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winter season

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

November 27, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I wanted a unique Antarctica diorama that was in something besides a shoebox, and this is what I came up with, a snow globe. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook.

It was so much fun to create a little snowy wonderland of Antarctic creatures and learn about them, their habitats, diets, and more.

You will not find arctic foxes, polar bears, or snowy owls in Antarctica because there are no true terrestrial (land-living) animals that make their home there.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Antarctica is the only continent on Earth without them. 

While it has no native land mammals, reptiles, or amphibians it is teeming with penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds.

A great hands-on activity to complete while you learn about what animals do and do not live in Antarctica is to create this cute snow globe diorama that I have for you below.

I thought it was the perfect way to highlight this frozen polar desert.

Books for Kids About the Antarctic

First, look at some of these books either based in the Antarctic or about animals that live there.

I lean toward living books first then like to add informational books next.

11 Antarctica Books & Resources for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these books for different ages and resources to your study about Antarctica.

Antarctica: The Heart of the World

Named a "Best Book of the Year" by Science Books & Films

"Librarians acquiring this book, a must-have for any scientific collection, can be assured that it will contribute to some reader's decision to visit or work in Antarctica."—VOYA

"This is an eye-catching book packed with gems for browsing, and the presentation makes it suitable for reports."—School Library Journal

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse:

Join a young explorer and his best friend, Mouse, on a sea journey to Antarctica, where they make new friends with penguins and a whale – and have all kinds of fun. Young readers won’t stop grinning as they’re swept away by the strange and magical world created by Frank Viva, the bestselling author of Along a Long Road. As kids TOON into Reading, they will want to circle back to the beginning – again and again.

The Real Book About the Antarctic

The exploration of the Antarctic has been undertaken for five centuries in the name of many nations. Challenged by the mystery of its formidable, icy regions, they have used dogs, sleds, and above all the weapon of human endurance to cut down the barrier which isolates it from the developed world. In this history of the centuries of exploration, of the men who risked and often gave life to penetrate its secrets, the achievements of many great figures are reviewed

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men. When their ship was finally crushed between two ice floes, they attempted a near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.

Antarctica Toob - Toy Figurines Penguins, Whales, Seals, & More

Explore Antarctic Wildlife: This Toob includes 10 diverse figures from the freezing landscapes of Antarctica: emperor, chinstrap, and rockhopper penguins, blue, humpback, and sperm whales, an orca, a crabeater seal, an Antarctic fur seal, and a wandering albatross.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

The extraordinary true story behind Ernest Shackleton's harrowing expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance—the ill-fated ship that became trapped in ice and sank to the ocean floor. Defying the odds, the crew made it back alive, bringing with them the astounding collection of photographs included in this critically acclaimed, timeless book.

Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the World

It is the windiest, coldest, most forbidding region on earth, and I am heading straight for it.

Sketchbook in hand, an artist leaves home to spend four months in Antarctica. She hikes up glaciers, camps on deserted islands, and sees mirages of castles in the air. She sails past icebergs and humpback whales. And she fills her sketchbook with drawings of penguin chicks huddled in their nests and seals basking in the sun. Jennifer Dewey's sketches, photographs, journal entries, and letters home let you see the last great wilderness on earth through the eyes of an artist at work.

Ice Trap! : Shackleton's Incredible Expedition

In August 1914, during the height of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off from England with a team of explorers to walk across the Antarctic and study the icy depths of this new and forbidding continent. Sailing through some of the most perilous seas, the Endurance becomes trapped in the deadly pack ice of the Weddell sea. When the Endurance is eventually crushed between the vast bulk of two floating icebergs, the men are forced to abandon ship and make the dangerous journey across the crushing sea in lifeboats,

Where Is Antarctica?

Antarctica, the earth's southernmost continent, was virtually untouched by humans until the nineteenth century. Many famous explorers journeyed (and often died) there in the hope of discovering a land that always seemed out of reach. This book introduces readers to this desert--yes, desert!--continent that holds about 90 percent of the world's ice; showcases some of the 200 species that call Antarctica home, including the emperor penguin; and discusses environmental dangers to the continent, underscoring how what happens to Antarctica affects the entire world.

Ocean Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

The Anatomy series by Julia Rothman is always a go-to resource, ocean Anatomy contains plenty of information on the animals that live in Antarctica, icebergs Polar Ice, and glaciers.

Penguin's Way

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating Antarctic species. Originally published in 1962, Penguin’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard. In Penguin’s Way, a playful colony of emperor penguins lives on the edge of a faraway secret sea. During the summers, the penguins are content to fish and swim in the icy waters. But, when the seasons change, they must travel more than one hundred miles to the snowy lands surrounding the South Pole. All across the snow plain, the penguins sing songs to welcome newly hatched chicks into the world, but how will the fluffy newborns survive the freezing winter?

Next, look at some of the animals that do make their home there.

Creatures of Antarctica

You can either create a diorama centered around one of these amazing creatures or highlight them all, we are going to learn a little bit about each of these 3 most common -penguins, seals, and whales.

PENGUINS

There are 17 different species of penguins in the world, and 8 of them live in Antarctica.

A penguin’s diet is mainly fish, squid, crustaceans, and krill.

While they do prefer to drink fresh water they do have a gland near their eyes that allows them to filter the salt out of salt water for drinking.

  • Emperor Penguin 
  • Adélie penguin 
  • Gentoo penguin
  • Chinstrap penguin 
  • Macaroni penguin 
  • Rockhopper penguin 
  • Magellanic penguin 
  • King penguin 

SEALS

Only 6 out of the 35 seal species in the world live in Antarctica but they make up the majority of seal numbers. Seals are divided up into 3 different families- True seals, eared seals, and walruses.

Except for the fur seal, all of these Antarctica seals are ‘True seals’ without ears but they can still hear very well, even underwater.

They are built for their frozen home with a thick layer of blubber and fur for insulation as well as being excellent swimmers and divers.

  • Southern Elephant 
  • Crabeater
  • Leopard
  • Weddel
  • Antarctic Fur

WHALES

These amazing aquatic giants are distinct in their appearance and behaviors.

The Humpbacks are known for their haunting songs that can be heard for up to 20 miles while the Orcas are found everywhere but are most abundant here in Antarctica.

The 8 whales that you are likely to spot in Antarctica are:

  • Killer 
  • Sperm 
  • Humpback
  • Fin
  • Blue
  • Minke
  • Right
  • Sei
How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Find out how these creatures survive the freezing conditions of Antarctica in this How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama

I found a clear plastic bowl, cake plate, and fake snow at Dollar Tree.

Whether you want to keep and display your snow globe diorama long term or toss it out after it is done, this is a very economical project.

You will need:

  • Clear plastic bowl
  • Clear plastic plate/platter
  • Fake snow
  • Cardboard
  • Air dry clay
  • School glue
  • Blue craft paint
  • Plastic arctic animals
How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

First, use air-dry clay to create a dam to separate your water from the land area.

To do this I just rolled it out like a long snake and then smoothed it into place, it doesn’t have to be thick, just enough to keep the water in.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Paint a thick layer of school glue onto the side that you designated for land.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Sprinkle generously with the fake snow and tap down gently with your fingers or a paintbrush to press it into the glue then tap off the excess.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Mix blue paint with school glue and pour a thick layer into the water section you created, be sure to cover it all completely.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

If you like, take some more air-dry clay and create an iceberg, a little cave, or any other land formations you would like, give it a little glue and cover it in more flakes of fake snow.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Allow this to dry for 24-48 hours until the glue, paint, and air-dry clay have cured.

Antarctica Diorama

Add in your animals as you like. If you are going to be transporting it you can add a little bit of hot glue to the bottom of the animals.

To remove and use them another time you can heat up the glue with a hair dryer and wipe it away with a paper towel.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Place the plastic bowl on top and secure it in place with a couple of dots of hot glue if desired or let it sit loosely on top.

How to Make an Easy Antarctica Diorama With Your Kids

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: antarctica, diorama, earth science, earthscience, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, life science, science, winter crafts, winter season

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

November 21, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making a popsicle stick STEM dogsled as we enjoy a ride through the story of Balto. Also, look at my 4 Week Free Alaska Unit Study & Best Hands-on Ideas.

Even though Balto might make you think of simply a literature unit, you can still work in some amazing history, geography, math, language arts, and science.

You have a great choice of activities and resources below.

Also, I have a tutorial for you to build your own dog sled from popsicle sticks. 

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

The STEM part of this study can be learned naturally.

For example, your child investigates different methods for creating a sled to make it aerodynamic.

In addition, he learns about friction as it glides or sticks on the path down the ramp, problem-solving, and encourages outside-of-the-box thinking.

Encourage everyone in the family to create a sled and then race.

Ask questions like what made your sleds go faster or slower? What would you change next time?

Facts About the Book Balto

First, if you are not already familiar with the story of Balto let me give you a quick rundown.

It is based on a true story set in Nome Alaska and centers around the dog Balto who is a purebred Siberian husky.

He leads a dog team on a life-saving mission for serum when there is an outbreak of diphtheria.

  • Balto was not the only dog responsible for saving the children of Nome, sled dogs took turns carrying the medicine from Nenena, Alaska to Nome. 
  • There is a statue of Balto that was placed in Central Park, and it remains there, still today.
  • The run by mushers and dogs for the diphtheria serum was also known as the Great Race of Mercy.
  • The trip from Nenena to Nome normally took 30 days for a sled dog team, this time it was done in a miraculous 6 days to deliver the medicine before it expired.
  • A sled dog team is typically made up of a musher and 4 to 6 dogs or a pair and 8 to 12 dogs. This relay included 20 mushers and around 100 to 150 dogs. 
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Next, if your kids love reading books about dogs and dogs stories, look at some of these fun reads.

I lean toward living books to bring unit studies to life.

9 Books and Resources for Kids Who Love Dogs and Sled Dogs

If your child loves books about dogs and sled dogs, grab some of these for a fun unit study.

Balto and the Great Race (Stepping Stone)

Balto has a quiet life as a sled dog—until tragedy strikes. Dozens of children in Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without antitoxin serum, they will perish—and the closest supply is 650 miles away! The only way to get the serum to Nome is by sled, but can the dogs deliver it in time? Heading bravely into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life.

Togo

Togo wasn't meant to be a sled dog. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. But Togo is determined, and when his trainer, Leonhard Seppala, gives him a chance, he soon becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history! His skills are put to the ultimate test, though, when Seppala and his team are called on to make the now-famous run across the frozen Arctic to deliver the serum that will save Alaska from a life-threatening outbreak of diphtheria.

Kiana's Iditarod (PAWS IV)

Kiana is no ordinary dog. Born and bred to race, she leads her team of huskies on a journey unlike any other. The Iditarod - known traditionally as Alaska's 'Last Great Race' - spans 1,049 icy miles from Anchorage to Nome. From the treacherous terrain to the bitter, blowing winds, the trail is full of obstacles Kiana and her team must overcome in order to reach the finish line. Along the way, they encounter packs of wild wolves, a mighty moose, and other dog-sled teams fighting for first place. Can Kiana summon the strength of her team and lead them to victory? Author Shelley Gill brings her firsthand experience as the fifth woman to complete the Iditarod race to this crackling adventure story, while Shannon Cartwright's vibrant color illustrations bring Kiana and her team's extraordinary efforts to life for young readers.

Kavik the Wolf Dog

When Andy Evans stumbles upon the snow-covered wreckage of a small plane, he’s shocked to find a survivor. Should he put the gravely injured dog out of his misery? The look in the animal’s eyes says he’s not ready to die. It turns out that Kävik’s a champion sled dog, and soon he makes a full recovery. When his rightful owner finds out Kävik is alive, he wants the dog back. But Kävik has other ideas.

.Siberian Husky Figurine

Detailed Representation: Hand-painted by professionals, this Siberian Husky figurine comes alive with realistic features and markings, a perfect gift for dog lovers.

White Fang

WHITE FANG !!!! (PART 1 of 2) From Jack London, one of the greatest American writers of all time, comes this masterpiece in adventure story telling: WHITE FANG!!! Can White Fang the timber wolf pup ever be tamed? WHITE FANG (PART 1 of 2)examines the violent world of wild animals and the equally violent world of humans. WHITE FANG! A tale of animal heroism, survival and adventure like never before seen in American literature.

Stone Fox

Based on a Rocky Mountain legend, Stone Fox tells the story of Little Willy, who lives with his grandfather in Wyoming. When Grandfather falls ill, he is no longer able to work the farm, which is in danger of foreclosure. Little Willy is determined to win the National Dogsled Race—the prize money would save the farm and his grandfather. But he isn't the only one who desperately wants to win. Willy and his brave dog Searchlight must face off against experienced racers, including a Native American man named Stone Fox, who has never lost a race.

Dogteam

On a moonlit winter night, a team of dogs pulls a sled, taking the narrator and readers on a wondrous ride through the snow, into and out of the woods. It is a ride you'll wish would never end.

The Adventures of Balto: The Untold Story of Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog

Balto, the great Alaska sled dog, has been dead since 1933. But he still stands larger-than-life on Dogdom's Mount Olympus, where the world's great canines are immortalized. Yet few people know Balto's true story.

Additionally, look at some of these unit study facts to go along the popsicle stick stem dogsled.

Balto Unit Study

Don’t just read the book, immerse yourselves in it with fun hands-on activities that cover a wide variety of subjects and ages so everyone in the family is included.

You can widen your unit a bit by incorporating the topics of winter, Alaska, snow, blizzards, and other themes that are prevalent throughout the story.

Math Unit Study Ideas for Balto

  • Research how long it takes to get from where you are to Nome, Alaska-by foot, car, train, and plane.
  • For the littlest learners, you can do Winter Math Activities With Printable Snowflake Number Circle.
  • Here is a wintery-themed Hands-On Math: Fun and Easy Snowflake Geometry idea.
  • If you live somewhere with snow have your child create and maintain a record of the daily snowfall.

Science Unit Study Ideas for Balto

  • Learn about the different wildlife found in Alaska- Caribou, moose, polar bear, bald eagle, Orcas, and more for science.
  • Use a Siberian Husky Figure to reenact the story, use it in a diorama, or as part of a lovely winter sensory bin.
  • Your popsicle stick stem dogsled craft today is a great opportunity for hands-on science. This is a great time to let your child hypothesize and experiment, they will be naturally problem-solving, engineering, and thinking critically along the way.
  • Find out how Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity, goes along with this unit very well.

History/Geography Unit Study Ideas for Balto

  • Locate Nome, Alaska on a map or globe. Then locate the starting point in Nenena, Alaska, and track the path with your finger.
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study
  • Use this stencil of Alaska as a base to create a felt, salt dough, paper, or any other material map to learn the geography of this chilly state.

After finishing the book, watch the animated adaptation of Balto.

Language Arts Unit Study Ideas For Balto

For younger readers, Totally True Adventures, Balto and The Great Race is a wonderful retelling of the story.

  • Provide your child with writing prompts. Encourage them to write or type a paragraph or an entire story from the inspiration.  “As the snow started falling faster my dogsled team and I…” , “ If I could be anywhere during the winter time it would be….”. Or “ Let me tell you about the time I interviewed Balto.”
  • Flip through your copy of Balto ahead of time. Then write down words that your child might not know or might be a challenge for spelling. Use these throughout your study as spelling/vocabulary words.
  • This Snow & Ice Salt Writing Tray is great for prewriting letters. But it is also a really fun sensory activity. For older children they can practice sight words and spelling.

Crafts for Learning About Balto

  • Follow this tutorial video and draw a Siberian husky, just like Balto for art.
  • Create these fabulous DIY Stand-up Cardboard Huskies to display, and add them to your dogsled to complete it.
  •  A Super Easy Snowball Painting is not only fun but can help your child understand the total white-out conditions that can be faced in a winter storm.

If you are looking for more ideas like this Balto Unit Study you can work in more winter studies with the 8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace and a list of other great books that fit the theme to get them through winter.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled

I am giving you a general how-to make a popsicle stick stem dogsled.

But remember this is a stem project and you may want to try several ways and models to test which one goes faster, holds more weight, etc.

You will need:

  • Popsicle sticks
  • Sturdy scissors or straight edge blade
  • Cardboard
  • Glue gun/glue sticks
  • Paint-optional

If you enjoy doing projects with craft sticks you may want to invest in this tool.

It comes in really handy and makes cutting much easier, especially with angles like I did on the side braces of this.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

First, determine the length and width you would like to make your sled, use scissors or a razor knife to trim pieces for the bottom, side, and front.

First lay out all the pieces to get an idea of where everything goes.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

I used 4 sticks for the base and then secured them with a stick going across at each end, using hot glue.

Cut them slightly short on each side so you have room to attach runners, so it just needs to be the width of one craft stick on either side.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Hot glue craft sticks that are full size or cut them down to either side of the base to create runners.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Flip the sled over and begin construction of the front, to keep it light you will want to cut your sticks in half and again cut down a piece for support across the back.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Glue on side rails and support at an angle to stabilize the whole thing, you can cut angles or leave the ends straight.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Finally, you can leave your sled unfinished or paint it.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Create a snowy ramp with a long strip of cardboard painted white.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

Prop it up at varying heights to test its speed.

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Stem Dogsled | Balto Unit Study

1 CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: Alaska, hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, literature, STEM, unit studies, unit study, winter crafts, winter season

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

November 18, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

We’re making an adorable Q tip painting snowman. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.

It is wall-worthy but also helps develop fine motor skills, improve grasp, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination, and helps calm a dysregulated child.

Then there is the slant to use it to explain and recreate Pointillism to your child and the artist most known for it George Seurat.

Besides, young children should be introduced to different painting techniques and artists.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Before you think that this technique is just for preschoolers, look at the 10 additional Q-Tip painting ideas I found that cover preschool through middle school.

Even adults can enjoy them.

The techniques are varied as well as the end results.

Sometimes they call for single dotting and others use bundles of q tips to create different looks.

Pointillism is completely filled in with dots over the entire canvas.

However, you can choose to not have your child do that much or do your project over time.

I don’t know about you, but I love a quick and easy-to-set-up, inexpensive but still adorable art project.

And all you need for this Q-tip painting snowman is Q-tips and paint, as well as a cute little artist.

4 Facts About Seurat and Pointillism Painting

Then add some facts for your children about art.

  1. Pointillism is a painting technique where tiny dots or strokes are painted close together. They’re so close that from a distance, they visually blend to create an image.
  2. Even Vincent Van Gogh showed his appreciation for this style, in his 1887 self-portrait he used very short brush strokes rather than dots, but it is still pointillism, Starry Night is an example as well.
  3. George Seurat is best known for his painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It was painted from 1884 to 1886.
  4. In his short lifetime, Seurat created seven large-scale paintings, hundreds of drawings, and sketches, and about 40 smaller-scale paintings and sketches.
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

You can show your child many examples of Seurat’s work here on wiki art, print their favorites, and use them for inspiration for their own art projects.

Books About Winter

Also, add some other fun resources to make this a winter and art unit study.

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

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. 

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

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.

10 More Fantastic Q-Tip Painting Ideas

  1. Make this beautiful Field  Of Tulips Q-Tip Painting. This can be done and enjoyed by all age levels and you will get unique results.
  2. This Cotton Swab Flower Painting is a great challenge for older kids and gives them different techniques for using the q tip, shading, and adding a 3-D dimensional look.
  3. A simple but pretty way to introduce your preschooler to Roy G. Biv is this Q-Tip Rainbow Painting Craft.
  4. Learn How to Make Name Art With Pointillism for a craft that your kids will love to display in their room or hang on their door to let everyone know it’s their space.
  5. This Easy Q-Tip Painted Heart Art is so pretty and a great way to brighten up someone’s
  6. Here is a great Georges Seurat Pointillism Art Lesson for Kids where they can recreate their favorite painting of his.
  7. Perfect for winter, this Pointillism Snowflake Art project comes with a free printable template and is a beautiful way to bring winter inside even if you have no snow.
  8. How sweet is this simple Cotton Bud Dandelion Craft?
  9. While this one isn’t a painting idea I couldn’t let it go without mentioning when I saw it, so many uses when you learn How to Dye Q Tips For Play and Learning.
  10. Kids Art Project: Q-Tip Star Art.
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Finally, look how to make this q tip snowman.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

You will need:

  • Q Tips
  • Craft paint
  • Construction paper
  • 3 different sized round objects
How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

First, create your snowman outline by tracing 3 round objects of varying sizes (like cups, bowls, cookie cutters, etc.) onto your construction paper with a pencil.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Place a small amount of white paint into something like a little paper disposable cup.

It makes for such easy cleanup and no paint brushes to wash either.

Give your child several Q-tips and demonstrate to them, if needed, how to follow the outline.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Have them dot to fill in the circles.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Continue until all three circles are filled in.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

They can also add snow falling down or a blanket across the ground.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Once the white is filled in, allow it to dry.

This is a great time for a cocoa break and a book.

Once the white is dry your child can add touches like buttons, eyes, a scarf, hat, and nose with any color craft paint they like.

Be sure to give them one q tip per color, again use cheap disposable cups from Dollar Tree for easy clean up.

Now at this point you can be done, or you can have your child completely fill in their page with dots to include sky, trees, etc.

How to Make an Adorable Q Tip Painting Snowman

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: art, hands-on, hands-on activities, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, snow, snowman, winter crafts, winter season

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

November 16, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

If you have a middle school student that you are trying to get off their tech for a bit these winter crafts for middle school are a perfect distraction from texting and video games. Also, look at my page How to Successfully Homeschool Middle School and ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study with free lapbook.

Snowmen, snowflakes, and cocoa candles, oh my!

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

I have rolled up 8 adorable craft ideas to cover a lot of our favorite winter topics and will keep your teen screen-free for at least a little while.

Too, I have an easy tutorial for how to craft a snowman bead necklace as well and it is a great intermediate project for one child, a group of friends, co-op, or even the whole family to create.

You don’t have to stop with just one craft though.

Challenge your middle school child to choose another craft and learn some of these fantastic snowman facts, get outside and build their own snowman, or make a snowman-themed snack.

4 Winter Snowman Facts for Middle School

  1. In February of 2020 residents in Donnersbachwald, Austria, built a giant snowman named Riesi that towered above at 124.8 feet.
  2. According to scientists the best snow for building snowmen is moist or wet snow, which forms when the air temperature is hovering just above freezing- 0°C and 2°C.  When this happens some of the snow melts and makes water between ice crystals that acts as a glue to hold it all together.
  3.  Everyone’s an expert! There are more than 90,000 YouTube videos that teach you how to build a snowman, there is even a patent out there for the process.
  4. The classic song ‘Frosty The Snowman’ “Frosty the Snowman” was written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. It was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys and later recorded by Jimmy Durante in the same year, Jimmy’s version being used in the animated movie.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Then add some books for fun winter reading for your student.

I lean toward living books then like to add in some reference books too.

7 Books for Middle School Students to Read in the Winter

These books also make for a great read aloud, even older kids would enjoy piling up on the couch in the morning for a good story together.

Julie of the Wolves (HarperClassics)

Julie of the Wolves is a staple in the canon of children’s literature and the first in the Julie trilogy. The survival theme makes it a good pick for readers of wilderness adventures such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, or Island of the Blue Dolphins.

This edition, perfect for classroom or home use, includes John Schoenherr’s original scratchboard illustrations throughout, as well as bonus materials such as an introduction written by Jean Craighead George’s children, the author’s Newbery acceptance speech, selections from her field notebooks, a discussion guide, and a further reading guide.

To her small village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When her life in the village becomes dangerous, Miyax runs away, only to find herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter and enslaved by the power of the White Witch. But when almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice.

The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he learns the ways of the wilderness.

Sweet Home Alaska

    It's 1934, and times are tough for Trip's family after the mill in their small Wisconsin town closes, leaving her father unemployed. Determined to provide for his family, he moves them all to Alaska to become pioneers as part of President Roosevelt's Palmer Colony project. Trip and her family are settling in, except her mom, who balks at the lack of civilization. But Trip feels like she's following in Laura Ingalls Wilder's footsteps, and she hatches a plan to raise enough money for a piano to convince her musical mother that Alaska is a wonderful and cultured home. Her sights set on the cash prize at the upcoming Palmer Colony Fair, but can Trip grow the largest pumpkin possible--using all the love, energy, and Farmer Boy expertise she can muster?

The Winter King

Ever since Cora's father disappeared through the ice, whispers about her family's "curse" have grown increasingly louder. Desperate to help her mother and siblings survive another bleak season in the Winter King's frozen grasp, Cora begins to bend (and even break) the rules she has kept since she was a little girl. But when she discovers a secret that's much bigger than herself, she realizes too late that she has put herself--and those she loves--in even greater peril.

Winterhouse (Winterhouse, 1)

Orphan Elizabeth Somers’s malevolent aunt and uncle ship her off to the ominous Winterhouse Hotel, owned by the peculiar Norbridge Falls. Upon arrival, Elizabeth quickly discovers that Winterhouse has many charms―most notably its massive library. It’s not long before she locates a magical book of puzzles that will unlock a mystery involving Norbridge and his sinister family. But the deeper she delves into the hotel’s secrets, the more Elizabeth starts to realize that she is somehow connected to Winterhouse. As fate would have it, Elizabeth is the only person who can break the hotel’s curse and solve the mystery. But will it be at the cost of losing the people she has come to care for, and even Winterhouse itself?

Northwind

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to “the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.” With hints of Nordic mythology and an irresistible narrative pull, Northwind is Gary Paulsen at his captivating, adventuresome best.

Then, add in these other fun winter crafts for middle school.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School

  1. Fun Styrofoam Snowman Art Activity & 5 Facts About The Wonders of Winter.
  2. With just paper, glue, and scissors you can create a winter wonderland of Curled Paper Snowflakes to decorate the whole house.
  3. Not only is it beautiful but this Snowflake Soap serves a purpose and makes a great craft to keep or gift to friends and family.
  4. Check out these 10 Middle School Winter Crafts and Make a Sweet Smelling Hot Cocoa Candle.
  5. Think of the personality that can be infused into this cute DIY Wood Block Snowman tutorial. I think this is the perfect craft for everyone in the family to make together to represent themselves.
  6. I just love this Popsicle Stick Winter Bucket List idea. I have found that kids don’t need you less as they turn into teens, just in a different way. Create a list of things you would enjoy doing together throughout the winter season and let your middle schooler turn it into this fun tin pail bucket list.
  7. Sometimes a winter craft can be longing for spring, like with these Winter Craft Ideas How to Make Fun Pinecone Flowers that can bring a bright touch to a dreary winter.
  8. Easy DIY Fun Salt Winter Watercolor Art Project for Kids.
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Okay so maybe this is less craft and more of a snack but it definitely looks like a work of art.

So maybe these Hot Chocolate Stir Sticks can do double-duty as your middle schoolers’ project.

Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

You will need:

  • Elastic string
  • Unfinished wood beads
  • Unfinished wood spool
  • Plastic beads
  • Glitter
  • Craft paint
  • Paint pens
  • Hot glue gun/sticks
8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

The first thing you want to do is string your unfinished wood beads for the snowman on a skewer, this is the easiest method for painting.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Next paint the beads with a light coat all over, leaving room between each to dry.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Also, paint a little unfinished wood spool black to make a hat.

If you would rather you can also use a scrap of fabric to make a cloth hat instead.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Once your first layer is dry, paint a second thick coat on them and then sprinkle with fine glitter if desired to give the snow a dimensional and glistening effect.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Allow the paint to dry then hot glue the 3 pieces together, leaving the hole on the beads vertical for the bottom two and going horizontally for the head so that it can be strung on the necklace.

Add your top hat as well.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Use paint markers to add details like eyes, a carrot nose, buttons, etc.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

While the details are drying begin adding beads in whatever pattern you like to one side of the necklace.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

Slip your snowman onto the string and repeat the bead pattern on the other side, going as far up the string as you like.

8 Cool Winter Crafts for Middle School | Craft a Snowman Bead Necklace

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

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

November 15, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Create a beautiful nature-filled ice sun catcher with your preschooler by taking a nature walk in the woods, a local park, or even your backyard. Also, look at this Simple and Easy Instant Ice Kids Activity Homeschool Science Experiments post and my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

It is a fun way to explore the outdoors and finish up with a neat nature-filled ice sun catcher to remember it (at least as long as the ice lasts).

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Fill it with colorful flowers, berries, small pinecones, interesting pebbles or twigs, and leaves.

You can use your ice sun catcher to learn about the objects that they find but also as a different science lesson talking about ice and why and how it melts.

The best part about this activity is that it can be repeated over and over with different results each time.

For example, add food coloring, different items, and different types of water and explore the various results with your preschooler.

Books About Winter

While exploring nature, don’t forget to take along a favorite resource book like Nature Anatomy and see if you can spot any of your finds in the pages.

Preschoolers really love looking through books with good illustrations to compare to.

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.

Also, look at these other fun sun catchers to do in winter.

6 Fun Sun Catchers to Do in Winter

While you may not think of sun catchers for winter there are plenty of engaging and pretty ideas for indoors and out and I have 6 more for you to check out

  1. I just love this Arctic Animal Sun Catcher Craft to go along with studying snowy animals like polar bears and penguins.
  2. These pretty Snowflake Sun Catchers are a great way to highlight how unique snowflakes are.
  3. Here is a completely different take on a sun catcher, using beads to reflect the light with this Pinecone Sun Catcher Craft.
  4. Mitten Sun catchers can launch a good discussion about what kind of clothing is needed for winter and how to protect ourselves from extreme temperatures.
  5. Make a Winter Tree Suncatcher using tear art for a lovely nature-themed craft.
  6. Snowman Sun Catcher is just too sweet and makes a simple but pretty craft to decorate your windows.
Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher

You will need:

  • Nature items:  leaves, twigs, bark, pinecones, flowers, etc.
  • Shallow container
  • Water
  • Ribbon
Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

First, add a length of ribbon or rope to the top to hang it from.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

After gathering plenty of items for your ice sun catcher let your child lay them out however they like in your shallow container, you could even make multiple small ones by using a muffin tin.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Once it is full of nature it is ready for the next step.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Let your preschooler carefully fill with water.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Place in the freezer overnight.

Carefully remove it from the container, you may need to flip it over and run warm water over the back for a minute or two to loosen it.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Carry it outside.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Hang from a tree and enjoy if the weather stays cold enough to keep it frozen!

Go back outside often as it melts and watch the changes.

Ask your preschooler how long does it take?

And ask your child questions like “Do you think the sun makes it melt faster?” to encourage critical thinking.

Here is how the backside looks with the sun shining through it.

Tip- for super clear ice use filtered water instead of tap water.

Frozen Nature Ice Sun Catcher for Preschool Play and Fun

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Hands-On Activities Tagged With: hands-on, hands-on activities, handson, handsonhomeschooling, homeschoolinginwinter, ice, nature, nature study, preschool, seasons, winter crafts, winter season

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