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    • It may be winter and school holiday time, but that doesn’t mean the learning and having fun with science has to stop.

    Our team has lots of ideas on how to keep your tamariki occupied, whether you’re stuck indoors or you are outdoors making the most of the winter weather.

    NIWA’s Christian Zammit measures snow depth in Christchurch.
    Rights: Nelson Boustead, NIWA

    Measuring snow

    NIWA’s Christian Zammit measures snow depth in Christchurch. The difference between wet and dry snow for a given depth can be as much as 500 kg per cubic metre.

    Event ideas

    Aotearoa New Zealand’s winter school holidays are nearly with us and if you’re looking for inspiration – we’ve got it covered with our winter school holiday 2024 event listing. There is a wide variety of events and ideas for places to visit.

    Events to celebrate Matariki are also being held all around Aotearoa during June and July and we have a range of events listed.

    If we’ve missed any events or activities, please do email us, we’d love to hear about your favourite places and cold weather activities.

    Child's wearing blue trousers & gumboots puddle splashing
    Rights: alenka2194/123RF Ltd

    Winter fun

    School holiday fun doesn’t have to cost money. There are many ways to keep children occupied and learning from nature walks to kitchen science.

    Activities at home

    Science learning never stops and winter is no excuse – try some of these fab science ideas and activities from our Winter science Pinterest board.

    If you want to continue the learning at home, see our Learning science from home Pinterest board for ideas. To get the most out of the activities, check out the article Learning science from home – ideas to deepen learning before you begin. Science is about discovery, curiosity and observation. Two key outcomes of any activity can simply be enjoyment and the conversations that arise from the experience.

    Adult and child with computer, colourful pens and 2 food bowls
    Rights: Dinis Tolipov, 123RF Ltd

    Science at home

    Science is everywhere and there are lots of simple science activities that require few resources but are enhanced when a willing helper joins in with the process.

    Early nights are great for time to try one of our astronomy activities. The wetter weather also means you could learn more about our amazing native fungi.

    Below are just a few of our favourite activities to do at home.

    Browse our site for more ideas and inspiration or get in touch.

    Our 2020 Winter science – both indoors and out newsletter has ideas on how to engage your tamariki in authentic science practices via ecological monitoring in your own backyard.

    Stay in touch

    If you have enjoyed any of these events, activities and/or ideas, and have put up a social media post about it, why not tag us on one of our social media accounts? We love seeing science fun in action.

    Noho ora mai

    Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao

    Published 5 July 2021, Updated 19 June 2024 Referencing Hub articles
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