Christmas Winter Science
A family and classroom science board about snow crystals, reindeer, solstice light, evergreen foliage, and candle materials.
The board
Swipe the board sideways · 5 categories
| Snow Crystals | Reindeer Biology | Solstice Light | Evergreen and Deciduous | Candle Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100What falling ice crystal is large enough to descend as snow? | 100Which deer species is also called caribou? | 100Which event occurs when a pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun? | 100What botanical label describes a plant with year-round green foliage? | 100What object embeds an ignitable wick in wax or another flammable solid? |
| 200Which substance forms the crystal itself? | 200Give its scientific name. | 200What alternative adjective names the same solstice? | 200Which plant structure remains green and functional? | 200Which animal-fat material is offered as an alternative to wax? |
| 300What name does the source give the tiny starting particle? | 300What distribution term describes a range around the polar regions? | 300How do daylight and darkness compare on that day in the affected hemisphere? | 300For how long does that structure remain functional according to the definition? | 300Name the wax used for some early candles. |
| 400Which two atmospheric conditions help produce complex shapes? | 400List the three broad world regions named after its habitat types. | 400Which opposite seasonal event occurs simultaneously in the other hemisphere? | 400Which contrasting plant group loses all of its foliage? | 400Why was early beeswax use limited to elite and church settings? |
| 500A display groups flakes only at the broadest level. How many classifications should it provide? | 500A learner assumes only male deer can carry antlers. Which reindeer fact corrects that claim? | 500A two-hemisphere chart needs both usual month-and-date ranges. What should it show? | 500A field note records complete leaf loss outside winter. Which other season named by the source can account for it? | 500A modern materials table needs the petroleum-derived wax named by the source. Which entry belongs there? |
Ages 10 to 14 · 25 of 25 clues written · final round · about 20 minutes
26 of 26 answers carry the sentence they were checked against
Play time assumes about 40 seconds a clue plus three minutes for the final round. Nothing is saved to a server and no account is needed. How answers are checked.
Player sheet
Christmas Winter Science · Ages 10 to 14 · answers are on the host key
Snow Crystals
- 100 What falling ice crystal is large enough to descend as snow?
- 200 Which substance forms the crystal itself?
- 300 What name does the source give the tiny starting particle?
- 400 Which two atmospheric conditions help produce complex shapes?
- 500 A display groups flakes only at the broadest level. How many classifications should it provide?
Reindeer Biology
- 100 Which deer species is also called caribou?
- 200 Give its scientific name.
- 300 What distribution term describes a range around the polar regions?
- 400 List the three broad world regions named after its habitat types.
- 500 A learner assumes only male deer can carry antlers. Which reindeer fact corrects that claim?
Solstice Light
- 100 Which event occurs when a pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun?
- 200 What alternative adjective names the same solstice?
- 300 How do daylight and darkness compare on that day in the affected hemisphere?
- 400 Which opposite seasonal event occurs simultaneously in the other hemisphere?
- 500 A two-hemisphere chart needs both usual month-and-date ranges. What should it show?
Evergreen and Deciduous
- 100 What botanical label describes a plant with year-round green foliage?
- 200 Which plant structure remains green and functional?
- 300 For how long does that structure remain functional according to the definition?
- 400 Which contrasting plant group loses all of its foliage?
- 500 A field note records complete leaf loss outside winter. Which other season named by the source can account for it?
Candle Materials
- 100 What object embeds an ignitable wick in wax or another flammable solid?
- 200 Which animal-fat material is offered as an alternative to wax?
- 300 Name the wax used for some early candles.
- 400 Why was early beeswax use limited to elite and church settings?
- 500 A modern materials table needs the petroleum-derived wax named by the source. Which entry belongs there?
Final round: Seasonal Light
This solstice produces the shortest daylight and longest night in the affected hemisphere.
Host key
Christmas Winter Science · keep this sheet · it carries the answers
Snow Crystals
- 100 What falling ice crystal is large enough to descend as snow? Response: snowflakeChecked against:
A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snowflake&oldid=1362844963 - 200 Which substance forms the crystal itself? Response: iceChecked against:
A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snowflake&oldid=1362844963 - 300 What name does the source give the tiny starting particle? Response: nucleusChecked against:
Each flake begins by forming around a tiny particle, called its nucleus, accumulating water droplets, which freeze and slowly form a crystal.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snowflake&oldid=1362844963 - 400 Which two atmospheric conditions help produce complex shapes? Response: temperature and humidityChecked against:
Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity zones in the atmosphere, and possibly combines with other snowflakes.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snowflake&oldid=1362844963 - 500 A display groups flakes only at the broadest level. How many classifications should it provide? Response: eightChecked against:
However, they may be categorized in eight broad classifications and at least 80 individual variants.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Snowflake&oldid=1362844963
Reindeer Biology
- 100 Which deer species is also called caribou? Response: reindeerChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reindeer&oldid=1364513034 - 200 Give its scientific name. Response: Rangifer tarandusChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reindeer&oldid=1364513034 - 300 What distribution term describes a range around the polar regions? Response: circumpolarChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reindeer&oldid=1364513034 - 400 List the three broad world regions named after its habitat types. Response: Northern Europe, Siberia, and North AmericaChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reindeer&oldid=1364513034 - 500 A learner assumes only male deer can carry antlers. Which reindeer fact corrects that claim? Response: females may have antlersChecked against:
They are unique among deer (Cervidae) in that females may have antlers, although the prevalence of antlered females varies by subspecies.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reindeer&oldid=1364513034
Solstice Light
- 100 Which event occurs when a pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun? Response: winter solsticeChecked against:
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785 - 200 What alternative adjective names the same solstice? Response: hibernalChecked against:
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785 - 300 How do daylight and darkness compare on that day in the affected hemisphere? Response: shortest daylight and longest nightChecked against:
For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785 - 400 Which opposite seasonal event occurs simultaneously in the other hemisphere? Response: summer solsticeChecked against:
The opposite event is the summer solstice, which happens at the same time in the opposite hemisphere.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785 - 500 A two-hemisphere chart needs both usual month-and-date ranges. What should it show? Response: December 21 or 22 in the north and June 20 or 21 in the southChecked against:
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (December 21 or 22) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (June 20 or 21).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785
Evergreen and Deciduous
- 100 What botanical label describes a plant with year-round green foliage? Response: evergreenChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen&oldid=1365500732 - 200 Which plant structure remains green and functional? Response: foliageChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen&oldid=1365500732 - 300 For how long does that structure remain functional according to the definition? Response: throughout the yearChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen&oldid=1365500732 - 400 Which contrasting plant group loses all of its foliage? Response: deciduous plantsChecked against:
This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen&oldid=1365500732 - 500 A field note records complete leaf loss outside winter. Which other season named by the source can account for it? Response: dry seasonChecked against:
This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen&oldid=1365500732
Candle Materials
- 100 What object embeds an ignitable wick in wax or another flammable solid? Response: candleChecked against:
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle&oldid=1355932586 - 200 Which animal-fat material is offered as an alternative to wax? Response: tallowChecked against:
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle&oldid=1355932586 - 300 Name the wax used for some early candles. Response: beeswaxChecked against:
Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle&oldid=1355932586 - 400 Why was early beeswax use limited to elite and church settings? Response: the candles were expensiveChecked against:
Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle&oldid=1355932586 - 500 A modern materials table needs the petroleum-derived wax named by the source. Which entry belongs there? Response: paraffin waxChecked against:
In the modern era, various materials have been developed for candle making, including paraffin wax.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candle&oldid=1355932586
Final round: Seasonal Light
This solstice produces the shortest daylight and longest night in the affected hemisphere. Response: winter solsticeChecked against: For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winter_solstice&oldid=1361072785
Every clue, every answer, and what it was checked against
This is what prints on the host key.
Snow Crystals
What falling ice crystal is large enough to descend as snow? 100
snowflakeChecked against:
A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.
Source, pinned revisionWhich substance forms the crystal itself? 200
iceChecked against:
A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow.
Source, pinned revisionWhat name does the source give the tiny starting particle? 300
nucleusChecked against:
Each flake begins by forming around a tiny particle, called its nucleus, accumulating water droplets, which freeze and slowly form a crystal.
Source, pinned revisionWhich two atmospheric conditions help produce complex shapes? 400
temperature and humidityChecked against:
Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity zones in the atmosphere, and possibly combines with other snowflakes.
Source, pinned revisionA display groups flakes only at the broadest level. How many classifications should it provide? 500
eightChecked against:
However, they may be categorized in eight broad classifications and at least 80 individual variants.
Source, pinned revision
Reindeer Biology
Which deer species is also called caribou? 100
reindeerChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source, pinned revisionGive its scientific name. 200
Rangifer tarandusChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source, pinned revisionWhat distribution term describes a range around the polar regions? 300
circumpolarChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source, pinned revisionList the three broad world regions named after its habitat types. 400
Northern Europe, Siberia, and North AmericaChecked against:
The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
Source, pinned revisionA learner assumes only male deer can carry antlers. Which reindeer fact corrects that claim? 500
females may have antlersChecked against:
They are unique among deer (Cervidae) in that females may have antlers, although the prevalence of antlered females varies by subspecies.
Source, pinned revision
Solstice Light
Which event occurs when a pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun? 100
winter solsticeChecked against:
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
Source, pinned revisionWhat alternative adjective names the same solstice? 200
hibernalChecked against:
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun.
Source, pinned revisionHow do daylight and darkness compare on that day in the affected hemisphere? 300
shortest daylight and longest nightChecked against:
For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky.
Source, pinned revisionWhich opposite seasonal event occurs simultaneously in the other hemisphere? 400
summer solsticeChecked against:
The opposite event is the summer solstice, which happens at the same time in the opposite hemisphere.
Source, pinned revisionA two-hemisphere chart needs both usual month-and-date ranges. What should it show? 500
December 21 or 22 in the north and June 20 or 21 in the southChecked against:
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (December 21 or 22) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (June 20 or 21).
Source, pinned revision
Evergreen and Deciduous
What botanical label describes a plant with year-round green foliage? 100
evergreenChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source, pinned revisionWhich plant structure remains green and functional? 200
foliageChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source, pinned revisionFor how long does that structure remain functional according to the definition? 300
throughout the yearChecked against:
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year.
Source, pinned revisionWhich contrasting plant group loses all of its foliage? 400
deciduous plantsChecked against:
This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season.
Source, pinned revisionA field note records complete leaf loss outside winter. Which other season named by the source can account for it? 500
dry seasonChecked against:
This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season.
Source, pinned revision
Candle Materials
What object embeds an ignitable wick in wax or another flammable solid? 100
candleChecked against:
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.
Source, pinned revisionWhich animal-fat material is offered as an alternative to wax? 200
tallowChecked against:
A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance.
Source, pinned revisionName the wax used for some early candles. 300
beeswaxChecked against:
Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches.
Source, pinned revisionWhy was early beeswax use limited to elite and church settings? 400
the candles were expensiveChecked against:
Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches.
Source, pinned revisionA modern materials table needs the petroleum-derived wax named by the source. Which entry belongs there? 500
paraffin waxChecked against:
In the modern era, various materials have been developed for candle making, including paraffin wax.
Source, pinned revision
Final round
This solstice produces the shortest daylight and longest night in the affected hemisphere.
winter solsticeChecked against:
For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky.
Source, pinned revision
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