Ice on the Bucket

The night the temperatures get cold enough to freeze water on and in the plants marks a huge change for everyone living outside. Animals trapped under ice for the winter are protected from below zero temperatures while those above ground need to be ready for the extreme cold of winter.

dots on maps show where
this event has already been seen

This page is under construction.
Ants and Birds will be completed in early September.
Jackets, Ice, and the First Snow will follow.

Ice is forming on buckets in
School Town Date Observer Comments
Shell Lake
Shell Lake
 9/30
Paula B.
.
Wolf Ridge
Finland
 10/1
Sarah
.
Sawtooth
Grand Marais
 10/1
Will
.
North Shore
Two Harbors
10/2
6th grade
.
Northfield M.S.
Northfield
10/16
Mick H.
.
St. Mary's
Morris
10/29
Mrs. Riedner's 2nd grade
.

What to look for:

As the weather cools, your class will want to establish your "official ice-on bucket." Fill the bucket almost full of water and leave it outdoors in a spot it can remain. Ask students to check it when they arrive each morning. The day that the bucket is covered (a solid skim) with ice is your official "ice on" date.

Why don't lakes freeze solid to the bottom?

Do lakes all over the country freeze?

Cool Facts

Ice and Frozen Water on the Web