STEAMy Snowflakes
FOR KIDS, SNOW IS EXCITING!
Anyone who has been in a classroom or with a group of children can attest to the palpable buzz of excitement in the room when those beautiful flakes start falling from the sky (I’m partial to the big fat ones that
stick on your eyelashes). TWIRL by Sandy Snow brings a Emory for blanket of change Twirl in the world. With
fresh snowfall comes the possibility of snow-day magic: sledding, building snowmen, winter holidays, hot cocoa and more! As we caregivers sometimes sigh about the 30 minutes it takes to shove everyone’s feet and fingers into their snow gear for the 5 minutes they play outside before getting cold and coming right back in, we know this is a part of their learning about the world around them.
At Twirl, we are kicking off this magical chilly season by learning all about snowflakes. One might think learning about snowflakes is all about cutting up paper and catching snowflakes on our tongues but, for us, snowflake learning is a dive into crystals, fractals (never-ending patterns), and chemical reactions in the way we do it best: with STEAM explorations.
STEAM education is a modification to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), which includes an A for the Arts. It is an integrated learning approach in which the subjects are taught together, integrating with one another to strengthen learning. In STEAM learning, the A is the recognition that aesthetic and creative thinking are key ingredients in the success of art integration into STEM. Further, the addition of art to STEM can help remove idea inhibition, stimulate focus, teach observation, visualize objects from different perspectives and teach math concepts.
In 2022, New Mexico ranked 50th in the National Assessment of Educational Progress report card for mathematics among 4th-graders (more than 13 points below the national average), with science results faring slightly better, just 10 points below the national average. STEAM fields are growing with an estimated 22,000 job openings in New Mexico. Science and engineering careers make more than double the income of the median jobs in the U.S., so it’s no wonder why you have been hearing more and more about STEAM learning, and why we are committed to bringing STEAM opportunities and learning through play to Taos kids.
Here are a couple of ideas for bringing STEAMy Snowflake learning to kids at home:
Catch some snowflakes! An easy way to do this is to use cold black construction paper and a magnifying glass. On a snowy day, look up some snowflake science with your child, then head outside, catch the snowflakes (the cold paper helps the flakes hold on a little longer before melting). Ask your child what they notice about the snowflakes. What do you see? Use the vocabulary words you learned in your search: symmetry, crystals, unique. Experiment with different colors and papers — what changes? After this exploration, you and your child can experiment with making your own snowflakes with materials like bottle caps, popsicles sticks, cotton balls and glue you might have around your house, or read a book like “The Snowy Day” together.
For a child ready for deeper learning, try reading the book “Snowflake Bentley” together. After reading the book, challenge your child to make their own snowflake using toothpicks and marshmallows. Encourage your child to use real aspects of snowflakes, like six-sided symmetry. Ask them: What was your favorite design? How can you add strength or dimension? What will you do the same or different next time? As you work and create, what questions does your child have about snowflakes? Investigate together! There are several STEAM-supporting books available in the Twirl store.
The benefits of early childhood and elementary learning is well-documented, it impacts everything from school performance to lifelong social skills.
It is our mission to introduce children to new and exciting ways to explore and learn valuable information about their world. These exposures inspire children to want to know more and can encourage them to develop a passion for knowledge that will last them a lifetime. In combining kids’ natural curiosity and excitement about snow and STEAM concepts, they are able to explore and expand their understanding of the world around them. They can imagine themselves as the scientists, innovators and inventors of the future.
Through onsite programs like Little Twirlers (sometimes affectionately referred to as our Little STEAM Team) and Science Saturdays, as well as our community programs in which our Duck Truck travels to the nooks and crannies of Taos County bringing fun and educational programs to kids and families in their own neighborhoods. Providing opportunities for children to play, create and explore encourages kids’ learning, and can even inspire us adults to have a little fun!