Winter Wonder: Where Science Meets Friendship in the Snow

This month on Kodo Community we are discussing outdoor play-based learning in winter conditions which makes, Making a Friend by Allison McGhee, a great pick for our Book of the Month.   

In this story, our main character recognizes the signs of fall changing into winter anticipating the arrival of snow and the friend that snow will bring. Our character lovingly creates their snowman friend, paying attention to their features and even what they wear, a gifted red hat. We can intermingle information about earth and space science with the social story of making a friend. 

Creating a Snowman: The Beauty of Earth’s Seasons and Science

Beyond the social story of making a friend, this narrative offers an opportunity to weave in fascinating earth and space science concepts. The changes in the seasons, as experienced by our character, are caused by the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun. Our geographical location on earth gives us information about when we experience the changes of the seasons. This tilt is what causes the seasons to change, and it’s why winter feels so much colder than summer.

As winter approaches, the character anticipates the arrival of snow, which is created when the temperature drops below freezing, allowing water vapor in the clouds to freeze into snowflakes. Each snowflake that falls is unique, and the process of snow formation is a perfect example of the beauty and complexity of nature. The more we understand the science behind snow, the more we can appreciate the magic of it. When we build a snowman, we’re participating in the seasons, the temperature changes, and the nature of snowflakes.

A Friend in the Snow: The Story of Connection and Creativity

But it’s not just about the science. Our story reminds us of the value of connection. By creating a snowman, our character is engaging in an act of creativity and companionship. The snowman, though made of snow and ice, takes on life through the thoughtful actions of the creator—just like how friendships are often built with care and attention. When children reach out to others, whether through a smile, a kind gesture, or a shared experience, children are developing crucial gains in their social and emotional development.

This idea of building a friend out of snow could also be seen as a metaphor for the way relationships are formed. Just as the snowman has a solid base of snow to give it structure, a friendship needs a foundation of trust and shared experiences. Adding the red hat and carefully shaping the snowman’s features reflects the little things we do to nurture a relationship—thoughtfulness, understanding, and care.

Check out some materials you might pair with this book to extend the learning!

Environment: 

The environmental setup is simple, snow and loose parts! Our education team had a snowstorm that produced 16 inches of snow that we played in for almost the entire month of January. How much snow have you had in your area? 

Materials: 

Choose materials that will get children exploring new ways to 'make a friend' with the snow. At Kodo, we love open-ended loose parts for this very purpose. Here are some of our recommendations for snowy conditions: 

• Rainbow Pegs
• Sensory Play Stones
• Kindness Hearts
• Natural Sorting Stones
• Korxx Building Forms Color Mix
  
  

Earth and Space Vocabulary: 

• Seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
• Cycle 
• Weather
• Snow 
• Ice 
• Temperature 

Social and Emotional Vocabulary: 

• Friend 
• Emotion 
• Facial Features 
• Miss
• Presence  

Share images of how your program builds in the snow on the Community Launch Pad.