Winter is officially in Brooklyn! An often overlooked season, winter provides outdoor opportunities to observe and explore. Provided its not frigid cold, you're encouraged to bundle up and head outside! Here are four ways you can explore science outside with your child during winter. We've presented the ideas as questions, which helps open up the exploratory possibilities.
What's the weather like outside today? Winter is a great time to observe and track the weather. For young children, this includes temperature, precipitation (type and amount), and cloud cover. Discuss the weather as you make your way out and about and make science a casual part of your day.
How can we explore with ice? Ice is a fun and fascinating material that can be used to explore a range of scientific concepts. You can try freezing different liquids in ice cube trays and observing how they look and behave, or conduct experiments to see how long it takes for ice to melt under different conditions. On the right day, you can find ice outside! At 32 degrees and below, water freezes into a solid state. Pay attention to the weather and when the temperature is right, go on an outdoor ice hunt.
How can we build with snow/ice?: Building structures with snow or ice can be a fun and challenging way to explore engineering principles. On a snowy day, design and build a snow fort or ice castle, and test their stability and strength. What else can you build with snow or ice? Challenge yourself to build the tallest structure you can build.
Who made these tracks? A snowy day walk through the trails inside Prospect Park will help answer this question. Many animals are more active in the winter, and their tracks can be easier to spot in the snow. You can also explore your own tracks. Compare and contrast the different sizes and shapes of your family's footprints.
If you have a baking sheet or similar, you can bring the snow inside! Place a towel under the baking sheet because this can get messy (for younger kids, you can set this up on the floor or bathtub). Collect clean snow and let your child explore!
How did your winter science exploration go?
Tag us in your pictures on Facebook or Instagram at @KiddieScience or #KiddieScience
What's the weather like outside today? Winter is a great time to observe and track the weather. For young children, this includes temperature, precipitation (type and amount), and cloud cover. Discuss the weather as you make your way out and about and make science a casual part of your day.
How can we explore with ice? Ice is a fun and fascinating material that can be used to explore a range of scientific concepts. You can try freezing different liquids in ice cube trays and observing how they look and behave, or conduct experiments to see how long it takes for ice to melt under different conditions. On the right day, you can find ice outside! At 32 degrees and below, water freezes into a solid state. Pay attention to the weather and when the temperature is right, go on an outdoor ice hunt.
How can we build with snow/ice?: Building structures with snow or ice can be a fun and challenging way to explore engineering principles. On a snowy day, design and build a snow fort or ice castle, and test their stability and strength. What else can you build with snow or ice? Challenge yourself to build the tallest structure you can build.
Who made these tracks? A snowy day walk through the trails inside Prospect Park will help answer this question. Many animals are more active in the winter, and their tracks can be easier to spot in the snow. You can also explore your own tracks. Compare and contrast the different sizes and shapes of your family's footprints.
If you have a baking sheet or similar, you can bring the snow inside! Place a towel under the baking sheet because this can get messy (for younger kids, you can set this up on the floor or bathtub). Collect clean snow and let your child explore!
How did your winter science exploration go?
Tag us in your pictures on Facebook or Instagram at @KiddieScience or #KiddieScience
