The Fun Way to make a Snowman

Snow is really ice, shaped into tiny crystals. Most of the time the snowflake is made up of many of these tiny ice crystals stuck together. Like raindrops, snowflakes begin as water vapour in a cloud. When a cloud is very cold this water vapour changes into ice crystals.

If you could look at a snowflake under a microscope you would see that each crystal has a beautiful six-spoke shape which is usually symmetrical. A scientist, Wilson Snowflake Bentley, took over 6,000 photographs of individual snow crystals between 1880 and his death in 1931. No two snowflakes were alike.

• Snow is a form of precipitation like rain and sleet.
• To snow the temperature must be below 32 degrees.
• Snowflakes actually start as tiny ice crystals that form from water vapour that freezes in the atmosphere.
• The size of a snowflake depends on how many ice crystals connect together.
• Each snowflake is made up of about 200 ice crystals.
• Snowflakes have six sides.
• There is no scientific proof that no two snowflakes are exactly alike.
• On average snowflakes fall from the sky at 3-4 miles per hour.

• Close to 80% of the worlds fresh water supply comes from snow and ice.
• Snow is not actually white but clear. Snow looks white because of the way the light reflects off of the ice crystals.
• Thunder snow is when it snows while it is thunder and lightning.
• On average there are around 105 snowstorms a year that hit the US.
• Heavy snowfalls are called snowstorms.
• Heavy snowfalls with high winds over 35 miles per hour with limited visibility are called blizzards.
• Billions of snowflakes fall is every snowstorm.
• The largest snowman was 122 feet tall. It was built-in Maine in 2008.
• The most popular activity for kids to do in the snow is to build a snowman.

SO LET'S GO AND MAKE A SNOWMAN GUYS

The first thing you need to do before you make a snow man in your back garden is to wrap up warm. As enjoyable as making a snow man is it is also pretty cold work.

Be sure to have some suitable footwear. Wellington boots would be the best for your feet as they are waterproof and will keep your feet warm.

Heavy duty gloves are also important as you will be handling the snow and eventually, if your hands are not protected you may experience discomfort. You want to enjoy your experience of making a snow man so please be sure and wear the correct clothing.

A warm hat is also advisable for the cold weather. So now you are all wrapped up let’s get started on making our snow man.

• Well the first thing we need to make a Snow Man is Snow.
• We also need a shovel to gather the Snow.
• A bucket or large container to collect the Snow.
• Two thin pieces of wood or twigs for the Snow Man’s arms.
• A carrot for the Snow Man’s nose.
• Two small stones or large buttons for the Snow Man’s eyes.
• A woollen hat to keep the Snow Man warm.
• A small twig for the Snow Man’s mouth.
• A scarf for the Snow Man’s neck.
• A Warm pair of Snow Gloves for Yourself.

• Gather up the snow either with your bucket and shovel or another good way is to start off with a small ball of snow and keep rolling until you have a medium sized ball. Do not make the mistake of making your ball of snow too big as it will be too heavy to pick up. You would be surprised how heavy snow can be so be careful when you are lifting the rolls of snow.
• Make a marker on the ground where you wish to place your Snow Man.
• Start to gather the snow either with your bucket or by rolling and start to place it in your marker on the ground. Start to build the body of the Snow Man. As you place each layer of Snow be sure to keep patting the snow down as this binds the snow together and makes the Snow Man stronger so he/she will not thaw out to quickly. Continue building the body of the Snow Man until you are happy with the height. This step takes the most effort as it is the body of the Snow Man that takes most of the snow. Remembering to keep patting as you add each layer of Snow.
• When you are happy with the size of the body of your Snow Man continue to the next step, attaching the Snow Mans head.

• When you are happy with the size of your Snow Man’s body the next step is to build your Snow Man’s head.
• The best way to do the head is to start off with a small ball of snow and roll along the ground until you have a ball of snow big enough to use as your Snow Man’s head. Again keep patting the ball of snow as you roll so as to slow down the thawing out process.
• When you have a ball big enough for the Snow Man’s head place it on top of the body. It helps if you place some loose snow between the body and the head, this helps the two parts bind together and prevents the head from sliding off.
• Place the two thin twigs at each side of the body for your Snow Man’s arms.
• Put the two flat stones in place to use as the eyes and the carrot is your Snow Man’s nose.
• Lastly put the hat and scarf on your Snow Man so as to keep him/her warm

Unfortunately Snow Men do not last forever. The more you compact the snow while building the body of your Snow Man the longer he/she will last.

It was such a happy experience building a Snow Man in my back garden with the help of my grandson, Brandyn.

We had a great time organising and gathering all the things we needed to make our Snow Man. We also made sure we were wrapped up nice and warm. I bought my Snow gloves on Amazon and also my Snow boots to help against the cold. You need to be comfortable so you can enjoy building your Snow Man.

We enjoyed having our Snow Man in the back garden and he lasted for approx two weeks before thawing out. We had the snow well compacted which allowed us to slow down the thawing out process of our Snow Man.

The Snow Queen

Once upon a time a magician made a magic mirror. It was a mirror of opposites. If a kind face looked into the mirror, a wicked face looked back. If a loving look was cast at the mirror, a look of hate was reflected.

One day the mirror broke. If a sliver of glass from the mirror entered someone's eye, that person became evil; if another sliver pierced a heart, that heart grew hard and cruel.

Two children, Karl and Gerda, were very close friends. One evening Karl was watching the snow fall when he noticed a white flake slowly turn into a beautiful ice maiden. Karl was startled to hear the ice maiden speak his name. He didn't know he was looking at the Snow Queen.

Spring came and one afternoon, as Karl and Gerda looked at a book, the little boy told her, “I feel a pain in my heart! And something's pricking my eye!”

“Don't worry,” said Gerda comfortingly. “I don't see anything!”

But, unfortunately, splinters from the shattered mirror had pierced the little boy. Now he was under an evil spell. Because of this, he snapped at his best friend, “You're so ugly!”

Ripping two roses from her rosebush, he ran off. From that day on, Karl turned into a very nasty boy, and nobody knew what had happened to cause this. Only Gerda still loved him, though all she got in return were insults and angry words.

Winter came again, bringing far more snow than anyone could remember. One day, just after going outdoors to play in the snow, Karl saw the beautiful maiden he had seen before. She was coming toward him wrapped in a luxurious white fur coat. She stood in front of him and told him to tie his sled to her own, which was drawn by a white horse, and they sped away.

Suddenly, the great sled soared into the sky and through the clouds. Stretched out on his own little sled, Karl didn't dare move a muscle for fear of falling into space. At last, they came to a halt on a huge white plain, dotted with lots of sparkling frozen lakes.

“Come into my arms,” said the Snow Queen, opening her soft fur coat. “Come and keep warm!”

Karl allowed himself to be hugged by the unknown maiden, and a chill ran up his spine as two icy lips touched his forehead. The Snow Queen kissed him again, and in an instant, the little boy forgot all about Gerda and his past life and fell into a deep sleep.

In the meantime, Gerda was anxiously searching for Karl, but no one had seen him. Finally, she went down to the river. “Great River,” she said, “please tell me if you've seen Karl or if you've carried him away! I'll give you these, if you do!” And she threw her shoes into the river.

But the river's swift current paid no attention to her and just swept the shoes back to the bank. Not far away stood an old boat and Gerda climbed into it. As she drifted with the current, she pleaded, “Great River, take me to Karl.”

As night fell, she stopped by a riverbank carpeted with all kinds of colourful flowers. After resting, she went into the forest. Although she did not know how she would ever find her friend, a mysterious voice inside her told her to be brave. After wandering for hours, Gerda stopped, tired and hungry. A crow flapped out from a hollow tree. “Caw! Caw! If you're looking for Karl,” it said, “I know where he is! I saw him with the Snow Queen on her sled in the sky!”

“And where is her kingdom?” Gerda asked the crow.

“In Lapland, where all is icy cold. That reindeer over there might take you!”

Gerda ran over to the big reindeer, threw her arms around his neck, and, laying her cheek against his soft muzzle, said, “Please help me to find my friend!”

The reindeer's kindly eyes told her that he would, and she climbed onto his back. They travelled 'till they came to the frozen tundra, lit by the fiery glow of the Northern Lights.

“Karl! Karl! Where are you?” shouted Gerda.

When, at last, she found the little boy, Karl was still in the deep sleep of the wicked spell. Gerda threw her arm around him, and teardrops dripped onto his chest and heart. The tears washed away the slivers of glass, and the evil spell was broken. Karl woke from his long sleep, and when he set eyes on Gerda, he too began to cry. They had found each other again at last, thanks to Gerda's love, and the reindeer carried them home.

From then on, they remained close friends, happily ever after