snow Archives - JDaniel4s Mom

Drawing a Snowflake Based on an Algorithm

January 11, 2023 By Deirdre

Drawing a Snowflake Based on a Algorithm worksheets ask children to add details to a simple lined snowflake. The pages start with having children add a few details displayed on the algorithm directions. Then children are asked to individualize their snowflake by adding their own shapes. Finally, the directions ask children to decorate the background.

While all of the snowflakes start out the same they will end of looking unique. Why? The first steps in the algorithm are specific and closed. After the specific directions end, the directions are open-ended. You may want to ask your children if open ended commands or steps would work on a computer. Many will say that they won’t. There many be a few that will feel that the computer will understand them. It will be fun to see that their reasons are for either answer.

Getting the Drawing a Snowflake with an Algorithm Worksheets

First, you will need to download the set.

How to Draw a Snowflake with an Algorithm Worksheets Download

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page. You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Deciding Which Worksheet to Use

Once you have download the Drawing a Snowflake set, you will have to decide which worksheet to use. First, you have worksheet that features words and pictures. Giving your children this page will show them what they need to do for the first steps. It will ensure that each child has the the basic snowflake design down. The next page just displays the words. Children will have more freedom to interpret what the directions mean without pictures to guide them.

How to Explore the Worksheets

While many of you will decide to work on these as a group, the worksheets could be done in a center. However rather than just placing the worksheets in a center, the sample page would probably need to go with it. The sample page will help children visualize what their final page might look like.

More Algorithm Activities

Decorating a Scarecrow with an Algorithm

Offline Coding Academy -Muffin Tin Algorithm

January STEAM Activity Calendar 2021

December 29, 2020 By Deirdre

After so many of you enjoyed the December 2020 STEAM calendar, I created a January 2021 STEAM Calendar. This calendar features a number of snow-themed STEAM activities. The calendar also contains activities and experiments that focus on January holidays. Some of the STEAM activities are from right here on JDaniel4’s Mom. Others come from some of my favorite websites and blogs. While the activities on the calendar appear on a specific day, you can explore them on any day you would like to.

Building Background Before Starting an Activity

Books with a Snow-Theme

Links below are affliate links.

You may want to read your children a book related to the STEAM activities you choose to do. Below you will find some wonderful books that would go along with STEAM activities.

Books That Celebrate January Holidays

Getting the January STEAM Activity Calendar

The January STEAM Activities Calendar 2021 is a PDF. Once you have downloaded the calendar, you will need a PDF reader to open it. (I use the application Acrobat Reader.)

Exploring the January STEAM Activity Calendar

You will be able to access the directions needed to explore each activity when you click on each day’s hyperlink. After you get to each activity’s blog post, you will find a supply list and the step by step activity directions. Some of the activities offer free printables or recording sheets. You can use what they have for you to download or create your own versions of the activities if you like. Remember the idea was to inspire you to explore STEAM activities with your children. You know what they can handle and how they like to explore concepts and activities.

A variety of different types of STEAM activities have been included on the calendar. You may find that some are more appropriate for older children while others are great for children of all ages. I think that some of them could be done with a partner or parent. However some of you may have children that want to complete them on their own.

More STEAM Activities

STEAM activities are so much fun. They are a great way for children explore and learn so many math, science, engineering, art and technology concepts. After exploring the activities on the calendar, I hope you will explore the activities below.

The Best Coin to Use in a Coin Spinner

Tin Foil Penny Challenge

Leap Frog Straw Challenge

Make a Paper Horse that Walks

How to Make Fake Snow Recipes featuring Cornstarch

January 22, 2019 By Deirdre

Creating fake snow using the recipes found on this set of How to Make Fake Snow Recipes printables will be so much fun. Your children will find that both of the recipes create a different type of snow. They will notice one type of snow is wet and sticky. The other type is light and powdery. Children can use both types of snow to complete STEM challenges.

This is the second set of How to Make Fake Snow Recipes I have shared with you. You will want to take a moment to check out the fake snow made with baking soda recipes. The recipes are shared on Blockly algorithm blocks just like the ones in this set.

How to Make Fake Snow Recipes

You will find the recipes on the algorithm printable, but I thought I would share with you here too.

Cornstarch and Shaving Cream Snow

Ingredients

1 cup of Cornstarch
1/2 cup of Shaving Cream (The non-gel type works best.)

STEM Building Supplies

LEGO figures
Bottle Caps for Sleds
Spoons to Build the Slide

Directions

Place the cornstarch into a mixing bowl. Then you will slowly stir the shaving cream into the bowl until you get the texture you want. You do not want to add more than one cup of shaving cream.

Cornstarch and White Hand Lotion Snow

Ingredients

1 cup of Cornstarch
1/2 cup of White Hand Lotion

STEM Building Supplies

LEGO figures (They are optional.)

Directions

Place the cornstarch into a mixing bowl. Then you will slowly stir the hand lotion into the bowl until you get the texture you want. You do not want to add more than one cup of shaving cream.

Getting the Recipe and Algorithm Worksheets Ready

You will need to download How to Make Fake Snow Recipes with Cornstarch and Algorithm worksheets.
Then you will need to decide whether you want to print out one or both of the algorithm sheets. You can print them out on a black and white printer.
Finally, you will need to print out one for each of your children.

Exploring the Recipe and Algorithm Worksheets

Your children will need to follow the steps to make the fake snow displayed on Blockly blocks on each worksheet.
Once your children have made the fake snow, they will need to complete the challenge that is on their algorithm sheet.

If you like these STEM activities, here are some more you will love.

STEM Snowman Activity- Building Shapes

Building Shapes with Crayons Task Cards

How to Make Fake Snow Recipes and Algorithm Activity

January 19, 2019 By Deirdre

After your children follow the steps in these how to make fake snow recipes, they will be invited to complete a STEM challenge. The challenges and how to make fake snow recipes are displayed on free printable worksheets. The how to make fake snow recipes in this set feature baking soda as one of the two ingredients. The recipes will each create a different type of snow. If you make both of them, it will be fn to compare them.

How to Make Fake Snow Recipes

While the recipes are shared on the algorithm printable, you will also find them below.

Baking Soda and Shaving Cream Snow

Ingredients

1 cup of Baking Soda
1 cup of Shaving Cream (The non-gel type works best.)

STEM Building Supplies

Links Below are Affiliate Links

Plastic arctic or antarctic animals (These are optional)

Directions

Place the baking soda into a mixing bowl. Then you will slowly stir the shaving cream into the bowl until you get the texture you want. You do not want to add more than one cup of shaving cream.

Baking Soda and Hair Conditioner

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups of Baking Soda
1/2 White Colored Hair Conditioner

STEM Building Supplies

Buttons
Wiggly Eyes
Small Craft Sticks
Small Beads

Directions

Place the baking soda into a mixing bowl. Then mix in the conditioner. It should be the consistency of wet snow.

Getting the Recipe and Algorithm Worksheets Ready

You will need to download theHow to Make Fake Snow Recipes with Baking Soda and an Algorithm Printable Set.
Then you will need to decide whether you want to print out one or both of the algorithm sheets.
Finally, you will need to print out one for each of your children.

Exploring the Recipe and Algorithm Worksheets

You will need to follow the steps to make each type of fake snow displayed on Blockly blocks on each worksheet. (Blockly blocks are a visual coding tool.)
Once your children have made the fake snow, they will need to complete the challenge that is on their algorithm sheet. Each challenge invites your children to build something with their snow. The challenges are open-ended enough that each of your children can create or build their own version of the object or scene they are asked to.

If you like this snow-themed STEM activity, here are some more you will love:

How to Build an Igloo for a Penguin

Creating a Snowboarding Halfpipe

Flying Snowman Pulley Activity

STEM Geometry Shapes Exploration- Building Snow Globes

January 8, 2019 By Deirdre

Kids have so much fun building with craft sticks! This set of snow globe shape building mats will be great to use with your children to build geometric shapes. Many of you have printed out copies of our STEM Snowman Activity- Building Shapes set and our STEM Christmas Building Shapes with Stickman set. I just know your kids will have fun with this snow globe geometry shapes activity.

Building Background

You may find your children do not have a lot of experience or background information on snow globes. Here are some books you can read to them that feature snow globes.

The links below are affiliate links.

Getting the Geometry Shapes Activity Ready

Getting the Mats Ready

First, you will need to download a STEM Snowman Activity Building Shapes Around Snow Globes.
Next, you will need to open the set with Acrobat Reader.
Then you will need to print them out in color.
Finally, you will need to laminate or cover the mats with plastic.

Getting the Building Supplies Ready

While we used short craft sticks or popsicle sticks as building materials, you could use any of the building supplies below.

Sticks
Q-Tips
Sections of a Plastic Straw
Narrow LEGO Bricks

You will want to make sure that you enough building supplies for each of your children to complete each of the shapes. Your kids will love building shapes. They may want to move on to a new shape as soon as they finish the first one.

Exploring the Geometry Shapes

Each of the mats features different geometric shape. It also displays other shapes. Various parts of the snowman and the snow globe are shapes. Please take the time to ask your children what other shapes can be found on the mat.

Once they have finished building a shape, you may want to see if they can find other objects around your room or house that are the same shape. It will be fun to conduct a visual shape hunt. Your kids will probably find objects that you may not have thought off.

If you like this shape activity, here are some more you will love.

STEM Snowman Activity- Building Shapes

Building Shapes with Crayons Task Cards

Shapes for Kids Matching Game Based on If You Give a Pig a Pancake

Let’s Explore Shapes Worksheets and Sensory Bin

Shape Wands for Kids

Teaching Kids to Code – The Snowy Day Algorithm Coding Printable

January 18, 2018 By Deirdre

Sequencing the events in a favorite childhood book like The Snowy Day is a great way to teach children how to code. Why? Children build algorithms or a series of steps to get from the start of the story to the end. They can refer to the pictures and text in a children book to verify the sequence of events in a story. Teaching kids to code through children books really is fun!

This teaching kids to code printable was designed to use with my kindergarten classes in the computer lab. It would also be great to use with preschoolers and first graders. The Snowy Day is a book that children in grades PreK thru first grade really enjoy.

Getting the Teaching Kids to Code Printable

The Snowy Day Algorithm Coding Activity is free to download. While it was designed to be printed out in color, you can print it out in black and white.

Other Supplies You will Need for This Activity

Your children will also need a least one copy of the book The Snowy Day. They can use it to check to make sure that their algorithm has the events in the right sequence. The only other thing your children will need is pencil!

Getting Started with the Activity

You can start by telling your children that an algorithm is the series of events needed to complete or come to the end of a task. Today they will be creating an algorithm that will connect the events in the story The Snowy Day. They will start at the beginning of the story and go all the way to the end.

Next, your children will need to place an up arrow in the box in the bottom left-hand corner of the printable. Then they will need to decide if the next event mentioned in the book is making snow angels or making footprints. You can have them look in the book to remind themselves which event comes next if they like. The next event is making footprints so they will draw an arrow pointing up in the box above the start box. Then they will need to draw an arrow pointing to the right in the box two boxes above the start box.

Your children will continue placing an arrow pointing up, down, left or right in the boxes that connect the events in order. They will discover that there are several different paths that can be used to connect some of the events. You will want to encourage them to create the shortest paths possible. Why? In real life, coders try to create algorithms with short rather than long coding sequences.

Here are some more story themed coding printables:

Little Miss Muffet Coding Activity and Printable

Coding Activity- Going on a Bear Hunt

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Algorithm Activity

Gruffalo Coding Sheet

Coding for Kids- The Day It Rained Hearts

Brown Bear, Brown Bear Coding Printable

Opening the Door to Playing in the Snow

February 21, 2013 By Deirdre

Last Saturday we took JDaniel to a puppet show called Glow Tales. All of the puppets and much of the stage glowed. It was really very cool. The theater was kept most dark so the black light could do it work. As we left the theater, we walked into a world that looked just as magical and pretend as the one we had just been apart of. The cars in the parking lot were covered in a light dusting of snow. Snow swirled around us just as if someone shaken up a snow globe containing our town and just righted it. Maybe just enough snow for playing in the snow.

The snow wasn’t deep and it really barely covered the grass. The street in front of the theater was clear and damp. We doubted that much snow would be in our yard when we got home.

Playing in the Snow

Much to our surprise we had about two inches of snow in our neighborhood. That isn’t much for many of you, but for us it is a lot. We haven’t had more than a few flakes fall in two years. JDaniel has been praying for snow since late November and was sure that God has some how missed his petitions for snow.

I had to convince him to come inside and change into warmer clothes when we pulled into our driveway. Thankfully my sister Kate lives in NY and sends us snow items like boots, gloves, and hats. I dug them out of the hall closet and had JDaniel put them on.

Then I had to dig my snow things out. It took forever to find my snow boots and gloves. They were piled in a closet behind two years worth of other clothes and stuff.

When we headed outside for some time playing in the snow, I asked JDaniel what he wanted to do. I was worried the sun would come out and melt the snow before we got to things he really wanted to do.

The first thing on his list was to make a snow angel just like the Cat in the Hat. There was barely enough snow to move around with his arms and legs, but he was thrilled to be getting to make one. I just loved watching flap his arms playing in the snow.

The second thing on the list was to have a snowball fight. JDaniel really wanted one with his dad, but my husband has been having back problems and doesn’t bend over or throw well. I don’t throw well, but I was up for the challenge of dodging JDaniel’s balls of snow. Chasing him around the yard and trying to tag him with snowball was a lot of fun too.

The snow barely lasted until the following morning and it was totally gone by the time we came home from church. I am so glad we took time for playing in the snow for few hours in the snow on Saturday. Maybe we will be opening the door to more snow in early March. A very special boy has a birthday then and I am sure he would love for God to give him snow as a present.

This post is linked to Mrs. Matlock’s Alphabe Thursday.

Preschool Activity- Snowstorm in a Bag

January 15, 2013 By Deirdre

When you truly want snow and it just doesn't seem to fall you can make a snowstorm in a bag.

I mentioned yesterday that JDaniel really has wanted snow to fall here. He was blessed to have snow fall at Christmas time two years ago and again the following spring for this birthday. We haven’t had snow since then. While my sister in New York has snow at least half the year, we tend to get rain.We can’t seem to get snow outside, but I decided we could create a snowstorm in a bag. I traced a snowman onto a large plastic storage bag using a clip art snowman I found online.

Then JDaniel helped me gather materials he thought would make good snow. We ended up with tiny pieces of a foam sheet, paper towel, napkin, tissue and some felt. After weighing them each in his hand, he declared that the napkin was probably the lightest. I thought it would a good idea to try a few pieces of the other materials to see if they moved around in the plastic storage bag.

Once all the little pieces were in the bag, I showed JDaniel how to close all but a tiny area of the bag. He inserted a drinking straw into the bag to begin blowing the pieces. The blowing pieces in the bag would be our snowstorm.

The piece blew around a little when the bag was held up right. The snowman ended up getting a swirling snow body. The bag ended up with a lot of condensation and very puffy after only a few blows. Unlike a real snowstorm the wind in the bag was warm and left a hazy residue on the bag. The small pieces of tissue and napkin were damp. They started to stick to the inside of the bag.

After talking over what could be done to make the white pieces fly more and stick less, JDaniel decided we needed to place the bag on the table and try blowing into the bag while it was flat .

The pieces of white materials flew around so much better with the bag on the table. JDaniel was thrilled. The bag still filled with air and some of the pieces stuck, but the activity worked well this way.

Snowstorm in a Bag Update!

We are still crossing our fingers for snow this year! Since we haven’t had any fall yet, we made a snowstorm in a bag just as we did when JDaniel was little. I thought you might like to see what the new bag looked like.

Taking time to play and do a science experiment was such fun. We both really enjoy this preschool activity.

I called it a preschool activity, but I bet older children would enjoy it too. Making a snowstorm in a bag isn’t the same as having real snow! Maybe we will still have some if not I will be pulling this bag out and we will play and explore it again.