The chief purpose of this activity is to strengthen students' understanding of concepts of floatation such as surface area and pressure (weight per unit area) via snowshoes. Students brainstorm, make predictions, perform calculations, and practice communication skills through interviewing elders and experts. This activity lets students see the marvelous relationship between the structural features of animals and their environment. They also get a better understanding of how humans have become better adapted to their environment by copying animals like the snowshoe hare. Students build their own snowshoes and teachers have the opportunity to introduce American-Indian culture or integrate other social studies themes. (Contains 1 diagram.)