Objectives
- Students will observe snowflakes.
- Students will document the shapes they see.
- Students will learn to identify star crystals.
Materials
- A snowy day
- Outside work space
- Viewing platform: dark cloth, or black construction paper
- Magnifying glass
- Notebooks and pens
- Types of Snow handout
Procedures
- While inside, review the Types of Snow handout.
- Take the class outside to observe snowflakes.
- Snowflakes are delicate creatures and their fine crystalline shape can vanish at the touch of warmth.
- You'll need to freeze your viewing surface (keep it in the fridge or outside in a cold dry area).
- Students should wear a scarf over their mouth and nose to avoid melting the flakes with their breath.
- When the snow is falling, hold the platform aloft to catch a few flakes.
- View with the magnifying glass.
- Students should immediately draw in their notebooks the shapes they viewed.
- Ask students to identify which type of crystal they observed.
Learn about star crystals and observe snow crystals with your students in this winter lesson plan.
Subjects
Themes
Holidays
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