Get outside

Head outside to catch snowflakes for fun and for science! Try catching them on your tongue or use frozen black construction paper to observe their shapes. Use a magnifying glass for a closer look and keep a journal of what you have observed. Are the flakes big or small? Falling fast, slow or at an angle? Snow is not just fun - it’s a great way to explore nature too!

The activities Firefly Flash! and Firefly Tag are ideas from Cindy Blobaum’s book, “Explore Night Science!”. In Firefly Flash, players pick secret “boy” or “girl” cards with light patterns of dots and dashes on the back. "Girls" stay put and flash lights, while "boys" search for their matching light pattern. If unmatched, the "boy" is out. In Firefly Tag, players run from a tagger and must reach a flashlight or glow stick to be safe. If tagged first, you're out. Play continue

Test if your jello critters can survive winter with this experiment! Pour Jello into small containers. Just like animals need insulation and a warm place to live, build “homes” using materials like mittens, leaves, or bubble wrap for insulation. Place your Jello critters outside in their homes and leave one out in the open. After 30 minutes, check if they stayed liquid (survived) or turned into jello (died). See which homes kept your critters warm!

Composting is nature’s way of recycling living things into soil. Anything once living can break down into compost, which looks like dark, crumbly soil and smells like forest floor. You can make compost in a cup using organic scraps, soil, water, and sunlight. Mix the ingredients, cover the cup with plastic wrap, and place it outside. Add water and shake it every few days to help it break down. Over time, you’ll see your scraps turn into compost!