Make a snow globe

Snow globes are a great way of sharing the fun of Christmas with friends and family. Can you make your own snow globe with just a few items from around your home?

Activity: make a snow globe

This activity is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology and Engineering.

In this activity, learners will make a snow globe using a jam jar, glitter and a few other items from around the home. They will assemble the snow globe and check how well it functions.

This exercise could be used as a one-off main lesson activity to build knowledge and understanding of product assembly in Design & Technology. Alternatively, it could be used to introduce the concept of viscosity in Science.

Materials you will need

• A jam jar and lid
• plastic glitter
• a Christmas decoration or ornament
• glue gun and glue stick
• glycerine (or light corn syrup)

Instructions

Step 1 - Glue the bottom of the decoration or ornament to the inside of the jam jar lid using a hot glue gun. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before assembling the snow globe. ⚠
Step 2 - Fill the jam jar almost to the top with water, add a small amount of glycerine (from 5ml to 250ml), add a good-sized pinch of glitter and stir. The higher the proportion of glycerine, the slower the snow will fall, although too much will cause the snow to ‘clump’ together.
Step 3 - Add glue around the rim of the jam jar and attach the lid. Make sure that it is securely fitted and watertight.
Step 4 - Give your snow globe a shake. Shaking the snow globe should result in the glitter spreading around inside and then slowly falling like snow!

Notes

If a glue gun is unavailable, other household glue can be used, as long as it is waterproof and can stick the ornament to the jam jar lid.

The Christmas decoration or ornament should be small enough to fit into the jam jar and be made from waterproof material, such as plastic.

Glycerine can be found in most pharmacies or supermarkets. It helps the glitter to suspend in the water, resulting in a better snow globe effect. Corn syrup can be used if this is unavailable, but the effect will not be as pronounced or impressive!

The engineering context

Design and manufacturing engineers must be able to make prototypes for their products using appropriate tools, equipment and techniques.

Suggested learning outcomes

By the end of this activity, students will be able to assemble a snow globe using a jam jar, and they will be able to understand how a snow globe works.

Download the free activity sheet below!

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable so that you can tailor them to your students and your schools’ needs.

The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, helpful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Oh ho ho, please share your finished snow globes with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM