Seasonal Printables Science Activities

SNOW By Heart 2 Heart Teaching

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 All About Snow
Teacher Directions:
Reading:
Read the passages about All About Snow and complete the questions that follow. Read about
the Water Cycle and complete the diagram and flip book.

Hands-on Activities:
1. Fun in the Snow Activity
2. Compare/Contrast Hidden Word Sort
3. Snowflakes Flip Book

Directions for the Compare/Contrast Hidden Word Sort:

• Have students cut out the 12 facts.
• Read each fact and decide if it is describing water or snow.
• Sort the facts so that there are 6 for each category.
• Arrange the facts in the boxes so that they reveal a hidden word.

Vocabulary Activities:
Print out the vocabulary posters in color or black and white. Post them on a bulletin board or
around the classroom. Make copies of the Spotlight on Vocabulary. Have students write the
definition or to write a sentence using the word.
There are two different versions included:
• One has an empty box for students to draw their own illustrations related to the word.
• One has an image for them to color and visualize.
 ALL ABOUT SNOW
DID YOU KNOW?
• 80% of the worlds fresh water
comes from snow and ice
• The size of a snowflake depends on
how the ice crystals connect
• Snowflakes have six sides
• Snowflakes fall from the sky at 3-4
miles per hour
• Snow is not white!
Winter is the time for snow! Snow forms when water vapor in the atmosphere freezes into ice crystals.
It all starts up in the clouds when water vapor sticks to dust particles. As more water vapors build up,
a water droplet is formed. Since the temperature is below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), the water
droplet freezes and turns into an ice crystal. Ice crystals come in many different shapes such as
plates, columns, or needles. As more and more ice crystals join together, they form a snowflake. Each
flake is made up of many tiny ice crystals. In fact, a snowflake can be made up of as many as 200
crystals. When the snowflake becomes heavy, it falls to the ground. Just like rain, snow is a form of
precipitation. Snow falls in soft flakes. When the temperature rises above freezing, the snow and ice
melt and soak into the ground. The Sun causes the water to evaporate. Condensation occurs in the
clouds as water collects. Then the cycle starts over again.

No two snowflakes are exactly alike! If you look closely at a snowflake you can see different geometric
shapes and patterns. Many snowflakes have dendrites or “tree-like” looking branches. Stellar dendrites
have six main branches that are exactly the same or symmetrical. Snow is not white! In fact, it has no
color at all. It only looks white because of the reflections from the sun.

Snow comes in many forms. Light and fluffy snow is called powder. Heavy snowfalls are called
snowstorms. Snowstorms with high, dangerous winds are called blizzards.

How does snow form?

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 THE WATER CYCLE
The water cycle begins when water vapor collects in the clouds. This is called Plate
condensation. Water falls from the clouds in a process called precipitation. Forms
Column
of precipitation include rain, snow, hail, and sleet. Water soaks into the ground.
We call this ground water. Eventually, the sun heats the water causing it to turn
into a gas that collects in the sky. This is called evaporation.
1. Condensation 2. Evaporation
Needles

3. Precipitation 4. Ground Water Types of Snowflakes

Branched Star
Snow is formed when water vapor in the Triangular
atmosphere freezes into ice crystals. The water
vapor freezes due to the cold temperatures up in
the clouds. Each snowflake has a unique shape and
design, and no two are exactly the same. One thing Dendrite
they all have is six sides. The parts of a snowflake
include needles, columns, and plates. If you look
closely at a snowflakes you can see geometric Stellar Dendrite
Stellar Plates
patterns and designs.

Simple Star

copyright heart2heartteaching.com
 THE WATER CYCLE
The water cycle begins when water vapor collects in the clouds. This is called Plate
condensation. Water falls from the clouds in a process called precipitation. Forms
Column
of precipitation include rain, snow, hail, and sleet. Water soaks into the ground.
We call this ground water. Eventually, the sun heats the water causing it to turn
into a gas that collects in the sky. This is called evaporation.
1. Condensation 2. Evaporation
Needles

3. Precipitation 4. Ground Water Types of Snowflakes

Branched Star
Snow is formed when water vapor in the Triangular
atmosphere freezes into ice crystals. The water
vapor freezes due to the cold temperatures up in
the clouds. Each snowflake has a unique shape and
design, and no two are exactly the same. One thing Dendrite
they all have is six sides. The parts of a snowflake
include needles, columns, and plates. If you look
closely at a snowflakes you can see geometric Stellar Dendrite
Stellar Plates
patterns and designs.

Simple Star

copyright heart2heartteaching.com
Name: ______________________________________________________________

ALL ABOUT SNOW

Why does snow look white?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

What is a dendrite? How is each snowflake unique?

_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________

What is your favorite cold weather activity?

_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________

© Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 SNOWFLAKE LIFE CYCLE
Snow forms when water vapor in the atmosphere freezes into ice crystals. When the snowflake
becomes heavy, it falls to the ground. Snowflakes fall from the clouds and cover the Earth in a blanket
of white. Just like rain, snow is a form of precipitation. When the temperature rises above freezing,
the snow and ice melt and soak into the ground. The Sun causes the water to evaporate. Condensation
occurs in the clouds as water collects and builds up. Then the cycle starts over again.
Condensation

Precipitation

Evaporation

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

 SNOWFLAKE LIFE CYCLE
Directions: Label and color the snowflake life cycle below.

Word Bank:
Precipitation Condensation
Evaporation
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 SNOWFLAKE LIFE CYCLE
Directions: Label the snowflake life cycle.

Condensation
Precipitation

Evaporation

Word Bank:
Precipitation Condensation
Evaporation
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 FUN IN THE SNOW
When snow falls and covers the ground in a white blanket, children go outside to play. There are many
sports and fun activities that require snow. Can you name all the ones below?

A. B. C.

D.

E. F.

G. H.

I.

J.
K.

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

 FUN IN THE SNOW
Directions: use the word bank to describe the activity shown on the opposite page beside the correct
letter.
A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

Word Bank
ice skating sledding snowshoeing tubing
playing hockey skiing snowboarding shoveling snow
snowmobiling snow angels building a snowman
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
Name: ____________________________________Compare & Contrast Sort
Directions: Cut and sort the facts from the next page. Glue them under the correct
one so that they spell out a hidden word.

Snow Water

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

Directions: Cut and sort the facts on this page. Glue them under the correct
one so that they spell out a hidden word.

O I
This is found in the form This type of precipitation
of ice or ice crystals. is found in many different
seasons.

L Z
This is formed when
water vapor in the clouds I am in a solid state.
collects.

R U
I am formed when the
temperature outside is 32 I am in a liquid state.
degrees Fahrenheit or below.

F
This is formed when

Q
It is found in rivers,
oceans, streams, ponds, water vapor in the clouds
and lakes. freeze into ice crystals.

N D
I am made up of as many I am a natural resource
as 200 ice crystals. needed for life to survive.

I E
I am formed when the This type of precipitation
temperature outside is is seen mainly during the
above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. winter months.

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

 ANSWER KEY
Name: ____________________________________Compare & Contrast Sort
Directions: Cut and sort the facts from the next page. Glue them under the correct one so that
they spell out a hidden word.

Snow Water

F L
This is formed when This is formed when
water vapor in the clouds water vapor in the clouds
freeze into ice crystals. collects.

R I
I am formed when the I am formed when the
temperature outside is 32 temperature outside is
degrees Fahrenheit or below. above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

O
It is found in rivers,
Q
This is found in the form
of ice or ice crystals. oceans, streams, ponds,
and lakes.

Z I am in a solid state.
U I am in a liquid state.

I
This type of precipitation This type of precipitation
E is seen mainly during the
winter months.
is found in many different
seasons.

N I am made up of as many
as 200 ice crystals. D
I am a natural resource
needed for life to survive.

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

Snowflake Flip Book Page 4

Directions: Color and label the types of snowflakes below.

4.

types
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Puffin Flip Book Page 3

Directions: Put the water cycle events in the correct order

by numbering them 1-4.
3.
Condensation Evaporation

Ground water Precipitation .

water cycle
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Snowflakes Flip Book Page 1 and Page 2

Word Bank:
precipitation vapor crystals snowflake same cold

2.
Snow is formed when water _________________________________ in the
atmosphere freezes into ice crystals. Snow falls from the clouds as a
_______________________________________________. Snow is a form of
_________________________________________. The water vapor freezes
due to the ________________________ temperatures in the clouds. Each
snowflake is made up of about 200 ice ____________________________.
Every snowflake is unique and no two are the ______________________.

CRYSTALS
Name:___________________________________________________ 1.

Snowflakes copyright heart2heartteaching.com

Condensation

Condensation is part of the

water cycle when water vapors
change from a gas to a liquid.
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
Precipitation

Precipitation is part of the water

cycle when rain, snow, sleet, or hail
fall to the ground.
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
Evaporation

Evaporation is part of the water cycle

when liquid turns into water vapors or a
gas.
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
 Snowflake

A snowflake is formed from ice

crystals and tiny particles of
dirt in the air.
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 DENDRITE

Many snowflakes have dendrites

or ”tree-like” looking branches.
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 Blizzard

A blizzard is a dangerous snowstorm with

high winds and low visibility.
Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com
Name: _________________________________________________________

Spotlight on Vocabulary
Condensation: Illustrate it here!

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Evaporation:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Precipitation:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Snowflake:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Dendrite:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Blizzard:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

Name: _________________________________________________________

Spotlight on Vocabulary
Condensation: Visualize it!

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Evaporation:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Precipitation:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Snowflake:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Dendrite:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Blizzard:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com

Copyright 2017 Heart2HeartTeaching.com