Avalanche Experiment - A Dab of Glue Will Do

Winter is an exciting time of year! We enjoy all of the holidays and all the fun we have playing in the snow. During the winter months, how could we not talk about the weather? This season brings in the chill along with the snow. We play games in the snow and make so many projects that involve slush, snowflakes, and ice.

So if we’re able to make a connection between this season and science, our students will love learning and see the way the weather affects the world around us.

We kick off the season with our fascinating December Science Experiments and research about reindeers with our reindeer facts animal study. Keeping with our winter theme, we have a blast with our Crystal Balls Science Experiment. Students of all age levels are enthralled watching their crystals grow.

Winter themed activities are a great way to get our little scientist learning without realizing they’re learning.

Our students learn so much through observation and investigation, so I’ve created another way to connect winter and science. This Avalanche Experiment helps our students to understand how avalanches occur and the science behind them in a hands-on way.

Want even more ways to integrate science into your winter lessons? Be sure to take a look at our STEM Winter Activities.

Supply list for Avalanche Experiment:

Avalanche Experiment instructions, the science behind the experiment, and questions for students (scroll down to download!)
Large tray
Cornmeal
Flour
Sugar
Small rocks
Small figurines
Books
Ruler or protractor
Sifter

Getting the Avalanche Experiment Ready:

Before starting the Avalanche Experiment I like to glue the rocks down on the tray using a glue gun. This will help to give your experiment a more realistic appearance. It will also give students the opportunity to observe the role that rocks and trees play in preventing avalanches.

Making the Avalanche Experiment:

Our students are fascinated with the enormousness of avalanches! This is a great way for students to compare and contrast as they discuss the different types of snow and how the snow slides down depending on the slope of the mountain. First, you’ll use the sifter to sprinkle a layer of cornmeal onto the tray. This will be representing early snowfall.

Next, students will sprinkle flour onto the tray. The flour represents softer, larger snow. Once you have a nice layer of larger snow students will then sprinkle the tray with sugar. The sugar represents the crusty top layer of snow. After all the layers of snow have been added students will arrange small figurines onto the tray.

To get this freebie, use the ‘click here to download’ button at the bottom of this page.

To create the avalanche affect a book is placed under one end of the tray. Students can keep adding books to increase the slope until the flour slides down the “mountain” causing an avalanche. When preparing for the avalanche experiment our little learners are able to develop their hypotheses, make observations, and then record their results about the angle of the tray that resulted in the avalanche.

To differentiate for younger students you can be the one to add the different layers of snow and place the books while your kids observe and wait in anticipation for the avalanche to occur.

Want More Science Products and Ideas?

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Want more fun STEM activities to do this winter? Check out some of my favorite bloggers.