Make a Snow Gauge

What You Do:

1. On a winter’s day, when you’re waiting for a snowstorm, pull out a clean, dry coffee can. This will be your “collecting station.”
2. Now help your kindergarten scientist tape the plastic ruler to the inside edge of the coffee can, so that the bottom of the ruler hits the bottom of the coffee can, and the rest of the ruler climbs up the side.
3. Have your kindergartener place the coffee can upright in an open area outdoors, where snow is likely to fall unobstructed. (Note: if there are high winds, you may also want to support the can so that it doesn’t blow over).
4. When the storm is over, help your kindergartener check the frozen results. How high did the snow go?
5. Now bring the can indoors and let the snow melt. Now how high is the remaining water? (If you want to get fancy, you can even calculate a rough ratio with your kindergartener, since kids do learn fundamental fractions at this level, such as one-half.)
6. Talk about the two results, snow versus rain. What does this mean for our world? Then show your kindergartener the weather map in your local newspaper. Did your snow gauge match the measurement that the weatherman got? Why might your totals be different?
7. Do this experiment over and over during the winter months, and keep a chart. It’s good science…and it’s a great opportunity to teach your child about our enduring connection to the land around us.