Learning on a 'Snow Day'

​Snow Days offer a wonderful opportunity for the children to get outside and be physically active whilst exploring this beautiful and interesting weather phenomenon in all sorts of ways; as scientists, as artists, as geographers ...and as children.

As teachers, we have made the decision to embrace this as a wonderful opportunity for home learning when the children cannot safely come into school.   Please find below, all sorts of ideas for learning activities that the children can do which are linked to the snow.

We have decided not to organise these under age-related headings.  All of the activities are good fun and most are 'open-ended' enough that the children can explore them at the level which suits them.
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Copy this link into your browser for some ideas for younger children - 
​​https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/features/article/eyfs-activities-five-things-to-do-on-a-snowy-day     
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Feed the Birds​

The RSPB says: Natural food is much harder to find  if we get prolonged ice and snow. 
Garden birds will rely on the extras that we provide, and many inexpensive, everyday food that we buy for ourselves is an ideal treat for birds too.
You can feed your local feathered friends with:

• Fat including suet, is popular with tits, woodpeckers, thrushes and wrens. (Not from roasting tins)
• Cheese is a favourite with robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and song thrushes. Mild grated cheese is best.
• Potatoes, baked, cooled and opened up, roasted and even mashed will be enjoyed by wildfowl.
• Dried fruits like raisins, sultanas and currants are enjoyed by blackbirds, song thrushes and robins.
• Fruit like apples and pears, including bruised and part rotten ones, are popular with all thrushes, tits and starlings.
•  Also suitable are cooked or uncooked pastry, cooked (never raw) rice, dry porridge oats and other breakfast cereals.

​Then, sit by the window and see who comes to visit.  Ms O'Sullivan welcomed a Greater Spotted Woodpecker to her bird table!  You can tell it is an adult male by the red patch on the back of it's head.

Small world play in the snow

Take some of your toys (not soft toys!) out into the snow for small world play.  In my snowy garden, London has been invaded by giant geese but you will have much better toys at home.  How about dinosaurs in the snow or small snow race track with your toy cars?

Bubbles in the Snow
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This works best when it is REALLY cold outside, well below freezing point.  Sometimes it can be cold enough for the bubbles to actually freeze and be covered in ice patterns.
Even if it is not that cold, the bubbles will stay for a while on the cold snow.
It is easy to make your own bubble mixture with washing-up liquid and water!

You could have 'races' to see whose bubble lasts the longest without popping.

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​Or you could take some photos of your bubbles sitting on the snow.

Snow tracks and snow prints

​Be a 'snow detective' and search for tracks in the snow.  Which creature might they belong to?

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Or use some everyday objects to make your own prints. 

Other ideas...