HomeSchool SnowSchool!
HomeSchool SnowSchool!As of mid-March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has caused US school districts to close their doors, and ski areas, parks and non-profit organizations to cease program operations. This means that some of our SnowSchool programs across the nation that were still running at this point in the season (some have already wrapped up their programs) have ceased operations as well. At WWA we understand the seriousness and impact of the current situation, we support the closure of these in-person events/programs and have taken steps as an organization to be the best citizens we can be (read our full statement here).
We also recognize that with schools and workplaces closed, millions of kids and parents are now at home trying to figure out how to proceed. In an effort to provide some homeschool educational support and a bit of sciency fun in a trying time, we’ve compiled some of our favorite SnowSchool activities that parents can use at home with their own kids (to ensure proper social distancing). Some of these activities are hands-on and designed to be done in a snow-covered backyard, others can be done online and don’t require snow. Where possible the activities have videos to introduce them and corresponding example activity/curriculum guides. Please keep in mind we pulled this web page together on short notice in response to the pandemic. Many of these resources are pilots and rough drafts of activities we recently designed for professional educators. We’ve launched them now and made them available to everyone in the hopes that they will be helpful to at least a few families during this difficult time. And if you are interested in starting an official SnowSchool site in your community once things settle down, click here to learn more.
And we’d love your thoughts/comments/suggestions! If you used any of these activities please click on this feedback link to send us your ideas for how to improve these resources! We hope to be posting more activities soon!
As always, there’s no cost to be a SnowSchool site or to use our resources. That’s how we ensure that every winter we can bring the program to the thousands of diverse kids who need it the most. We are incredibly grateful to our donors, supporters and program partners who make SnowSchool possible.
ONLINE SNOW SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
Here’s two web-based explorations can be done no matter where you are!
1) Snowpack Prediction Contest
Snow is our source of water! Do you have what it takes to be a snow hydrologist?
We want to know your prediction for how much much snow you think you will you have in your local mountains on April 15th 2020! Whoever makes the most accurate prediction wins the new pair of MSR snowshoes!
Participating is easy-
- Watch the video introduction provided.
- Use the SNOTEL map to zoom in on the remote snowpack monitoring station that is closest to you. *Note if you don’t have one close to your community, you can still participate in the contest using the site closest to our National Flagship SnowSchool site in Boise (Its the one modeled in the video)
- Take a look at the current snowpack depth and snow water equivalent at the SNOTEL site nearest you. Look at historical trends (this is really important for informing your prediction)
- Enter your prediction by clicking this link. Prediction will auotmatically be posted to the chart.
- Whoever gets closest wins the prize! Check back to see how your prediction is holding up! Winners announced April 16th 2020. A wrap-up science presentation will be provided (via video and email).
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Predictions will be posted here-
2) NASA SNOWEX
SnowSchool has long been a bridge for students to connect snow science and winter recreation. This year, thanks to a partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) SnowEx program, we’re excited to add a citizen science element that has given our students a role in helping scientists do the important work of measuring and monitoring the snowpack.
The 2019-20 NASA SnowEx mission aims to further advance new technology to remotely detect snow density (water content) from aircraft and, ultimately, an orbiting satellite. WWA ambassador and Boise State University snow scientist Hans-Peter Marshall is leading the mission, and several of the aircraft flight paths in CA, ID, UT and CO will go directly over SnowSchool sites. NASA scientists need students to collect snow density samples on the ground and, with help from our partners at Community Snow Observations, send to researchers to compare to the data collect from aircraft. Click here to keep reading learn more about NASA SnowEx and and citizen snow science!
Want to get involved? If you happen to live in a snowy location and you’d like to participate, watch this video to learn how to become a citizen snow scientist!
SNOW EXPERIMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Below are some fun hands-on activities, science explorations and experiments designed for kids if there is actually snow outside. Activities for all grade levels K-12 are provided. *Note: In the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak we strongly urge everyone to “stay local” and use the resources you have at home, the snow in your backyard or perhaps at a nearby local park. The issue is, if everyone heads to their favorite popular snowy mountain destination during the pandemic then we have problems with social distancing, and could risk overwhelming smaller rural medical facilities in these areas. More about that here.
What do snow crystals look like? (Kindergarten and up)
Here’s a simple activity to compare different snow crystal shapes. Various versions of this activity can be done at all grade levels.
Example Kindergarten Guide: Download full PDF here.
Snow-Water-Ice and Light Experiment! (1st Grade)
Here’s a simple experiment designed for 1st grade students to compare how snow, water and ice each affect a beam of light.
Example 1st Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
Snow vs Ice Experiment! (2nd Grade)
Designed for 2nd grade students, this simple experiment explores some of the differences between a cup of ice and a cup of snow.
Example 2nd Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
How deep is the snow? (3rd Grade and up)
Here’s a simple activity to compare how deep the snow is in different locations around your school. Various versions of this school yard snow survey activity can be done at all grade levels. A 3rd Grade curriculum and activity guide example is provided to the right.
Example 3rd Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
Snowpack Temperature Experiment! (4th Grade and up)
Here’s a simple experiment to test the temperature of snow and can be repeated on days when the air temperature outside is warmer or colder. 4th Grade example activity guide is provided.
Example 4th Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
How much water is in our snow? (All grades)
The answer may surprise you! Watch the video below to learn how to do an easy experiment in your classroom to determine Snow-Water Equivalent. Various versions of this activity can be done at all grade levels.
Example 5th Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
Build a map of your local watershed! (3rd – 6th Grade)
Here’s a fun way to explore the idea of a watershed. This can be a tricky concept to understand, but if you build your map using snow its fun and makes plenty of sense. Various versions of this activity can be done 3rd-6th Grade.
Example 6th Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
Snowpack Dust Experiment (6th – 12th Grade)
Dust bust! Scientist are suggesting that blowing dust may be a more significant driver of accelerated snowpack melt in the Western US than rising temperatures. Here’s a short video on how we developed this SnowSchool activity by collaborating the Long-Term Ecological Research Site at the University of Colorado. For more details on the project check out the blog post.
Example Guide: Download full PDF here.
Become a NASA Citizen Scientist! (Snow Depth)
NASA needs your help this winter to learn more about our snow! By measuring the depth of snow outside, taking note of your location and sending your measurements to NASA you’ll become part of our team of Citizen Scientists! You can learn more about NASA snow science here. Various versions of this snow depth activity can be done at all grade levels. To send your measurements to NASA you have two options:
- If you are located in a NASA SnowEx flight path can visit the SnowSchool SnowEx page and click on your location and follow the prompts to enter your data.
- If you are not in a SnowEx location, you can still enter your measurements through NASA Community Snow Observations LINK HERE and click “Add data” (you may need to create a user profile and use the map to find your location)
Citizen Science Snow Depth Guide: Download full PDF here.
Become a NASA Citizen Scientist! (Snow Water Equivalent)
NASA needs your help! By measuring the snow depth, Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) and taking note of your location and sending your measurements to NASA you’ll become part of our team of Citizen Scientists! You can learn more about NASA snow science here and if you want to learn more about Snow Water Equivalent specifically, click here. This SWE activity can be done at grade levels 6th – 12th. To send your measurements to NASA you have two options:
- If you are located in a NASA SnowEx flight path can visit the SnowSchool SnowEx page and click on your location and follow the prompts to enter your data.
- If you are not in a SnowEx location, you can still enter your measurements through NASA Community Snow Observations LINK HERE and click “Add data” (you may need to create a user profile and use the map to find your location)
Example 12th Grade Guide: Download full PDF here.
Need more? Check our 60 page Classic SnowSchool Activity Guide full of ideas for winter ecology explorations, snow science experiments and plenty of fun stuff like snow shelters or belly sliding 🙂 Enjoy!
More topics, videos and activity guides coming soon!
Winter Wildlands Alliance is a national nonprofit organization promoting and
preserving winter wildlands and a quality human-powered snowsports
experience on public lands.
