Hey there! Guess what? We just had our first big snowstorm of the year, and it was amazing! My friend Squeaks and I had a blast playing in the snow. We went sledding and even built snowmen and igloos. Snow is so much fun because it changes everything around us. The ground gets covered in a thick, white blanket, and ponds start to freeze over.
One of the coolest things that happen when it snows is the formation of icicles. These are long, cone-shaped pieces of ice that hang down from roofs, gutters, and even tree branches. They look like ice popsicles, which is why they’re called icicles!
Icicles form naturally, and here’s how it happens. First, you need two things: snow and warm sunlight. Snow and ice are both made of frozen water. When water gets really cold, it turns into ice. Snowflakes are tiny pieces of ice shaped like beautiful patterns, while ice cubes are just packed pieces of ice.
After snow falls, it stays frozen as long as the temperature is below the freezing point, which is 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But even on a freezing day, the sun can come out and warm things up. When sunlight hits the snow, it starts to melt slowly, turning into water.
As the snow on a roof melts, the water rolls down and drips off the edge. But when the air is still cold, the water freezes again before it can fall. This frozen drop becomes the start of an icicle. Over time, as more snow melts and refreezes, the icicle grows longer and thicker. Sometimes it takes weeks, but other times it can happen in just a few days!
If everything works just right, your roof can end up beautifully decorated with icicles. Have you ever seen icicles forming? What amazing things do you think you could build out of frozen snow or ice? We’d love to hear your ideas!
Thanks for learning with us, and see you next time at the fort!
Icicle Observation Journal: Start an icicle observation journal! Next time it snows, look around your home or neighborhood for icicles. Draw pictures of the icicles you find and note where they are hanging. Are they on a roof, a tree branch, or somewhere else? Write down how long they are and if they change over a few days. This will help you see how icicles grow and change over time!
Make Your Own Icicle Experiment: Try making a mini icicle at home! Fill a small cup with water and place it in the freezer. Check it every hour to see how the water changes as it freezes. Once it’s frozen, take it out and let it melt a little in the sun. Watch how the water drips and refreezes, just like a real icicle. Talk about what you see with a friend or family member.
Creative Icicle Creations: Use your imagination to think about what you could build with icicles if they were safe to play with. Draw a picture of your creation or use building blocks to make a model. Would you build a castle, a bridge, or something else? Share your ideas with your class or family!
