3 Family Activities That Bring a Flurry of Excitement to Winter

It’s easy to spend cooler months inside watching all your favorite shows and hiding under toasty blankets, but this season of opportunity is filled with family fun just waiting to be had! Whether you prefer to stay cool investigating snowflakes and spotting wildlife on icy trails or warm up inside with local trips and yummy recipes, there’s no shortage of seasonal activities. To inspire hands-on, STEM learning all winter, here are three great ideas to try together.

Bake a Delicious Treat to Share

Did you know that you don’t have to go farther than your kitchen to practice math and science? It’s true! By following a recipe to bake something as common as a cookie, you’re bringing STEM skills to life. Try this recipe from the Food Network to make simple sugar cookies while working with fractions to measure out ingredients and watching chemistry make your dough rise in the oven. Don’t forget to be precise – even the smallest changes can make a big impact on the taste and texture of your cookies. To find out how unique ingredients serve a special purpose, check out this article.

After your cookies cool, be sure to exercise your creativity by decorating them with frosting, sprinkles, melted chocolate or edible markers – and don’t forget to share your creation with family and friends!

Learn Something New About the World Around You

Don’t give learning the cold shoulder this winter – spend time investigating your interests, curiosities and biggest questions! You might uncover a new goal or memorize a cool fact to impress your family when you make new discoveries. Take a family trip to your local library for books and free resources or, if your questions look like ours, start by exploring the topics below.

• How do they keep an ice-skating rink so smooth? The inventor of the Zamboni^® machine knows! 
   
• Why is every snowflake different? Science tells us there are many factors that shape a snowflake. 
   
• Can I still see wildlife in the winter? It varies by area, but we have tips to help you explore! 
   
• What should I read next? We love to snuggle up with a book – here are our recommendations.

Complete the Ultimate Winter STEM Bucket List

For the adventurous family, you might want to create a bucket list of things to do, places to see or skills to learn by spring. Each week, you can try to fill out a category or check off an item to keep the fun going all season long. Use our interactive Winter Activity Checklist or sit down as a family with posterboard and craft supplies to come up with your own! Once you’re happy with your list, proudly display it in a visible area of your home to give your family more things to look forward to.

Learn More

Keep reading our blog for other exciting, family-friendly STEM trends and activities!