Family Matters: Snowy Projects (Even If There’s No Snow)

Friday, February 10, 2012

Anisa Raoof, GoLocalProv Family Expert

Create a whole snowstorm in your windows. Photo: Bugs and Fishes.

Enough with this snowless winter. 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.

Part 1: 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.

Part 2: Crafts

Here are some of my favorite snow-inspired crafts:

Cut snowflakes from folded paper, paper plates or round doilies.

Think of snowy Hoth. Make Star Wars themed snowflakes.

Quill a snowflake from paper strips.

Make an indoor snowstorm using Avery labels and dental floss.

Make a snow globe from old glass jars, greens, plastic toys, distilled water, glitter, and glycerin.

Make window cling snowflakes with glue and glitter.

Collage a snowman using paper, old magazines, buttons, sequins, sticks and old ribbons. Inspired by Snowballs by Lois Ehlert.

Part 3: Science

Learn about the seven basic snowflake shapes here.

Make crystallized snowflakes with Borax, hot water and pipe cleaners.

Learn the science behind the Borax crystals.

Part 4: Food

Bake and decorate snowflake cookies.

Make a tortilla snowflake snack. Fold and cut tortillas as you would paper snowflakes, coat with a little oil or butter. Dust with cinnamon or, bake first and dust after with confectioners sugar!

Part 5: Snow outside!

Build a snowman.

Go sledding (in Rhode Island).

Catch snowflakes on black paper and look at with a magnifying glass before they melt.

Anisa Raoof is the publisher and founder of Kidoinfo, the parents' guide for Rhode Island and beyond.

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