January 3, 2022
January 3, 2022
Once those beautiful, wintery snow flurries start falling, there’s one thing on the minds of kids everywhere: building a snowman! It’s one of the quintessential winter outdoor activities that kids adore, but building a snowman is more than just a bit of fun – it can also be an educational opportunity.
It sounds unusual, but it’s true: you can use math, algebra, and even physics to build the perfect snowman, helping kids learn about mathematical concepts while enjoying a winter wonderland in their backyard. As parents know, math isn’t usually the most beloved school subject, so make the most of the next snowfall to help them learn more. Read on to discover how to build the perfect snowman using algebra.
Why are families using math to build a snowman?
It’s simple: snow can make math fun! Even better, the principles of math and physics can actually help you build a better snowman, taking into account the weather, the type of snow, and the size of each snowball. Real-world applications for math help children learn, too, since using math skills in real life makes them more likely to remember what they’ve learned.
How do you make a perfect snowman using math?
How do kids build a snowman, step by step? Here are all the steps involved in building a mathematically perfect snowman!
1. Start by researching the weather
Your snowman will only last as long as the weather allows, so start the process by encouraging your kids to research the weather, including the type of snow you have. Looking ahead into the weather forecast is a good starting point, since snow will melt at temperatures above freezing. You can help your kids learn about how water and ice freeze and melt at different temperatures, which gives them more insight into their environment and the world around them. Plus, it helps them estimate how long their snowman is likely to last!
2. Consult the golden ratio
To get started, you need the help of algebra – specifically, something called the golden ratio. The golden ratio is a mathematical formula that tells us exactly what makes the most beautiful proportions. It’s frequently found in nature and is seen in flowers, snail shells, trees, and even hurricanes! So what is it? The ratio works out to 1:1.618 – and you can use it to build the ideal snowman.
3. Start rolling!
After you’re rugged up in your winter coat and snow boots, head out into the yard and get ready to roll! While making snowballs is in no way an exact science, you can do your best to roll your snowballs (three, ideally), using the golden ratio.
Your base snowball should be the largest, since it needs to support the weight of the other two snowballs on top of it. If you measure your snowball in feet using the golden ratio, try to make your base snowball 1.6 feet in diameter, but your second snowball one foot in diameter. The third snowball, of course, should be even smaller – your kids can try to calculate this using the golden ratio. You don’t need to get it perfect, but it’s a fun and challenging way to help kids make the best snowman possible!
4. Stack your snowballs with care
How do you properly build a snowman? The key to getting your snowman looking good is stacking your snowballs together properly. Rolling the snow into snowballs is the easy part, but actually building your snowman can be harder. You and the kids want to take great care when stacking the snowballs on top of one another, especially if the snow is powdery and likely to crumble apart.
For younger kids, you can turn this into a mini physics experiment. Ask them what might happen if you stack a large, heavy snowball onto a smaller one – will this work or would it all fall apart?
This gets young minds thinking critically about gravity, balance, weight, and mass, and can help them with basic science concepts, even if they’re too young to grasp the concept of the golden ratio.
You can also experiment and play around with the laws of gravity, seeing how various sizes of numbers of snowballs impact the snowman’s stability. This illustrates to kids why six small snowballs stacked together, for example, won’t be anywhere near as stable as two or three snowballs that are lower to the ground.
5. Fire up young imaginations with a snowman decorating challenge
Once you’ve stacked your snowballs together, your snow is now closely resembling a snowman – but it’s not done yet! All snowpeople need some finishing touches, including eyes, a nose, a smile, and maybe a scarf or some arms.
As an added bit of fun, send the children on a scavenger hunt around the house or yard, looking for household items or elements of nature that can be used to decorate the snowman. Sure, a traditional carrot works as a nose, but what about a stick, a potato, or even a tree branch? This will fire up their imagination and creativity, encouraging kids to think outside the box and come up with new ideas.
Once you’ve finished, be sure to take a photo of your beautiful creation! And if you want to encourage more math and science fun throughout the winter break, these at-home science experiments are a great starting point.
Wait, what if I don’t have any snow?
Not every household has the luxury of snowy winters, but not to worry – you can still create educational opportunities even without snow. You can use arts and crafts to educate kids about the golden ratio, building “snowmen” out of clay or Play-Doh, or even just drawing a snowman on paper and measuring out the circles with a ruler.
Who knew building a snowman could be so fun (and educational)? With this guide, you can turn an afternoon in the snow into a learning opportunity for kids of any age, helping them learn more about math, algebra, weather, and science.
Featured image by Josue Michel on Unsplash