Footprints in the Snow

Tracking in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Photo Credit: Rick Morrow

OUTSIDE PLAY

Getting kids outside in the winter months can be intimidating. There are so many layers to deal with! Sledding and snow person building are always fun go-to’s, but this winter activity will change it up a bit.

BE WINTER DETECTIVES

Your kids will use all of their senses to pay attention to their surroundings. Winter outdoor activities enhance a child’s brain function and create a stronger connection to earth. Connecting our young ones to the outside world is not only good for their health–but good for the health of the planet! When children develop a love for the planet at a young age, they tend to grow up with a tender and caring mindset towards the earth.

Bring an observation notebook and camera outside with you. Remember, a good scientist uses the power of observation and takes good notes.

As you step outside take a moment to remind your kids to be mindful.

What do they hear?
How does it smell?
What does it feel like? Maybe their face feels different then their mittened hands.
Is there anything to taste? Any snowflakes to catch on their tongue?
What do they notice with their eyes?

After a preliminary observation, prompt your young scientist (or as my son likes to call it Study-tist, that’s a scientist that likes to study!) to take notes. (Or maybe they do this when they get inside and get their mittens off!)

Where do they want to take their exploration next?
Do they see any animal tracks in the snow?
What do they notice about them?
Are they in a straight line or are they more of a zig zag?
Are there some close to the house and different ones far away?

Maybe they’d like to take a photograph of the tracks or maybe they’d like to draw a picture. You can take this track sheet outside with you and compare and contrast what you’ve found.

GO ON A FIELD TRIP

Track hunting is the perfect inspiration for a mid winter hike. A great time to talk with your kids about the different types of animals you may find on a hike versus your backyard.

CREATE YOUR OWN SNOW TRACKS

Create your own footprints out of found objects. This activity was a complete accident for us! My son had brought some chips outside with us on our snow adventure. The kind of chips in a tube… and then he started to press the tube down into the snow to create patterns. We realized it looked like the footprint tracks of a new animal! We named the animal and talked about how heavy it must be. The depth of the tracks in the snow let us know the animal was heavy! And we played with making tracks that were left by a light animal.

Notice what your own footprints look like.
Can you make patterns in the snow?
What happens if you hop, jump or walk?
How long is your stride? What about a grown ups stride- is it different?
Do you notice any textures or designs on your footprint. Are they the same or different than another persons?

Asking questions and using this style of engagement supports your child’s critical thinking and language development, and inspires more independent problem solving.

INSIDE PLAY

When it’s too cold for the little fingers and toes to play outside, play inside by making your own playdough, salt dough or snow dough. Create tracks using household objects, toy animals or their own fingers, hands or toes! Find the recipes below.

ANIMAL FOOTPRINT STAMPS

In your Library Kit, you’ll receive everything you need for a fun stamp art project.

Stamps are a really fun project for kids to practice their fine motor skills- without even realizing it!

This specific stamp project also integrates scientific observational skills with art.

After observing different animal tracks they can create stamps either closely or loosely based on them. Making their own creative decisions, they may design a never before seen footprint.

Ask your child leading questions, and they may create a whole new animal. They may be inspired to write down all of the details about it. Integrating hand writing, creative writing and pretend play!

MATCHING GAME

You’ll also get a original matching game with photos from animal tracks in Michigan and the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

This game is sure to get the family talking and learning!

WRITE A STORY

When you’re back inside warm and dry, maybe you create a story about the tracks you found. At my house, there’s a dog that often gets out and runs around, and we’ll find his tracks going this way and that. It’s fun to think about what he might have been thinking.

Easy Playdough Recipe

RECIPE

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups lukewarm water
2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
Food coloring, optional
Quart sized bags

Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Next add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, add in the color now as well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball. Remove from heat and then place inside a gallon sized bag or onto wax paper. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth.

Store the play dough inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 3 months.

Press fingers or found objects into the white playdough to explore tracks, patterns and movement!

Salt Dough Recipe

Ingredients

table salt
all purpose flour
water

Instructions

Combine flour and salt
Add the water
Stir
Keep stirring until the dough is mostly together and is hard to stir any longer
Knead a few times with hands to bring the dough together
Place dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out.

TIP: You can divide the dough in sections so multiple kids can have their own dough to work with.

How to Cut Out, Bake and Decorate Salt Dough Ornaments

Roll out until about 1/4-inch thick.
Stamp cookie cutters.
Remove the dough around the shapes, transfer just the shapes to a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Poke holes if you want a place for a string to hang as ornaments.
Press in a hand to make a handprint or foot to make a footprint!
Bake, let cool and decorate!

You may have found rabbit paw prints outside in the snow, and now your child can make their own paw print in salt dough! When it hardens, you’ll have a keepsake.

Snow Dough Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups corn starch
1/3 to 1/2 of a cup vegetable oil
3-4 tablespoons silver glitter (optional)

Instructions

Combine ingredients. Explore compacting the dough, crumbling the dough or making tracks in the dough. What kinds of found objects can you use to create tracks in your snow dough? What types of animals make live in this habitat? Can you make a snow person out of it?

Have fun exploring!