Winter is a perfect time to teach children about snow.

1. For those of you where snow is plentiful, here is a science experiment taken from Macmillan Seasonal Activity Packs/Winter Wonderland, 1986, Macmillan Educational Company.

You will need snow, a toy shovel, a coffee can, masking tape, and a dark marker.

After a snowfall, use the shovel to scoop snow into a coffee can until it is about half full. Do not pack down the snow.

Mark the snow level on the can with masking tape and write SNOW LEVEL with the marker.

Leave the can in the classroom until the snow melts, approximately one hour. Mark and label the water level.

Have children observe that the water level is lower than the snow level and ask why. Explain that the snow had air trapped in it and the air took up space. When the snow melted, that air escaped and the snow level went down.

2. For those of you who do not live in an area that snows, try making these pecan snowballs! (Same reference as above)

The ingredients you will need are 1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup sifted flour, 1/2 cup softened butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and powdered sugar.

Let children mix the chopped pecans and flour in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.

Mash the butter with a spoon in a large bowl.

Add sugar and vanilla to the butter and blend well with a spoon until creamy.

Combine the flour-and-nut mixture with the butter mixture and blend well.

Have children create pecan snowballs 1 inch in diameter by rolling pieces of the mixture on a wooden board.

Place the pecan snowballs on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-45 minutes until light brown.

While the snowballs are still warm, let children roll them in a dish of powdered sugar.

3. All children can read age-appropriate books on snow, watch videos, and watch weather reports. If possible, invite a local meteorologist to talk to your class, grade group, or school. Try writing to children in a school where it snows to get a first-hand account of the effects when snow turns to ice and slush.

I hope you have found these tips useful. Have fun and remember that Reading is FUNdamental!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Freda J. Glatt, MS, retired from teaching after a 34-year career in Early-Childhood and Elementary Education. Her focus, now, is to reach out and help others reinforce reading comprehension and develop a love for reading. Visit her site at http://www.sandralreading.com. Reading is FUNdamental!