Contact
Student Resources
Measuring Tasks
Activity of the Month Archive
Animal Site of the Month Archive
Elementary School Web Resources
Teacher Resources
Unit Resources and Video Support
Catalogs and Order Forms
FAQ About ESP
Learning Standards
NYS Common Core Standards Correlations for ESP Units
Professional Development
Resources
Teacher Created Resources
About ESP
Overview of ESP Units
FAQ About ESP
Ordering Kits
How to Return Kits
Find Us
Melt Patterns
Quick Links
ADA Menu
Winter Activities
A Model of the Earth and Moon
Animal Detecting
Animals in Winter
Another Fantastic Comet
Astronomy and Groundhog Day
Be A Nest Watcher
Beanie Baby Classification
Bubbles
Build a Birdhouse
Describing Winter
Earthquakes
Evergreens
First Signs of Spring
Five Senses in Winter
Groundhogs and Shadows
Growing Healthier Plants
Indoor Weather
Journal into Spring
Keeping Warm in Winter
Kitchen Chemistry
Measuring Snow
Melt Patterns
Microclimates in Winter
Moon Watching
Plants as Indicators
Salt and Ice
Snow
Snowflake Studies
Stars
Staying Healthy
Thinking Like a Scientist (Science Fairs)
What Causes Winter?
What Do Scientists Look Like?
Where Do Houseplants Come From?
Winter Nature Nut
Winter Twigs
Your Heart
Your Lungs
Groundhog Day is the date half way between the first day of winter, the winter solstice, and the first day of spring, the spring equinox. During the month of February, the strength of the sunlight striking the northern half of the earth gains power with every passing day. Can we see clues that this is happening? Look for some of the things listed below and keep a journal during February and March about what you observe.
Snow on the ground can be a great indicator of the power of sunlight. Look for signs that snow is melting faster in sunny spots. Check around the base of trees that are in sunny spots. Do you find bare spots of ground? If you do, which side of the tree are they on? Do roofs that face south have less snow on them than roofs that face north? Which sides of houses have larger icicles? How could sunlight cause icicles to form?
Sometimes the snow along the side of a road can get dirty from cars passing by. Is there a safe place to look at a roadside to see if the dirty spots are melting faster than clean, white snow? Why would there be a difference between how fast dirty snow and clean snow melts on a sunny day? Can you find a spot where a dark colored piece of something has melted into the snow? Why did this happen?
Is the snow deeper where the ground is in the shade? Why or why not?
Look at frozen puddles and ponds to see how the sun is affecting them. Keep safe! DO NOT GO ONTO THE ICE OF A POND WITHOUT CHECKING WITH AN ADULT!
Scientists think that snow can insulate the ground like a blanket. This can keep the cold air from causing the ground to freeze as deep as it would without a layer of snow. Most woodchucks (also called groundhogs) make their winter burrows in the shade of the woods not out in a sunny field. How could this help the woodchuck during the winter?
Sometimes melting snow around trees can bring out huge numbers soil insects called
springtails
. They come out to get away from the water of the melting snow, or maybe just to move around in the sunlight and feed. These insects are called
snow fleas
when they are seen in winter. Look for them if you get to walk in the woods on a sunny winter day.
Visit our
First Signs of Spring
page for other clues that the seasons are starting to change.
View text-based website