There’s something magical about a snowy day. The outside is covered in a blanket and everything seems quieter. If you could zoom in on a snowflake, you’d be able to see how magical they are. Each snowflake has a different pattern! 

Today, you will create snowflakes!

Step 1: Winter weather means sleet, snow, and ice. The shifting temperatures can lead to hazardous conditions. Find out more about how ice acts and reacts with these 5 experiments. Record your findings in your Da Vinci Notebook.

Step 2: With so many changes during the winter season, you might not think about how animals change and adapt. Some might grow thicker coats of fur to stay warm. Others animals might hibernate, waiting for the weather to warm up from the comfort of their dens. Learn more about how animals adapt with this episode of Wild Kratts. 

Step 3: Tennessee gets a variety of weather because we have so many different terrains. The mountains and plateau are taller and receive more snow. While the valleys tend to receive less snow and stay a bit warmer. Learn more about winter weather in this video collection. What similarities do you see in TN weather? Make notes in your Da Vinci Notebook.

Step 4: Snowflakes are as individual and unique as people. Today, you’ll be designing and creating your own snowflakes. You can do this with or without technology. To make a physical snowflake, follow this tutorial. To create a digital snowflake, follow this tutorial and practice your coding!

Step 5: Be sure to share your snowflakes on social media using #MakerMonday & #AlwaysLearning!

Additional Resources:

Winter STEM Calendar

Brainpop JR: Winter

As seasons change, we notice shifts in temperatures and plant life. Winter is the coldest season and most, but not all, plants die under these conditions. Have you ever wondered why some plants stay green through the winter? Or why do the days seem shorter?

Today, you will wonder about the changes of winter !

Step 1: Some plants are green all year long. They are called evergreens. These hearty plants might be part of the conifer family. An evergreen might keep their leaves for a few months or up to several decades. Learn more about evergreens with this video.

Step 2: Remember in the fall when the time changed? We set the clocks back by one hour to have the sunrise occur a little earlier. But you might have also noticed that it gets dark earlier too. Summer days are full of sun, but winter nights seem to get longer and longer. Explore the science of the seasons with this site.

Step 3: Some animals don’t grow extra fur or hibernate. So how do they survive the colder weather of the winter season? They migrate! Learn what mammals, birds, fish, and insects migrate and why from this site. Think about how we see hummingbirds in the spring or summer, but not in the fall and winter. Watch this video to continue learning about migration. 

Step 4: Winter weather can be brutal, but it can also offer opportunities to see things in nature that don’t occur any other time. Explore some of these natural wonders here and here.

Step 5: Ask a family member to share what you learned about winter on social media using #WonderWednesdayTN & #AlwaysLearning!



Additional Resources:

Winter Facts and Activities

PBS Kids: Winter Games

Winter brings colder temperatures and changing weather. Special careers focus on monitoring weather and the shifts that occur in our environment. From meteorologists to engineers, winter means new challenges and problem solving.

Today, you will explore potential careers related to winter!

Step 1: If you love the cold and exploration, you might like being an avalanche forecaster. These workers make sure conditions are safe for people in avalanche terrain. Learn about this career from Bruce Temper, Director of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center.

Step 2: As the weather gets colder, it can also become hazardous. Snow and sleet can cause icy roads and dangerous conditions for travel. People rely on meteorologists to keep them informed about the weather and to keep them safe. Explore weather related careers here.

Step 3: Perhaps you’re interested in controlling or fixing environmental problems. Environmental scientists work in all types of weather and study how environmental factors impact human health. Learn more about this career here.

Step 4: Winter weather can put a strain on structures. Snow is heavy and collapse a roof. Ice can coat roads and bridges and make them treacherous. Engineers have to take all of this into consideration when designing structures. Learn more about engineering careers here.

Step 5: Ask a family member to share something you learned about one of the careers using #FutureFridayTN & #AlwaysLearning!

Additional Resources:

STEM Occupations: Past, Present, and Future

Reindeer Snacks