see who’s snowman pops first.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

December 26, 2022 | Leave a Comment
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I have two fun candy cane hands-on winter experiments today. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page winter season unit study.

Candy canes are plentiful right now and did you know that they make for a tasty, easy, and inexpensive item for science experiments?

Your kids will love tasting and exploring the world of science with these two simple hands on science experiments in honor of National Candy Cane Day on December 26.

Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments

These experiments are a great way to introduce all sorts of scientific terms like hypothesis and bonds.

You can encourage them to make educated guesses (hypothesis) document results, make observations, and learn about how experiments work in general.

Don’t forget to save some to munch on while you learn about them.

Cool Candy Cane Facts

They were first made in 1670 but didn’t make their way to American until 1847.
Candy canes were once white, no one is sure when the red stripe was added but looking at images prior 1900, they were always white.
The world’s largest candy cane was 63 feet tall and was created in 2011.
Candy canes have no fat or cholesterol.
Two billion candy canes are made each year.
The hooks were created by hand until 1921 when a machine was invented to do it.
The original candy cane flavor was originally used as a medicine for indigestion and nausea and then the oil was also used to help cover up the flavor of more unpleasant medicinal concoctions.

Furthermore, add some other hands-on candy cane activities.

Candy Cane Hands-on Activities

Before you begin investigating watch How Candy Canes Are Made on YouTube.
Here is another fun experiment you can do with candy canes Fizzing Candy Canes.
Make some Candy Cane Paint to add some art.
Use candy canes as counters and manipulatives for math, measure the length, grab various sizes and let your younger child arrange them in size order.

More Winter Unit Study Resources

Look at these other winter unit study resources.

Now, let’s have some candy cane fun.

For these two winter science activities, you’ll want to grab the supplies below.

Two Candy Cane Science Activities

Here are all the supplies you will need to gather so that you can complete both experiments:

Mini Candy Canes
Clear bowls or cups
3-5 liquids-water, sprite, milk, vinegar, etc
Baking sheet
Parchment paper
paper/pen

Now, let’s make this first one which is bending candy canes.

1. Bending Candy Canes Science Activity

For the first experiment we are first going to let your child attempt to bend a candy cane fresh out of the package, it just breaks right? Ask them why they think that is? How were candy makers able to bend it in the first place?

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread out several candy canes on parchment lined sheet.

Bake for 7-10 minutes. Start checking at 7 minutes because you want to pull them out before they begin to distort and melt.

Immediately remove parchment paper from pan and place on a flat surface away from the hot pan.

Your child can immediately pick them up and begin bending them into shapes.

You can make letters, shapes like hearts or knots, or even a cute little candy can make like this one.

You’re just a couple of minutes the candy cane will harden again into its new shape.

You can repeat the process in the oven with candy canes after they’ve hardened or with fresh ones to continue experimenting with what you can do.

2. Melting Candy Canes

Now we are going to test and see which liquid melts candy canes the fastest.

So, you will want to check this one often. We put ours in the bowls and forgot for about 45 minutes and came back to this.

First, choose your liquids, I would suggest no less than 3 to get a good reading and probably not more than 6 to keep it manageable.

Whatever number you choose to test, place that many clear bowls or cups on a surface where they will not be disturbed. Add a mini candy cane to each.

Measure exact amounts of each of the liquids and pour over the candy cane.

This is a good time to explain that when conduction an experiment like this you want to keep everything the same except for the one variable that you are testing, in this case the type of liquid.

Write each of the liquids onto a small slip of paper and place it in front of each container to keep track.

Check after 5 minutes to see how much they have dissolved; these ones were noticeably smaller.

After the first 5 minutes you want to change to every minute or two because it seems to go so much faster after that.

At less than the 10-minute mark we had a clear winner when we came back, and the vinegar had completely dissolved it.

Be sure to have your child record their guesses (hypothesis), then list the types of liquids (variables), and finally their results.

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Two Candy Cane Science Activities

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