Wind blows the snow from trees during the aftermath of a winter storm in the Rocky Mountains.

Winter Weather Teaching Box

Winter weather may cancel school, but it’s also an opportunity to learn science. This teaching box is filled with hands-on activities that get primary grade students to learn the science of winter weather including concepts of earth science. Explore the educational resources in this teaching box and bring snow and ice into your classroom!

Teaching Boxes are themed collections of classroom-ready educational resources to build student understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Resources highlighted within teaching boxes are from various science education programs and all have been vetted by the education team at the UCAR Center for Science Education.

  • Topic: Winter Weather
  • Level: Primary grades (K-2)
Two children dressed in snow clothes are playing in the snow

Keeping Warm

Students learn how people and wildlife keep warm during cold winter weather.

Magnified view of a snowflake.

Snowflake Shapes

Students learn that snowflakes come in different shapes.

Fence covered in deep snow

Colors of Snow

Students learn that snow can be various shades but is usually light in color, which reflects most of the sunlight that hits it, unlike darker materials.

Ice-covered powerlines

Water & Ice

Students learn that water can be a solid or a liquid depending on temperature.

Winter Storms

Teacher Professional Development

Build your basic understanding of winter weather.