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Ready to brave the cold? Bundle up and spend a week with activities designed to engage ages 4-8.
Explore the ice, snow, and remarkably resilient life that survives our planet’s frigid Arctic and Antarctic habitats. Divided into 4+ days of activities, your petite polar adventurers will enjoy a wintry mix of hands-on experiments, crafts, and guided videos.
(Please note: While Science @ Home activities are designed for kids, some little ones might need adult help with reading instructions and preparing crafts).
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Day 1: It's cold outside: Ice and snow
Ice and snow may be year-round, seasonal, or completely absent depending on where you are in the world. Learn more about water in its solid state—no mittens required. (60-90 minutes)
My first winter puppet show (video)
https://youtu.be/jTUGsezImwE
Brrr, it's starting to get cold and Frog isn’t sure what to do! Join Frog on a quest to learn how animals adapt when the seasons change and the temperatures drop.
While you watch this video, think about the three questions below. Share your answers with a friend or family member or just think in your head.
- We met a lot of animals during Frog’s journey. Who was your favorite, and why?
- What are some of the ways humans stay warm in the winter?
- What are some other animals that have adaptations, or ways to help them survive, when the weather gets cold?
Make a snowflake (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-make_a_snowflake_211203.pdf
Is it getting chilly in here? Learn how real snowflakes form, then fold and cut your own beautiful six-sided paper snowflakes to decorate your windows.
Fishing for ice (experiment)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-fishing_for_ice_211203.pdf
Salt is often used to melt ice in cold areas, thanks to some cool chemistry. In this science experiment, use this same chemistry to fish for ice with only some string and salt.
Ice cores: Nature’s time capsule (activity)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-ice_cores_211203.pdf
How do scientists learn about past climates (patterns of weather)? By drilling cylinders of ice out of glaciers! Learn more about ice cores, draw your own, and observe the weather around you.
Day 2: Life on the tundra
Get to know a few of the many animals that make their homes in the treeless, frozen deserts that cover the high latitudes of our planet's polar regions. (45-60 minutes)
Clothespin caribou (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-clothespin_caribou_211203.pdf
Some herds of caribou can travel around 3,000 miles in a single year as they find food and escape the cold. Make your own mighty migrator with some clothespins and this caribou template.
Sponge paint polar bears (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-sponge_paint_polar_bears_211203.pdf
Polar bears rely on sea ice for food and shelter. Make your own icy polar bear scene using sponge brushes and paint.
Tundra life coloring page (coloring)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-tundra_life_211203.pdf
Foxes, reindeer, and polar bears are some famous Arctic animals—but who else lives on the tundra at the top of the world? Meet a few of the hardy inhabitants of this harsh habitat!
Day 3: Animals of the Arctic Ocean
There’s a whole lot happening under the ice! Meet some of the splashy stars of the frozen northern waters. (45-60 minutes)
Narwhal hat (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-narwhal_hat_211203.pdf
These charming cetaceans are famous for being the "unicorns of the sea," but what looks like a horn is actually a tooth! Make a splash with your very own narwhal hat.
Create a clay walrus (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-create_a_clay_walrus_211203.pdf
My, what big tusks you have! Walruses use their large tusks to help haul themselves out of the water as well as for self-defense. Use a toothpick and some clay to create your own clay walrus.
Specimen investigation: Tusks (video)
https://youtu.be/xJT9UpKyWY4
Take a closer look at these terrific teeth that have evolved to help cold-weather creatures on land and at sea.
Day 4: Birds of the Antarctic
Whether they fly, swim, or slide on their bellies, the Antarctic is home to many birds—including eight lovable penguin species. (45-60 minutes)
Birds of the Antarctic (coloring)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-birds_of_the_antarctic_211203.pdf
The Antarctic is home to a wide variety of birds, including seasonal visitors and more permanent residents. Color the birds, shore, and sky to make the Antarctic landscape come alive with splashes of color.
Penguin origami (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-penguin_origami_211203.pdf
Did you know that a penguin’s "tuxedo" is a form of camouflage? Show your love for these remarkable flightless birds by making your very own black and white origami penguin.
Snowy owl mask (craft)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-snowy_owl_mask_211203.pdf
Snowy owls are found in the snow-covered Arctic and have excellent eyesight and hearing that they use to hunt for food. Make a snowy owl mask and imagine using your senses to explore the world around you—or to find your lunch!
Kid and caregiver extension activities
Need more icy antics? Explore the reason for the seasons, watch a special penguin dance, or grab an adult to help make a tasty winter treat.
Sugar on snow (activity)
/sites/default/files/assets/docs/sah_ice-sugar_on_snow_211203.pdf
Ready for a special "tree-t"? Celebrate the special sugar that some trees make to keep from freezing during the winter. Adult assistance required.
Penguin wave (video)
https://youtu.be/IpGC5cqecBA
Researchers have discovered how emperor penguins stay warm even at 43 degrees below zero: by doing a special shuffle!
While you watch this video, think about the three questions below. Share your answers with a friend or family member or just think in your head.
- Why is it so warm at the center of the penguin huddle?
- What other adaptations might emperor penguins have to keep warm?
- What are some ways that you keep warm when it’s cold outside?
Why do we have seasons? (video)
https://youtu.be/WgHmqv_-UbQ
Did you know that the Sun’s light shines differently on Earth at different times of the year? As the Earth orbits the Sun, it rotates like a slightly tilted spinning top. This rotation changes the angle at which sunlight hits the surface of our planet, creating the different seasons we experience here on Earth.
While you watch this video, think about the three questions below. Share your answers with a friend or family member or just think in your head.
- What season is it now where you live? What season is it in the opposite hemisphere?
- Think about what trees and plants near you look like during different seasons. When are more plants green? When do you see more flowers blooming? Is it during a season with more sunlight or less?
- Watch how the bright blue and green areas in water and on land light up, indicating productivity of life. Can you see how sunlight at different times of the year changes the productivity of life on land and in our oceans?