"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?" ~ Job 38:22a


SNOW FACTS:
* The world record for the deepest snowfall within 24 hours is ---------- 6 feet 4 inches (19 meters) at Silver Creek, Colarado, on April 14 & 15, 1921.
* The world's record for a single snowfall is 24 feet 7-1/2 inches after a five day snow-storm in Thompson's Pass, Alaska, from December 26 to December 31, 1855.

Catch a falling SNOWFLAKE:
Did you know that every single snowflake is different from any other snowflake? A man named "Snowflake" Bently spent most of his life looking at and photographing them and never found two alike. Scientists explain this by saying that snowflakes are made up of millions of parts. There are, however, seven basic snowflake shapes. Each snowflake is a variation of one of the shapes. Some are quite different from the pinwheel shape that we usually associate with the "traditional" snowflake. If you don't believe this fact ~ catch a few flakes and see for yourself.

You will need
*A piece of dark fabric (velvet or felt is best). Or use a piece of black construction paper.
* A piece of cardboard about the same size and a magnifying glass.
* Put the cloth on top of the cardboard to make a "snowflake catcher".
* Chill your "snowflake catcher" in the freezer before you use it so that the snowflakes won't melt as soon as they land on it. When you hold it out, try to catch a few small snowflakes at a time. You don't need many.
* Now take a look at them through your magnifying glass.

HINTS for PARENTS ~ This is easiest during a warm snowfall (near 32 degrees Fahrenheit) when the flakes are particularly big and fluffy, you may not even need a magnifying glass). Remind the child to look fast ~ snow does melt!

For a young child who has never seen the makeup of a snowflake before, this is a fascinating experience. Explain how, despite their size, snowflakes are the building blocks of snowmen and snow forts and snow balls. Let him or her look at snowflake after snowflake in an effort to find two that are alike.
Seeing is believing!
Later on, in the warmth of your home, children can draw the snowflakes they've seen. Or show them how to cut out snowflakes by folding paper four or six times and then cutting designs in it (with safety scissors). When it opens it's a permanent snowflake.

Make a SNOW GUAGE:
During the next snowstorm, use a snow guage to check out how much snow falls in your yard.
You will need
*A 2-or 3-pound coffee can, a felt marker pen (one with permanent ink in it), and a ruler.
* Make a line inside the coffee can for each inch (or centimeter) and label the lines 1, 2, 3, and so on, from the bottom up.
* When it starts snowing, put the can out on the ground away from trees, buildings, and fences.
Check to see how many inches (or centimeters) of snow has fallen when the snowstorm is over, or after a 24-hour period.

ESKIMO SNOW GOGGLES:
Be the first kid on your block to make Eskimo Snow Goggles.
The snow is extra bright when sun shines on it because snow reflects light. Your Eskimo snow goggles will cut the glare.

To Make:
* You will need heavy cardboard (a shirt cardboard is good).
* A piece of string about 3 feet long (one meter).
* Sharp pointed scissors: A pencil and a ruler.

Directions:
* Cut out a piece of cardboard 6-inches (15 centimeters) long and 2-inches (5 centimeters) high. Hold it up to your face and have a friend or parent carefully mark with a pencil exactly where your eyes are.
* Using a ruler and a pencil, draw two slits about 1-1/2 inches (4 centimeters) long and about 1/8-inch (.3 centimeters) high, for your eyes.
* Stick the point of scissors blade into the end of an eye slit, and cut the slit out. Cut the other eye slit the same way. Check the position of the slits by holding the cardboard up to your eyes. "Can you see?"
* Now make a notch for your nose and poke two holes on each side of the goggles. Loop one end of the string through the holes on one side and tie it. Loop the other end through the hole on the other side.
* Pull the string end tight when you put your goggles on and then tie it.

When you are wearing your new snow goggles, impress your family and friends by saying some Eskimo words for the kind of snow you see.
"ANLUG" pronounced (an-yook) ~ means -- Snow on the ground.
"NEPCALLUK" pronounced (NEP-cha-luk) ~ means -- Wet sticky snow.
"MECIQAQ" pronounced (Me-CHEE-kak) ~ means -- Water soaked snow.
"QANINERNIQ" pronounced (ka-NEE-ner-rak) ~ means -- Freshly fallen snow.

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SNOW TOPIARY:
Who says that snowmen have to look like the venerable old "Frosty?"
Why not make them in the shape of animals? Then you can have a whole yard full of snow creatures (including Frosty). Roll up huge snowballs as you would to create a basic snowman, then try these:
* Seal ~ Make a nice tapered body. Perhaps balance a snowball on his nose.
* Octopus ~ Use a rock for an eye and sculpt the eight legs out of snow, using more rocks for the suction cups.
* Snow-Elephant ~ Use branches for a trunk, tusks and the tail.
* Snow Turtle ~ Use a trash can top for the back.
* Reindeer ~ Find a nice multi-tiered branch that has fallen from a tree for the antlers.

Decorate your front yard with these critters and you'll be the talk of the town!

"God thundereth marvellously with His voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend...For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His strength." Job 37: 5, 6.

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