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Snow Day!


With our recent snow day it was there perfect chance to go outside and build a snow fort! At such frigid temperatures it is very important to maintain a suitable temperature safe to stay in. This was our largest task, only being able to use natural material and a 10*10 sheet of plastic, our objective was to be able to create a fort suitable for the crazy temperatures.

The first step was to make an outline in the snow so we knew exactly where to dig. With limited use of material we had to make sure out outline was big enough for a person and small enough to fit under the tarp. After deciding upon measurments you can see Grace begins by carving the outline with her hands.


Once we got our outline we dug out a hole with our hands. Then the next step was to find away to make this snow fort warm enough to live in. What we did was line the base of the fort with shrumbbery from the woods. This served as insulation fo anyone laying inside.


Next, we added sticks for stability.


This is another picture of the sticks and shrubbery intended to retain warmph inside the snow fort. 


This picture shows the size of the fort. Although it is compact it serves a purpose, it helps to retain heat. Our origional plan was to dig a hole going straight down in a very large pile of snow made by the snow plow. We decided against that because it wouldnt be suitable for living. With its size, compactness, insulation and lower level of oxygen this fort was much more suitable for living. 


The last step was to then add the plastic tarp. The tarp was layed over the whole fort. The tarp was instrumental in blocking the wind and keeping out the cold.

 

The fort is now lined with the tarp. I then put one end of each stick through the holes in the tarp, and the other end securely in the ground, mounted together with snow.  Now, the wind was completly blocked by the side of the tarp, and the warmth would be trapped within the fort.



In addition, we added a small place for a fire with our leftover natural material gathered from the woods. The tarp also provided protection for the fire from the wind. 



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