Today's Classroom Activities :

One of a Kind—Snowflakes!

No Two Are Alike
Reading/Language William "Snowflake" Bentley (1865-1931) was a famed photographer of these unique and beautiful ice crystals. Learn about this self-taught artist by reading aloud the Caldecott medal book Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (Houghton Mifflin, 1998). Collect snow on a cold cookie sheet covered with a piece of black construction paper. Observe, photograph, sketch and make a list of descriptive words about the snowflakes. Collect as many different samples as possible. Compare and contrast the flakes.

Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing
In this lesson, students will create a working definition of multigenre. Then, using that knowledge, they will work together to create their own multigenre piece about winter, using Snowflake Bentley as a model.

Another excellent book is What Makes the Seasons? by Megan Montague Cash, (Viking, 2003, ISBN: 0-670-03598-X). This is nonfiction with rhyming text that introduces seasonal changes. The book would be great to use for word walls and art activities such as cotton-ball "snowballs" or paper "snowflakes."

Paper Snowflakes
Students can make their own unique snowflakes using these five steps to make a paper snowflake.

Snowflake Magnets
Students will be able to make three-dimensional snowflakes with magnets. This will help improve hand and eye coordination.

Sizzling Snowflake Crystal
Have your students create this amazing 3-D snowflake crystal while learning about how snow is formed in the atmosphere. Also discuss what effects snow has on our lives.