Junior Scholars December 2022: Winter

Winter is coming...December 21st marks the winter solstice, also known as the shortest day and longest night of the year. It's the astronomical start of winter, which has to do with the position of the Earth in its annual journey around the sun.  If the winter weather isn't great for outside activities, take the opportunity to chill out and spend time indoors doing what makes you happy.  You can get some ideas from the books and activities below, and you can also join us for a program or two!

#READ: The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer

Book cover for The Shortest Day

Describes how and why daylight grows shorter as winter approaches, the effect of shorter days on animals and people, and how the winter solstice has been celebrated throughout history.

Questions to think about while you read:

  • We learn that in winter, animals grow thicker fur and some eat food they stored in the fall. What do you and your family do to prepare for the season of winter?
  • On or around December 21, in late afternoon, pay attention to your shadow. What does it look like (is it long or short)? What time does the sun set and darkness begin?
  • What is your favorite cultural observation of the Shortest Day as described in the book? Why?

#PLAY: Can You Draw a Snowman?

Drawing of a snowman

Everyone knows how to draw a snowman, right? What if players don't know that's the object of the game? To play, you need one person who will provide instructions to other players, and shhh...don't tell them what they're drawing!

Supplies:

  • Bandana or blindfold for each participant
  • Sheets of white paper
  • Drawing implements: crayons, markers, or pencils

Instructions:

  1. Participants are blindfolded, and receive a sheet of paper and a drawing implement.
  2. Participants are told to draw the following:
    1. Draw a small circle at the top of the paper.
    2. Draw a bigger circle under the small one.
    3. Draw the biggest circle under the middle one.
    4. Draw three buttons in the middle circle.
    5. Draw two eyes, a mouth, and a carrot nose in the top circle.
    6. On top of the smallest circle, draw a hat.
    7. Draw stick arms coming out of the middle circle.
    8. Draw a broomstick attached to one of the stick arms.
  3. Have everyone remove their blindfolds and share their creations. They can have a laugh over the results, or points can be awarded to those who came close to drawing a complete snowman. For example, give three points for any snowman with all three circles in the right place, two points for eyes, mouth, and nose in the top circle, and one point for each arm. You can determine the point values before playing the game, and the player who ends with the highest score wins.

#EXPLORE: Pinecone Snowy Owls

A pair of snowy owls made out of pinecones and craft supplies

Supplies:

  • Pinecones
  • Felt: white, beige, and orange
  • Cotton balls
  • Googly eyes: 1 set per owl
  • Glue
  • Scissors

Instructions:

  1. Gather pinecones. If they are wet, allow to air dry fully.
  2. Pull apart cotton balls and stuff cotton into the pinecone. No glue is needed. Work your way around the pinecone, and allow the cotton to be fluffy to look like feathers.
  3. Cut wings and the area around eyes out of white felt. Use photo as a guide.
  4. Cut the head out of beige felt, using photo as a guide.
  5. Cut a triangle beak out of orange felt.
  6. Glue the googly eyes to the white felt cutout and glue that piece to the beige head cutout. Glue the beak between the white and beige cutout. When dry, glue the head to the narrow end of the pinecone.
  7. Glue wings to the side of the pinecone.

If desired, use natural elements like sticks and moss to create a habitat for your owl(s), or glue a string loop to the back and hang them like they're flying. To learn more about snowy owls, check out Mark Wilson's The Snowy Owl Scientist.

From Easy Peasy and Fun

#JOIN: Attend a program virtually or in person!  

View all school-age programs and events offered this month.

For virtual programs, registration is required to receive the Zoom link; use the link in the program information to register.

For in-person programs, registration is required; if space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register.

#KEEP READING: For more books about winter, check these out:

 

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