Take the chill out of winter with these outdoor activities using twigs. Collect a few tree branches and other natural materials. Then have fun with STEM on a snow day.
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Fun in the snow starts with snowmen and snow forts and sleds. These traditional activities are generally top of the list when it snows, but the fun doesn’t stop there!
Imagine other fun ways to take advantage of the outdoors on a snow day, like playing with twigs! I have a few ideas to share in this post to get you thinking about snow in creative ways.
If you don’t have snow where you live, or access to natural materials, you can do some of these activities using artificial twigs and white homemade playdough .
Winter STEM with Twigs
Snow is a perfect platform for fine motor STEM activities. Kids can play games, build structures, and create, all with natural materials.
Start by collecting twigs, leaves, small stones, pine cones and other items found in nature. This might require a walk around the neighborhood to get a good variety of material.
1. Make a picture frame with twigs.
Fill the frame with the natural materials you collected.
Is your frame a square or a rectangle?
How many different items are in your picture?
2. Build structures in the snow with twigs.
Place small branches at four corners, then support other twigs and leaves across the top and sides of the corner posts.
Can your structure support a roof?
Are your using bent sticks or straight sticks?
3. Play tic-tac-toe in the snow with twigs.
Use stones for the noughts and two small twigs to make the crosses.
What letter did you make with the sticks?
How many stones do you have in a row?
4. Draw in the snow with a twig.
Make the letters in your name. Draw a face or an animal.
Can you draw a circle in the snow?
What animal did you make?
5. Make body shapes in the snow with twigs.
Lay on your back. Press arms and legs firmly into the snow. Stand up.
Place twigs or branches in your arms and legs and feet.
Can you find a branch as long as your arm?
Does the branch have little twigs on the end that might look like fingers?
Winter activities with twigs
Take advantage of the winter season to get creative with kids activities, and support learning skills.
Snow games with twigs build imaginations and fine motor skills. You might have to remove your mittens to really get into the fun!
