Working collaboratively is one of our learning goals, so the kids worked together in their House Table teams and got to work planning their strategy for building a snow snake track. Some teams made a narrow track and built up the sides to keep the snow snake in line. Other groups flattened the snow first by sliding down on their bellies and created a wider, smoother track. Some groups had a straight track down the hill, whereas others ended up with a track that had a slight turn or several curves. At last, we were ready to test them.
Kids took turns sliding the large snow snake and the smaller, more kid friendly "mudpuppy" version down their tracks to see if the snow snake would stay in the track or get stuck in a turn or jump out of the track altogether. They also wanted to see how far their snow snake traveled. Was the ride smooth or bumpy? What was the obstacle that caused the snow snake to jump the track or stop? With this information from our initial testing, teams went back to modify or reinforce their tracks.
Having observed the testing of all the tracks, groups took inspiration from what worked well in other tracks to make their improvements. After all this effort, kids enjoyed taking turns throwing the snow snake and seeing how far their snake could get. With the cold weather, we've been able to return to the tracks on subsequent days to perfect our throwing technique - kids have been competing to see who can throw the snow snake or the mudpuppy the farthest, marking new "records" in the snow.
It was a satisfying way for the kids to experience the results of their collaborative efforts. Enjoy the pictures below of the track making and the snow snaking!
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