What your child will discover
Help the child distinguish snow, ice, and hail. Teach that snow forms from ice crystals in clouds, ice forms when liquid water freezes, and hail grows inside thunderstorms.
Lesson 154 of 300
What Are Snow, Ice, and Hail?
Explore different forms of frozen water and learn that cold, slippery surfaces, falling hail, and frozen water areas can create hazards.
3–4 yearsWorld, Shapes & CommunityAdult guided
World, Shapes & Community · KnowledgeForKids.com
Listen together · adult controls the audio
The spoken lesson
"Snow, ice, and hail are forms of frozen water. Snow begins as ice crystals in clouds. The crystals may join into snowflakes and fall. Ice forms when liquid water freezes into a solid. It can make roads and paths slippery. Hail grows inside thunderstorms when strong rising air carries water into very cold parts of a cloud. Hail may fall even during warm weather. Walk slowly on icy ground and stay away from frozen water areas. Go indoors when hail falls. Tell your caregiver when you feel cold, wet, numb, or uncomfortable. Snow falls softly, ice makes surfaces slippery, and hail means shelter." DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: Use three clearly separated weather processes. Avoid dangerous ice play, skating challenges, hail collection, frozen-lake walking, or severe cold injury.
Words to notice together
SNOWICEHAILFREEZEMELTSLIPPERYCOLDGO INSIDE
Make it real
Pause, point, name what you notice, and connect the idea to something familiar in your child's day. Repetition, a calm voice, shared attention and dependable care matter more than finishing quickly.