Measuring Snow Using a Homemade Math Tool

I am not a very crafty person; so, I am always looking for items that are easy to make that I can give to my grandchildren. One year, I gave them a snowman making kit that included buttons, a carrot, six rocks and two sticks. This year, I am giving them a Snow Measuring Tool.  Not only was it fun to use, but it also helped them to practice using a ruler. Here is how you can make one!

 

Here is the list of supplies you will need:  

1) A paint stick - free at most paint stores
2) A permanent marking pen
3) Something to glue at the top of the stick (You can make it, or be like me and purchase one from a craft store.)

First, using a ruler, mark off every inch along the paint stick. I was able to make nine marks. (Notice I used the plain side of the paint stick and not the side with all of the advertising.) Now write the inches beside each corresponding mark.

When that is completed, glue the item you have chosen at the top of the stick.  I really wanted to use a snowflake, but my local craft store didn't have any; so, I settled on using one of Santa's reindeer.  Which one, I'm not sure since it didn't come with a name.(Hint: My husband used Gorilla Glue so the reindeer wouldn't fall off.)

When it snows, venture outside and stick the Snow Measuring Tool into the snow and read the number of inches that have fallen. If it isn't exactly on an inch mark, then have your child estimate using fractional parts.

While you are measuring the snow, think about this saying: "Ten inches of snow equals one inch of rain." I am sure you have heard that claim as it is a commonly shared belief that seems to be repeated every time it snows a few feet. But, is the saying true? The immediate answer is: Sometimes.

When the temperature is around 30 degrees, one inch of liquid precipitation (rain) would fall as 10 inches of snow, presuming the storm is all snow. But, the amount of moisture in each snowflake differs depending on the temperature which in turn changes the snow to rain ratio.

For example, if a big January snowstorm occurred with colder temperatures (such as 25 degrees), the snow ratio would be closer to 15 inches of snow to one inch of rain. In fact, weathermen take this into account when forecasting how much snow a location will receive. There have been storms with snow closer to 20 degrees, moving the snow ratio closer to 20 to one. And, when it's warmer, say 35-40 degrees, the ratio moves to 5" of snow to 1" of rain.

So, after your children measure the snow in your yard with their Snow Measuring Tool, try converting the inches of snow into inches of rain based on the 10":1" ratio. By doing so, you may become your neighborhood's weather forecaster or even better, a first rate mathematician!

$3.00

Your children might enjoy this snowman glyph. It's is an excellent winter activity for reading and following directions, and requires problem solving, communication, and data organization.

Reducing Fractions, Finding Fractional Parts and Recognizing Equivalent Fractions with Fraction Riddles

$14.75

Do you need something besides a “drill and kill” activity to practice fractions and/or percents? This fraction riddle bundle is a 33 page resource that is a fun and engaging way to utilize math concepts while keeping the students actively involved.

Specific words are provided. The students are instructed to figure out the correct fractional part of each particular word. (Example: The first ½ of WENT would be WE. Notice that WE is also 2/4 or 50% of WENT.) If each fractional part is correctly identified, when the students write the fractional parts on the lines provided, a new word is created. Each group of new words becomes a riddle or the answer to a riddle.

It is important that students understand that a fraction and a percent represent the same thing; so, in the Snow Riddles handout, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% are introduced.

 In March Riddles, specific questions are asked to acquaint the students with fun facts about the month of March. April Riddles introduces the students to several interesting historical facts that occurred during this month. There's also Holiday Riddles for December and/or the Christmas season.

For each month, there are between 7-11 word fraction riddles; so, there are numerous ways to practice recognizing fractional parts, understanding equivalent fractions, identifying basic percents (25%, 50%, 75% 100%), and reducing fractions to lowest terms.

Instead of completing all of the monthly riddles in one day, the puzzles may be divided up and used as a focus activity, when a student finishes early, or when there is a short amount of time left before the next class or activity. An individual puzzle may be given each day, or the riddles can be interspersed throughout the week or month. Answers are included at the end of each month’s activities. The complete resource features six months (January, February, March, April, October, December) and contains a total of 49 fraction riddles.

If you prefer, each month of fraction riddles may be purchased separately for $3.00 - $3.25; however, this resource bundles all six months for a discounted price. Just click the title under the cover page shown above, and download the preview to take a quick look at this bundle.

  

Two Crosswords About Santa and His Reindeer

The legend of Santa Claus is based on the real-life St. Nicholas, a 4th century bishop in Myra, Turkey. St. Nicholas was known for his love for children and the poor. He has many names, but Santa Claus is his most famous name, and that comes from the Dutch "Sinterklaas" (based on "Saint Nicholas"). He's also known as Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Christmas Man (in German) and Grandfather Frost (in Russian).

Since he has to cover the whole planet in 31 hours (thanks to time differences) that means Santa's sleigh must go at about 1,800 miles per second. I hope he wears a seatbelt! No one knows for sure exactly where he lives. We know he lives at the North Pole, but that covers a lot of ground. In Nordic legends, he is said to live in a small hill in Lapland, Finland. Quite far from the United States, then!

Here are some interesting numbers (this is a math blog.) If Santa delivered presents to every child on Earth, he would be carrying at least 400,000 tons of presents. Nine reindeer can't pull that much weight (not to mention the sleigh and Santa himself)!  In fact, he would need at least 360,000 reindeer. Good luck remembering all those reindeer names!

On Christmas Eve, do you ever wonder where Santa is? Don't worry, you can keep an eye on Santa's progress with GPS! The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) is the biggest program for this and will show you Santa's progress in several languages.

$2.85

In honor of Santa and his reindeer, I've created two crossword puzzles for the holiday season. The 18 words used in both puzzles are: bed, Blitzen, Christmas Eve, Claus, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donner, eight, Nicholas, North Pole, Prancer, Rudolph, sleigh, snow, stockings and Vixen. One crossword includes a word bank which makes it easier to solve while the other puzzle does not.  Answer keys for both puzzles are included. 

These might be fun for the kids to do while they are waiting for Santa to arrive!

Two Bible Crossword Puzzles to Learn About the Birth of Jesus

$2.85

We may consider the Christmas tradition of reading the Nativity story a given, but after hearing others talk, it often gets overlooked in the hustle and bustle of opening gifts and preparing a big meal. The Christmas Story helps children discover one of the most important stories of all time. Through this story, children come to understand the events leading up to Jesus' birth and this special miracle. It introduces children to the reason why we celebrate this special day, and shares with them the wonderful gift from God. 

I am aware there are numerous Christmas activities to choose from and many times, it is difficult to separate the "secular" Christmas activities from the Biblical ones. Maybe you are wondering, "What activity can I use to tell the Christmas Story in a different way?" Try using a crossword puzzle! 

I have created two Bible crossword puzzles for Christmas that are specifically designed to review and study the birth of Christ as recorded in the Bible. Both are free form crossword puzzles that feature 25 words with Scripture references. If an answer is unknown, the Bible reference provides a way to find the answer while encouraging the use of the Bible. The words included in both puzzles are Bethlehem, Caesar Augustus, December, east, Egypt, Elizabeth, frankincense, Gabriel, glory, gold, Jesus, Joseph, King Herod, magi, manger, Mary, Merry Christmas, Messiah, myrrh, Nazareth, Quirinius, save, shepherds, star, and terrified.

One crossword includes a word bank which makes it easier to solve while the more challenging one does not. Even though the same words are used for each crossword, each grid is laid out in a different way; so, you have two distinct puzzles. Here are some ways you might use these crosswords.

1. Pass them out while the children are waiting to open presents. It might change their focus!
2. Include the adults in the puzzle solving by giving them the crossword without the word bank.
3. Work with a sibling or cousin or friend to learn the characters of the Christmas story.
4. Use the crossword with the word bank as a review; then hand out the second puzzle to solve as a way to reflect on what facts about Christmas have been learned.
5. Offer a small prize to the teams or individuals that get all off the answers correct.

Answers keys for both puzzles are included; so, you don't have to search them out yourself.