This week's LIO is all about the magical transformation that happens to water during this time of the year. As everything around us starts to get colder, so does surface water. Thanks to water's molecular structure and polarity, at around 4 degrees Celsius, water actually starts to become lighter and less dense - which is different from almost every other liquid out there that we know of! At 0°C, it freezes as ice on the tops of water sources as it becomes lighter than all the other water surrounding it. What may seem simple is quite remarkable when we think about all the rivers and lakes that may appear completely frozen on the surface, but are actually insulated enough to make a pretty good habitat for fish and other aquatic life below the ice!
The activities below introduce students to a variety of winter topics surrounding the science behind snow and ice and how the ecosystem around us adapts to the cooling temperatures. Be sure to take a look at our Early December Step Outside Guide to read more about The Molecular Magic of Ice and Snow and some of the other happenings during this time of the year!
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