Have you every really looked at snowflakes? Real snowflakes up close? Well, that is what Cassie and I did recently after finally getting some snow! (snow has been a precious commodity this winter) Either way this activity is fun to talk about even if you haven't had snow or live in an area with no snow accumulation. Here is a picture of what a snowflake can look like up close. Keep reading to find out how we did this activity and the fabulous book that we read too!
Then we caught snowflakes on the black paper and our mittens. It was a little easier catching them on our dark mittens because our paper would blow about at times!!! We observed lots and lots of beauties! Each snowflake is truly different and it is nice to show this through this activity. C was a little scientest practicing her observation skills.
When we observed the snowflakes we saw all kinds of shapes very similar (but different) to these pictured below. Each snowflake is different depending on the temperature, humidity, wind speed, and how long it takes for the snowflakes to hit the ground. I'm sure if we observed snowflakes each time it snowed they would be different. If you don't have snow you could observe Snowflakes Photographs from a Google Image Search by clicking here. My daughter was fascinated at looking at the pictures too!!!
First we gathered a black piece of construction paper and a magnifying glass. Some sites like Weather Wiz Kids recommend putting the paper in the freezer, but it was a cold enough day for us!
Then we caught snowflakes on the black paper and our mittens. It was a little easier catching them on our dark mittens because our paper would blow about at times!!! We observed lots and lots of beauties! Each snowflake is truly different and it is nice to show this through this activity. C was a little scientest practicing her observation skills.
When we observed the snowflakes we saw all kinds of shapes very similar (but different) to these pictured below. Each snowflake is different depending on the temperature, humidity, wind speed, and how long it takes for the snowflakes to hit the ground. I'm sure if we observed snowflakes each time it snowed they would be different. If you don't have snow you could observe Snowflakes Photographs from a Google Image Search by clicking here. My daughter was fascinated at looking at the pictures too!!!
An excellent kid's book to go with this activity is
Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs. It is a true story about a man, Wilson Bentley, whom they called "Snowflake Man". Wilson Bentley was obsessed with taking pictures of snowflakes in the late 1800's and early 1900's. He was the first to do this and had a true passion for doing this. He published a book in 1931,
Snow Crystals ,with over 2,500 photographs of snowflakes!!! There is a Snowflake Bentley Museum too!
, by Jacqueline Briggs. It is a true story about a man, Wilson Bentley, whom they called "Snowflake Man". Wilson Bentley was obsessed with taking pictures of snowflakes in the late 1800's and early 1900's. He was the first to do this and had a true passion for doing this. He published a book in 1931,
Snow Crystals ,with over 2,500 photographs of snowflakes!!! There is a Snowflake Bentley Museum too!
Have Fun Observing Snowflakes!
Links:
by Linda Wagner Tyler. I accidentally checked this book out for Christmas and was pleasantly surprised!!! It is about a family that is saddened by the ending of Christmas and they have a Winter Party and create decorations to feed the animals for their discarded Christmas tree outside! C loved this book and keeps asking me if we are going to have a Winter Party? This activity might just become a tradition that we do after the holiday season!