Snow, Ice and Everything In Between
Despite winter’s challenges, children embraced the season with curiosity, creativity, and resilience, transforming snow and ice into opportunities for scientific inquiry, joyful play, and deep connection with each other and the natural world.
By Shannon Emery, ECE
The first few weeks back at school have brought a wide range of winter weather, from freezing rain and below-zero sunshine to the fluffy white snow that recently blanketed our neighbourhoods and outdoor spaces. There’s something undeniably magical about water’s ability to flow, pour, splash, and freeze—especially the last of these, which has taken centre stage in our recent explorations.
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Children are naturally drawn to magic in all its forms, and winter has a way of casting an enchanting glow over everyday moments we might otherwise overlook. Of course, winter isn’t without its challenges. Mittens slip off curious hands eager to tinker. Rain finds its way into boots no matter how waterproof the gear. Wind sneaks through the thickest jackets, nipping at any uncovered skin. But despite the discomforts, the children have risen to these challenges with resilience. Once we move past the cold and wet, winter reveals itself as a powerful teacher and a season of rich discovery.
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This season, the children have become…
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Scientists
They pose thoughtful questions and make keen observations:
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“What happens when we hold the ice in our hands? In our gloves?”
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“What if we leave it in the sun?”
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“Why is the creek still running, but the puddles are frozen?”
These questions spark investigations, like noticing the partial ice around a rock and comparing it to other surfaces, gathering clues, and drawing conclusions about how water behaves in different conditions.​
Problem Solvers
When faced with a thick sheet of ice, one child asked, “How are we going to crack this? It’s too thick!”
Another offered a solution: “Try throwing the rock really hard, or maybe we can use a stick!
Together, they test theories and adjust strategies, embodying persistence and teamwork.
Communicators and Collaborators
The ice becomes a platform for social learning and connection:“Come over here, let’s play this game together. I’ll teach you how,”
one friend says, rolling shiny silver balls across the frozen surface.
“If you lay on your back, you might catch snowflakes better!”
another suggests, as two children lie side by side, gazing at the sky.
Seekers of Joy
With countdowns and laughter, children sprint into running slides across frozen ground, glide on their bellies, and invent winter games.“Let’s play ice hockey!” one exclaims, placing a small rock on the ice and handing over a stick. The game begins with slippery giggles and cheers.
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Despite the cold, wet, and windy days, what consistently shines through is the wonder, the joy, connection, and learning that emerge when we allow the outdoors to guide us. That’s not to say there aren’t hard days, filled with big feelings, tears, and the occasional wish to be home with a warm blanket and a familiar grownup. Those moments are part of the early years experience too, and we honour them just as much.
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All of these experiences—scientific inquiry, collaborative play, emotional resilience, and pure delight, weave together into the beautiful tapestry of a winter day in the life of a little Sapling. Out in the cold, together, we discover just how warm and full of possibility this season can be.