Hey there! It’s super cold and snowy where we live, so Squeaks and I decided to get cozy and watch some videos about winter. Grab a blanket and some hot cocoa, and let’s learn why we have a winter season!
We have four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. But do you know why? It’s because the Earth is tilted! A long time ago, something big hit the Earth and knocked it over a little bit. Now, as Earth travels around the sun, this tilt causes different parts of the planet to get different amounts of sunlight, creating the seasons.
When the part of Earth you’re on is tilted toward the sun, it’s summer. When it’s tilted away, it’s winter. In between, we have spring and autumn. This tilt also means that different parts of the world can experience different seasons at the same time!
Have you ever looked closely at a snowflake? Each one is a six-pointed work of art! Snowflakes are made up of snow crystals, which form in clouds. Water vapor freezes around a tiny piece of dust, creating a seed crystal. As more water particles stick to it, they form a six-sided shape called a hexagon.
Even though all snowflakes have six sides, they can look very different from each other. Scientists have identified over 30 different shapes of snow crystals! The shape depends on the conditions in the cloud, like temperature and humidity. That’s why no two snowflakes are exactly the same!
Building a snowman is all about balance, just like engineers think about when they build tall buildings. To make a snowman, we use three snowballs: a big one, a medium one, and a small one. The biggest snowball goes on the bottom to support the others, just like a building needs a strong base.
Try stacking the snowballs in different ways to see what works best. The biggest ball should always be at the bottom, the medium one in the middle, and the smallest on top. This way, your snowman will stand tall and proud!
Animals have some cool ways to stay warm in winter! Some migrate to warmer places, while others hibernate in cozy dens. But some animals stay active in the cold and have special adaptations to survive.
For example, the Arctic fox grows a thick, white coat to keep warm and blend in with the snow. Arctic hares also have white fur and thick pads on their feet. The ptarmigan, a bird, changes its feathers from brown to white to stay hidden from predators.
Birds that stay in cold places during winter need our help. We can put out birdseed and fresh water for them. Birds also start building nests in winter, so we can leave materials like twigs, string, and yarn for them to use.
By helping birds, we get to enjoy watching them and might even see some baby birds in spring!
Squeaks and I are going to grab more blankets and books to enjoy this snowy day. If you have any questions about winter, animals, or anything else, let us know. Stay warm and keep learning!
Seasonal Sunlight Experiment: Use a flashlight and a globe (or a ball) to explore how Earth’s tilt affects sunlight. Shine the flashlight on the globe at different angles to mimic the tilt of the Earth during different seasons. Ask the children to observe which parts of the globe receive more light and which receive less. Discuss how this relates to the seasons they experience. Encourage them to think about how the amount of sunlight affects temperature and weather.
Snowflake Crafting: Provide paper, scissors, and markers for the children to create their own snowflakes. Show them how to fold and cut the paper to make six-sided snowflakes, just like real ones. Encourage them to decorate their snowflakes with unique patterns, emphasizing that no two snowflakes are alike. Discuss how temperature and humidity in clouds can lead to different snowflake shapes.
Animal Adaptation Observation: Take a nature walk or visit a local park to observe animals and discuss how they might be staying warm. Ask the children to look for signs of animal adaptations, such as thick fur or feathers. Encourage them to think about what animals might eat in winter and how they find food. Afterward, have a discussion about how different animals have unique ways to survive the cold.
