We have decided to celebrate the magic of snow (and lack of the white stuff in the northeast) by hosting a Snow Party – complete with stories, crafts, science experiments and snacks. Followed by a trip outdoors in real snow if the temperatures drop and the rain changes to snow.
BOOKS
- Read Snowflake Bentley (Caldecott Medal Book) by Jacqueline Briggs, illustrated by Martin Mary Azarian. This is the true story of Wilson Bentley, a farmer born in 1865 in Jericho, Vermont, a small town between Lake Champlain and Mount Mansfield. The story shows Bentley’s fascination, determination, and success in learning how to photograph snowflakes after his mother gave him a microscope when he was fifteen. Beautiful, bold woodcut illustrations.
- Watch the video about Snowflake Bentley and his photographs.
- Read more books about snow and winter from the Kidoinfo book list.
CRAFTS
Cut snowflakes from folded paper, paper plates or round doilies.
Think of snowy Hoth. Make Star Wars themed snowflakes. (how-to)
Quill a snowflake from paper strips. (how-to)
Make an indoor snowstorm using Avery labels and dental floss. (how-to)
Make a snow globe from old glass jars, greens, plastic toys, distilled water, glitter, and glycerin. (how-to)
Make window cling snowflakes with glue and glitter. (how-to)
Collage a snowman using paper, old magazines, buttons, sequins, sticks and old ribbons.
Inspired by Snowballs by Lois Ehlert. (how-to)
SCIENCE
Learn about the seven basic snowflake shapes here.
Make crystallized snowflakes with Borax, hot water and pipe cleaners. (how-to)
Learn the science behind the Borax crystals.
FOOD
Bake and decorate snowflake cookies. (recipe)
Make tortilla snowflake snack. Fold and cut tortillas as you would paper snowflakes, coat with a little oil or butter. dust cinnamon or , bake first and dust after with confectioners sugar! (recipe)
OUTDOORS
- Build a snowman
- Go sledding (in Rhode Island)
- Catch snowflakes on black paper and look at with a magnifying glass before they melt
Nikki- Sounds lovely! And what’s a little scraping after months of joy? Would love to see a photo. Please email me one if possible: anisa at kidoinfo dot com.
Awesome ideas, Anisa!
I bought a White Window Marker(usually used by teenager’s to decorate their car windows around homecoming and graduation time)and drew “snow flakes” on every window on our 1st floor. And by “snow flakes”, I mean asterisks and polka dots. The effect makes opening the window each morning a real treat. As the sun rises each day, the “snow flakes”, cast magical shadows on the walls and floors. It may be a chore to clean up come Spring but for now, it really does create the sense of a snow-filled winter in downtown Warren.
great ideas!