Make the most of the season's first snowfall with a snowflake study!
Objectives
Students will
create original snowflakes from paper.
collect authentic snowflakes on paper.
examine and compare snowflakes.
Keywords
snow, winter, snowflake
Materials Needed
a snowy day (optional)
white paper
scissors
black construction paper
magnifying glasses (optional)
microscope and slides (optional)
Lesson Plan
Take advantage of a "teachable moment" when the first snow falls in your town and show your students the amazing array of patterns snowflakes display. Introduce this activity by distributing white paper and scissors and asking students to create a snowflake. You may give simple instructions, but encourage the students to make their own unique designs. (If you need a few snowflake samples to refresh your memory, check out Snowflake Patterns for Kids.)
Once the snowflakes have been cut, have the students open them up and compare their shapes and sizes. How are the snowflakes similar and different? Discuss the students' findings. Like the students' snowflakes, real snowflakes are also unique. Share some snow facts:
Snowflakes have different shapes, but most consider the six-pointed star a true "snowflake."
Like people, although snowflakes may be similar, no two are exactly alike.
Now put on coats and hats and go outdoors. Pass out pages of black paper for the students to use as "snowflake catchers" and magnifying glasses (if you choose). Have the students catch a few snowflakes in midair and compare them. Allow the students to compare their snowflakes with those of class members. As they investigate the snowflakes, ask them to count the sides of the flakes and identify any that appear to match. For a more in-depth study of snowflakes, your students may use microscopes and "save" snowflakes on slides with hair spray. Studying Snowflakes has the details.
Upon wrapping up the outdoor activities, discuss the students' observations. How many sides did today's snowflakes have? How many students found similar flakes? How were they different?
Assessment
Assessment will be accomplished through observation of the student investigations and their participation in discussion.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Cara Bafile
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts GRADES K - 4 NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines GRADES 5 - 8 NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes NA-VA.5-8.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
SCIENCE GRADES K - 4 NS.K-4.1 Science as Inquiry NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science GRADES 5 - 8 NS.5-8.1 Science as Inquiry NS.5-8.4 Earth and Space Science
