The cold winter days sometimes leave us feeling like there isn’t much to do. But there are plenty of fun activities that can be done that teach children about science and nature during winter. So bundle up and have some fun!

Do Bubbles Freeze?

This works best on the coldest days. Put your bubble solution outside and chill it way down, but don’t let it freeze. Blow some bubbles and see what happens! Try blowing some close to the ground and see what happens if they land without popping.

All about Blubber

Have your kids put their bare hands in the snow and feel how cold it is. Now have them coat their hands in Crisco and put them back in the snow. Their hands aren’t cold anymore. The Crisco works the same as the layer of fat in geese, along with the water proof protection it provides. Just make sure you have Dawn or another good dish washing liquid on hand to get the Crisco off.

What goes up Boiling…comes down?

This is another activity that works best on the coldest days and definitely must be done with an adult. Take boiling water outside and throw it in the air. What happens to it? Did it freeze and become snow? We tried this last year and we did find that if it was very cold out that very hot water worked also. Just be careful to toss the water away from you!

Color Theory

Preschoolers will have a lot of fun with this one. Put water tinted with food coloring into spray bottles. Spray the snow and mix colors. What colors can you make? It also is a fun art project that doesn’t leave paint inside the house!

Snowflake Detective

Every snowflake is different. Take a magnifying glass and examine the snowflakes to see just how different they are. Talk about the different shapes and qualities of various flakes. Then over a cup of warming hot chocolate, have your kids cut paper snowflakes. It is a safe bet that none of their snowflakes will be exactly the same either.

Is it Cold?

This activity is geared more towards the toddler/younger preschooler set. Have them put their hands in the snow and talk about what it feels like. It is cold? Soft? What happens when you mush the flakes together? Can you make ice? Taste it..does it taste like anything? Does it smell? What color is it? It is a good sensory activity and helps them learn to describe the physical world around them in relation to their senses.

Junior Meteorologist

Create your own snow gage. Cut the narrow part off of a plastic soda bottle and attach a ruler. See how much snow is actually accumulating. Your child can give you weather updates and learn about measurement as they check the snow totals.

Jo Dempsey is the co-founder of www.spiffymoms.com. She is married and is the busy mom to three young girls.