Help children create their own snowflakes using borax, water and pipe cleaners. Cut a pipe cleaner in three sections and help a child twist it into the shape of a snowflake. Tie a string to one end of a pipe cleaner and a pencil to the other end of the string. Fill a glass jar with boiling water. Allow children to add 3 tablespoons of borax to the water and stir it until dissolved. Place the pipe cleaners into the jar with the pencil resting on top and let it sit overnight. In the morning, children will have homemade snowflakes.
Fill a large, clear plastic bin with snow. Add food coloring and water to plastic spray bottles. Allow children to spray the snow with the spray bottles to produce a variety of colors in the snow. Children will be able to see the colors sink down in the snow through the sides of the container. After the snow is done being painted, let it sit and melt. Instead of clear water, the melted snow will be a mix of the colors sprayed on it.
Children can learn about the different forms of water by observing snow melt. Allow children to place some snow from outside into a small plastic container and bring it inside. Let the container sit inside for an hour, then ask children to look at the snow, see that it has melted and explain what happened. Place the same container of snow in the freezer for a couple hours and take it out to let children observe what has happened. Allow the ice to melt and then demonstrate boiling the water to produce steam and make the snow finally "disappear."
Teach children about how animals keep warm in the snow. Fill a plastic container with ice water and ask children to take turns sticking their hands in it and explaining how it feels. Once all children have felt the water, fill a plastic bag with vegetable shortening. Have a child put on a plastic glove and stick her hand in the shortening. She should then stick her hand in the water. Children should notice that their hands do not get as cold because the shortening acts as layers of fat. Explain that this is how animals like polar bears stay warm in the snow.