Our latest DIY snow globe craft is such a fun family activity to do with kids that celebrates the winteriest of winters!
Being stacked, it’s like two snow globes in one. 😍
Which makes it great for showing a North Pole world and a South Pole world like we did here, but of course you can expand on the idea and create whatever scenes you can dream of.
(Here’s the pin on Pinterest to save for later:)
Polar seas & animals are one of our favorite topics to teach kids about…so of course we can’t help but embark on a quick journey to the poles before getting to the DIY!
There’s just something so magical about the coldest extremes of our planet…
The top of our planet in the North, aka the Arctic, is made of the Arctic Ocean surrounded by a ring of land (northern parts of Canada, Russia, Scandinavia, Greenland, and Alaska).
The Arctic Ocean freezes on the surface, with the solid ice spreading or disappearing depending on the season.
Polar bears call this chilly place home, thanks to their layer of blubber and coat of clear, tube-like hair that traps heat.
Other animals, like the Arctic fox, harp seals, narwhals, whales, fish, and Arctic terns live here too. Their range is forever fluctuating depending on the season.
Now, let’s go all the way to the other end of the Earth to the even colder South Pole (Antarctic)!
This is where penguins fly under the sea (but not in the air). 😄
The Antarctic is a land mass (or continent) that’s frozen, and it gets MUCH colder than the Arctic. In fact, it would be too cold for polar bears to live in the Antarctic!
Penguins and leopard seals stick it out in Antarctica over the winter, but during the summer other animals join them like whales and birds.
Both of the poles are actually very important to keeping Earth’s climate the way it is! Ocean currents move heat from the equator to the poles and circulate cooler water too, making Earth’s climate more stable.
For a great visual, this TED-Ed video is one we show to our students to highlight the differences between the Arctic and Antarctic:
(Here’s the TED-Ed lesson link for more: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-arctic-vs-the-antarctic-camille-seaman)
We love these amazing frozen worlds so much that we set them as the starting and ending points for our undersea hide-and-seek adventure in our children’s book Zale’s Tales: The Ocean Seeker.
Spoiler alert: There IS a narwhal in it! 😄
…And a leopard seal…and penguins…and polar bears too…and LOTS more sea life.
Check it out here on Amazon to bring fun ocean wonder to the kids in your life!
Oh, and we have a FREE polar animals activity page and printable ornament! To get them both, check out our post Polar Animals Printable Ornament & Activity Page.
So, now that we’ve gotten our feet wet (ha!), let’s combine the two poles into one fun DIY: a stacked snow globe that features a penguin and a polar bear! Here we go:
Just a heads up, the glue needs to dry for a day or two before filling with water, and also after if you plan on gluing the lid on.
Also, this is meant to be done with adult supervision & help. A “together” project!
You’ll need:
- 2 glass or plastic jars OR 1 jar and 1 snow globe kit (each large enough to hold the toy)
- make sure they stack
- rubber/plastic animal toy for each jar
- we used a polar bear for the North Pole and a penguin for the South Pole
- make sure that the toy will fit into the jar when glued flat to the lid
- small sequins, mini pom poms (craft cotton balls)
- distilled water (distilled keeps it cleaner for longer)
- permanent industrial glue (we used E6000)
- optional: glycerine (makes the items inside fall more slowly – find it in the drugstore)
- optional: plastic caps or lids to prop up the animal toy – we got creative and recycled juice & food container lids
- optional: stick-on letters to spell out North Pole and South Pole (make sure the sheets have enough letters of each) – we used these (and needed 2 packs)
Why no glitter? We prefer not using it, as it easily gets into the environment — especially when washed down the drain or used outside — and can be mistaken for food by animals and causes lots of trouble for them and the food web.
Step 1:
With the industrial glue, glue the caps and toys on the inside of the lids of the jars:
Let the glue dry according to package directions! (Ours said a full cure is 24-72 hours)
Step 2:
Fill the bottom of the jars with sequins and mini pom poms:
Step 3 (optional):
Add a tablespoon or two of glycerine (optional). If you decide to use it, it will make the contents fall more slowly, so don’t be shy with it!
Step 4:
Add distilled water to each of the jars (but not all the way to the top or you’ll spill when you put the lid on).
Then, put the lid on (you may want to glue it on!). Be ready for a little spillage depending on how much you filled the jar.
If you glue the lid on, let it sit upright for the time it takes the glue to cure.
Step 5:
Put glue on each side of the jars that will meet when stacked, and then stack them:
Let the glue dry.
Step 6 (optional add-ons):
Glue any sequins or decorations that you want on the outside of the jars, and stick on any letters to spell out the North Pole and South Pole. (Remember, polar bears are in the North; penguins are in the South!)
Be careful with your masterpiece. Hope you enjoyed the journey and have a happy winter!
Disclaimer: All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.