How to Explain to Child Why it Snows

Snow is fascinating to watch as it gracefully falls to the ground. Expand your child's knowledge of snow by explaining why and how it forms.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Explain the water cycle to your child. Water flows from a source, is heated by the sun and evaporates into microscopic water vapor. The water vapor rises, cools off and condenses onto dust and smoke particles in the air.

2. Look at clouds. The water and dust that has condensed in the atmosphere forms clouds. As the water accumulates, it becomes too heavy for the dust particles to hold at which point water falls to the ground as rain or snow.

3. Make ice. Simply fill ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. When you remove the water as ice use it as an example to explain how snow forms.

4. Explain how if the temperature outside is warm when the water drops from the dust particles it will fall as rain. If the temperature on the ground is colder than 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the water will freeze and fall as snow.

5. Make your own mini water cycle. You will need a large clear bowl, plastic wrap, a small rock, a smaller container (a cut-down yogurt cup works well) and a rubberband or piece of string.

6. Place the smaller container in the larger container. Add water to the bottom of the large container but do not get any in the smaller container. Cover both containers with the plastic wrap and seal with the string or rubberband.

7. Put the rock in the middle of the plastic wrap so it sags directly above the smaller container.

8. Place the contraption in a bright sunny window and watch. You will demonstrate to your child how water evaporates, condenses and falls back to its source.

9. Create a cloud. All you need is a large jar, a plastic bag of ice that will fit over the jar opening, a pitcher of warm water, 1 sheet of black paper, a flashlight and matches.

10. Use the materials listed to demonstrate to your child how water evaporates from the bottom of the jar, condenses on the smoke from the match and creates a cloud in the top of the jar.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live where it snows, do some snow experiments with your child. Place a bucket of water outside in the winter. If it freezes over night, the conditions are right for snow.
• Make a virtual snowflake by checking out the related sites list.
• Only adults should ignite matches used in the cloud formation experiment. Warn your child and other children of the dangers of playing with matches and fire.