Jump to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- What is snow and how does it form?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How Does Snow Form? Videos<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Facts About Snow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Children’s Books About Snow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Snow Worksheet, Activities, and Lesson Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More Links and Resources About Snow<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is snow and how does it form?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It’s easy to talk about how snow is cold, wet, and fun. It’s a little harder to explain how snow happens! Lean on our free Google Slides to get the discussion going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is snow?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-3-800x450.jpg\" "\\"What")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Snow is ice crystals that fall from the sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Snow happens when water vapor (water in gas form) freezes into ice without turning to liquid first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does snow form? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-5-800x450.jpg\" "\\"How")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How does snow form? It all starts up in the clouds on a cold day. It must be 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) or colder to snow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Flow](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-4-800x450.jpg\" "\\"How")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Snow crystals start when water vapor sticks to a speck of dirt, dust, or pollen in a cloud. As more water vapor sticks to this wet speck, it freezes into a tiny ice ball. More and more water vapor sticks to the ice ball to make a six-sided crystal. The corners of the hexagon \u201cbranch out\u201d as more water vapor sticks there, beginning a snowflake shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-6-800x450.jpg\" "\\"Gravity")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n A snow crystal grows and changes as it falls through its cloud. Gravity pulls it down from the clouds. And then it\u2019s snowing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-7-800x450.jpg\" "\\"What")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Scientists use both \u201csnow crystals\u201d and \u201csnowflakes\u201d to describe pieces of snow. Usually, the \u201csnowflakes\u201d we can see fall are many tiny snow crystals stuck together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-8-800x450.jpg\" "\\"Car")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n When the ground is cold enough, falling snowflakes stick and pile up there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does snow affect our climate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-9-800x450.jpg\" "\\"How")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Snow plays a crucial role in Earth’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Snow helps keep our planet at the right temperature. Areas covered in snow reflect sunlight. Darker surfaces, like dirt, absorb (soak up) more of the sun\u2019s heat, making the Earth warmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-10-800x450.jpg\" "\\"How")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Melting snow is an important source of water for many people, plants, and animals. Less snow in winter can mean less water in spring and summer in some places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Slide](\"https:\/\/www.weareteachers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-Snow-11-800x450.jpg\" "\\"Snow")
We Are Teachers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n To learn more about climate change and its impacts, scientists collect data about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Snowfall\u2014how much it snows<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Snow cover\u2014how much of the Earth is covered in snow<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Snowpack\u2014how much or how thick the snow is on the ground<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Does Snow Form? Videos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Need more help explaining snow to kids? Here are a few of our favorite videos for different ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Does Snow Form? from Northwest Public Broadcasting Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- How Does Snow Form? Videos<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n