Describes the observable properties of crystals (colour, geometric…

Winter Science at Home Grades K–5

Make frost on the outside of a can, race ice cubes with salt and sugar, lift an ice cube with a piece of string, and look inside a real snowflake. Three kitchen-table winter experiments that actually work, with the real science explained for grown-ups.

• Can you make frost in a can? 40 min

  Children crush ice, pack it into two cans, add salt to one, and watch water and then frost appear on the outside. They finish able to explain that the water and frost came out of the air, not through the can.

• Why does salt melt ice? 40 min

  Children race three ice cubes covered in salt, sugar and nothing, then use a pinch of salt to lift an ice cube out of a glass with a piece of string. They finish able to explain that salt melts ice by mixing into the water, and that it makes the ice colder, not warmer.

• What's inside a snowflake? 45 min on a snowy day, or 40 min plus overnight without snow

  Children catch falling snowflakes on a chilled dark cloth and look at them with a magnifier, or, with no snow, look at freezer frost and grow crystals on a pipe-cleaner snowflake overnight. They finish able to explain that a snowflake is an ice crystal grown from water vapour, and why it has six sides.

Printable practice for this outcome

These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to this outcome is partial.

• Kitchen Chemistry for Families workbook included with the unit

  2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Clean Water Challenge: Mixtures, Dissolving and Separating workbook included with the unit

  3 practice pages, 3 readings, 1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Solids, Liquids and Gases workbook included with the unit

  1 word wall, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Grade 4 Rocks and Minerals printable pack

  3 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 activity, 1 assessment, with answer keys. Free sample.

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