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Learning about snowflakes with Snowflake Bentley

January 13, 2016 by Katie 1 Comment

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Did you know that a man named Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley was a pioneering researcher who studied snowflakes for most of his life? Snowflake Bentley, as he is affectionately called, was the first person to take a photograph of a snowflake.

Much of what we know about snowflakes is due to the painstaking work that Snowflake Bentley did. His biography is a testament to the power of following one’s dreams. We spent a day reading his story and then doing a paper snowflake cutting craft to learn more about the snowflakes that so captured Snowflake Bentley’s imagination.

Note: For more fun and educational winter activities, see my Winter Activities for Kids page. 

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

We began learning about snowflakes by reading the book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin.

When Bentley was young, his parents purchased a camera for him that allowed him to pursue his snowflake research by photographing individual snowflakes.

Bentley’s images were eventually published in a book titled Snowflakes in Photographs. I had never seen snowflakes in such striking detail until I saw Bentley’s photographs. Just stunning.

Through our reading we learned a few facts about snowflakes. For example, we learned that snowflakes have six sides. (There are some exceptions when snowflakes have 3 sides or 12 sides, but 6 sides is the general rule.)  We also learned that no two snowflakes are alike.

A fabulous book that dives more into depth on how snowflakes are made is The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino.

After reading about Snowflake Bentley, we decided to make our own six-sided snowflakes. The trick to making six-sided snowflakes is to fold the paper the right way. For a quick tutorial, watch this minute-long video that shows how to make a six-sided snowflake.

Having learned to fold paper for a six-sided snowflake, I gathered tissue paper and scissors for my kids.

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

We folded our papers, and then the cutting began!

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

The kids loved unfolding their snowflakes to see the patterns they had created.

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

They decided to make a collage of all their snowflakes.

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

And look, no two are alike!

Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneer in snowflake research who captured the first photos of individual snowflakes. Bentley noticed that snowflakes have six sides, and that no two snowflakes are alike. After reading about Snowflake Bentley, make six-sided paper snowflakes and observe how no two snowflakes are ever alike! || Gift of Curiosity

More winter learning resources

More posts about snowflakes from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Crystallized snowflakes
  • Snowflake crafts for kids
  • Open ended snowflake craft


For more winter crafts your kids will love, see my Winter Activities for Kids page and my Winter Activities Pinterest Board.

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Winter Activities on Pinterest.

Don't miss out!

1 Comment

Comments

  1. Judy Murphy says

    January 20, 2016 at 7:49 am

    I am looking for projects on the lunar and solar system for 4th grade Science units. I really like what I see so far!! I will use the snow flake unit too!!

    Reply

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