DIY Snow in Summer

 

What is snow?

Snow in summer? Impossible. But… is it really? Real snow is made of water that has frozen in the clouds. In order for snow to form, temperatures need to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This is called the freezing point of water. There also needs to be a lot of water vapor (gaseous water) in the air. Thousands of tiny pieces of ice come together to form snowflakes.

Materials

  • Baking soda ¾ cups

  • White conditioner 2 tablespoons

  • Mixing utensil

  • Mixing bowl/container

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Procedure

Step 1

Measure 3/4 of a cup of baking soda and pour it into your mixing bowl/conditioner

Step 2

Pour in the 2 tablespoons of white conditioner and combine in the bowl or container

Step 3

Mix until powdery and snow-like or whenever the desired consistency is reached

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Science Explanation

Kindergarten . . .

  • Have you ever been in the snow? Is it hot or cold? Is it rough or soft? (Answer: cold, soft)
  • Think about the 4 seasons of the year. Which season does it snow? (Answer: winter)
  • What are some other seasons of the year? And what are some types of weather you may see in each season? (Possible Answer: Summer, sunny and hot)
  • You don’t have to use a mixing utensil! You can use your hands! Get a feel of your fake snow! Is it similar to actual snow?
  • Have fun with your snow! How big of a snowball can you make? Make a snowman!
  • NGSS K-ESS2-1

1st Grade - 2nd Grade . . .

  • Use prior knowledge of what you know about the snow to compare it with your fake snow. What are some similarities? What are some differences?
  • During the Winter, what do you notice about the length of the day? (Answer: it is shorter)
  • Can you think of what we do in order to account for longer and shorter days? (Answer: time change/daylight savings time)
  • NGSS 1-ESS1-2

3rd Grade . . .

  • What season do you expect to see snow in? What other typical weather conditions happen during each of the four seasons?
  • Certain Areas may be hotter or colder simply due to their location. Can you think of an area that has a warm climate and an area that has a cool climate? (Possible Answer: desert/tropical, mountains)
  • What is the climate like where you live?
  • NGSS 3-ESS2-1
  • NGSS 3-ESS2-2

5th Grade . . .

  • When there’s a lot of moisture in the air, molecules begin to slow down and come together, eventually rearranging in different positions.
  • Hundreds or even thousands of ice crystals can then collide and stick together mid-air.
  • When they all connect, they make up the complex patterns of a snowflake.
  • What makes the structure of liquid and gaseous water very different? (Answer: molecules in liquid water are much further apart than molecules in ice. Gaseous water molecules are even further apart)
  • Why are we not able to predict weather if we understand it so well? (Answer: Weather and its indicators are incredibly complex with many different factors, making our understanding of weather only based on probability)
  • NGSS MS-ESS2-5

Math Extensions (K-5)

Kindergarten . . .

  • Use your counting skills to count how many materials you have in front of you. (Answer: 4 different materials)
  • As you’re measuring the baking soda and conditioner, think about the difference in amounts. Which do you need more of? Which do you need less of? (Answer: baking soda, conditioner)
  • CCSS.MATH.MC.K

1st-2nd grade . . .

  • As you can see, you need more baking soda than you need a conditioner. What is the difference in measurements? How many more cups of baking soda do you need than a conditioner? (Answer: 1 ¼ cup)
  • CCSS.MATH.MC.1-2
  • CCSS.MATH.MC.2

3rd grade . . .

  • Think about the measurements you are using. What type of unit are they both measuring (Answer: Volume)
  • Draw a bar graph of how many cups of baking soda and conditioner you are using. Make sure to include a title and label your x and y axis!
    CCSS.MATH.MC.3

4th-5th Grade . . .

  • Compare measurements using your knowledge of fractions! How many equivalent fractions can you come up with for 1 ½ (Possible Answers: 3/2, 6/4, 9/6, etc.)
  • How many equivalent fractions can you come up with or ¼? (Possible Answers: 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, etc.)
  • What is the difference between 1 ½ and ¼? (Answer: 1 ¼) CCSS.MATH.MC.4

Written by: Taylor St. Clair and Ethan Kirgan DIY snow recipes from Tasha Leah

 
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, KJanice LeeEarth Sciences, Math