STEM in the Snow: Turning Winter Into a Science Lab

Hands-On Ideas for Learning Science, Technology, Engineering & Math This Winter

For curiosity-driven learning, we believe the world is your classroom - and in winter, that classroom just happens to be a little colder, a little quieter, and a whole lot more sparkly. Instead of retreating indoors until spring, why not bundle up and head outside to explore the wonders of winter through the lens of STEM?

Snowflakes, ice, and even the brisk air around us offer incredible opportunities to ask questions, test hypotheses, build things, and marvel at the natural world. So let’s turn winter into a science lab - one snowball, one icicle, and one freezing point at a time.

Winter is full of science waiting to be discovered.

How Long Does It Take Snow To Melt?

Try this: collect equal amounts of snow in different containers and place them in the sun, shade, or near a heat source. Predict which one melts fastest, time it, and draw your conclusions. It’s a simple but powerful way to explore heat transfer and states of matter.

Can You Catch a Snowflake

On a snowy day, chill a piece of black felt in the freezer and take it outside to catch snowflakes. With a magnifying glass, you can observe the crystal patterns before they melt - an up - close look at nature’s frozen symmetry.

What Happens to Bubbles in the Cold

If you’re in the mood for something truly magical, try blowing soap bubbles on a day when temperatures drop below freezing. You might see them crystallize mid-air or land and freeze before popping. It’s a beautiful demonstration of surface tension and phase changes, and it feels like a little bit of science fiction coming to life.

Track Temperature Over Time

Technology doesn’t have to be high-tech. A simple thermometer can become a daily tool for measuring temperature shifts. Record the temperature at different times of day and use a spreadsheet or graphing app to chart the data.

Construct a Snow Fort

When it comes to engineering, snow is one of the best natural building materials you could ask for. Challenge your kids to design and build a snow fort, testing different shapes for stability. Talk about why arches hold better than squares or how to distribute weight evenly to prevent collapse. Indoors, set up a “keep the ice cube cold” challenge using different insulation materials - cotton, foil, cardboard - and see which structure slows melting the most. It’s a fun way to experiment with thermal properties and design thinking.

Make an Ice Lantern

You can also combine art and engineering by making ice lanterns. Freeze water in bowls or containers with smaller cups inside to create hollow shapes. Add LED tea lights inside for a wintery glow. This project introduces freezing rates, layering, and structural balance - all wrapped up in a beautiful creation.

Measure Snowfall

Math is everywhere in winter. Have your child measure snowfall each day with a ruler and chart the changes. Compare different areas—driveway vs. backyard, sunny vs. shaded - and look for patterns. Or go big: calculate the volume of a snowball using basic geometry. Measure radius, estimate the area of a snow-covered surface, or figure out how many snowballs it would take to fill a bucket. These are all ways to apply real-world math skills in a meaningful, hands-on context.

And of course, winter is the perfect time to ask big open-ended questions. What if snow was warm? What if you could redesign a winter-proof city? What if animals could build their own snow shelters? These questions inspire stories, experiments, designs, and debates. They invite students to imagine boldly and think critically, the way scientists and innovators do every day.

You don’t need a full lab to bring these ideas to life. A ruler, a few containers, a journal, and some curiosity are all you need to transform a snowy afternoon into a STEM adventure. Encourage your child to keep a winter STEM notebook - drawing their observations, recording results, and reflecting on what they’ve discovered. Not only does this reinforce their learning, it helps them develop the habits of real scientists: noticing, wondering, testing, and recording.

At PopSmart Academy, we’re always looking for ways to blend play with purpose, fun with foundational skills. Winter gives us a unique opportunity to do just that. The next time snow falls outside your window, consider it an invitation - not just to play, but to explore, question, and discover.

Because every snowflake is a science lesson. Every icicle is an experiment waiting to happen. And every cold breeze is a reminder that learning doesn’t stop when the seasons change - it just takes a new form.

Want more ideas like this? Keep an eye on our upcoming Winter Wonder Learning Workshops, where we turn cold days into curiosity-filled adventures. And remember: in the world of STEM, every season is a chance to explore.

Ready to empower your child’s critical thinking? Explore our science programs and discover how PopSmart Academy can help your child reach their full potential. Book a FREE trial class here.