The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
Creating Snow in the Classroom
Creating Snow in the Classroom
A Kindergarten STEM Lesson
Sarah Ellison
2/18/2023
Notes for Teachers
Each lesson will follow the 3 E’s: Engage, Explore, and Explain.
In the Engage part of the lesson, you will have students build on their prior knowledge of weather through various photographs and activities that pertain to the season.
In the Explore part of the lesson, students will participate in an STEM activity that connects to winter and to the standard. See the list of suggested materials. Students may work individually or in pairs.
In the Explain part of the lesson, students will have the opportunity to present, share and reflect on their learning.
List of Materials
Arizona Standards
Science:
K.E1U1.3 Observe, record, and ask questions about temperature, precipitation, and other weather data to identify patterns or changes in local weather.
● Weather is the combination of sunlight, wind, snow or rain, and temperature in a particular region at a particular time. People measure these conditions to describe and record the weather and to notice patterns over time. (K.E1U1.4)
● Weather is determined by the conditions and movement of the air.
ELA:
K.W.2 With guidance and support from adults, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
K.W.4 With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. (Grade‐specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above).
K.W.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
Math:
K.CC.B.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
K.0A.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems and add and subtract within 10.
K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of a single object.
Objective(s):
Today we will discuss winter weather and snow.
We will create a recipe for “snow” following step-by-step directions.
We will measure and count the number of tablespoons needed.
We will create an addition math problem.
Agenda (45 minutes)
What is the Winter? (5 minutes)
Teacher Demonstration (5 minutes)
Students’ Record (approximately 10 minutes)
Exploratory & Play (15 minutes)
Present, Share, & Reflect ( 10 minutes)
Which photograph shows the season of winter?
What evidence led you to choose that picture?
Winter
Not all places experience the seasons the same. Depending on where you live, the seasons may look different. How many of you have played in the snow before? What did you do in the snow? What did it feel like?
This activity is going to give us the opportunity to create our own “snow” in the classroom!
Teacher Led Step-by-Step
The teacher will model the experiment step-by-step using multiple opportunities to check for understanding. It is necessary to tell the students the number of tablespoons and have them practice counting along ONLY once the scoop is dumped into the cup. Next, mix it together.
**I also modeled what not to do, such as eating the snow or walking around the classroom with my cup.
Students’ Record
Next, pass out the recipe sheet and complete as a whole group. See example. Once we finished, I passed out the cups, popsicle sticks, tablespoon scoops, baking soda and water for students to begin exploratory.
**Note: My students enjoyed thinking the printer quit working and believed they had to help me fill in the missing directions.
Snow
4
1
Student’s Name
Add ingredients.
1
4
5
Mix it all.
Go and play. Have fun!
Hands-on Activity Instructions
Exploratory - Students may work individually or in pairs. It’s recommended to give students approximately 10 minutes to create their snow and play. Once all students have had a chance to play, challenge them to see if they can build a snowman before the 5 minute timer runs out.
Be sure to let students know that they will have more time after the timer if everyone follows directions and freezes when the timer stops.
Present, Share, and Reflect
After the timer, have students walk around the room looking at each others snowmen. Discuss as a class what worked and what didn’t work. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
Examples may include:
Now let them apply what they learned! Give the students 3-5 more minutes to finish their snowmen or try to make a different snowman using a friends’ strategy.
Differentiation
If a student is struggling counting, have a friend count with them or have them use a five frame with counters.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Discuss why snowmen melt. Do you think your snowman would melt?
What other things could you use a recipe for?