Teaching overview
Learning points
- A snowflake is formed when tiny particles of ice form on bits of dust in the air.
- Snowflakes always have six sides.
- Although they seem white, snowflakes are actually transparent.
Curriculum keywords
- States of matter
- Weather
5 things you didn't know
Snow forming
1. Snow is formed when water vapor freezes onto minuscule particles travelling through the air.
Snow shapes
2. A snowflake always forms in a hexagonal (six-sided) shape.
Freshwater
3. Almost 69% of the world's freshwater is made up of snow and ice.
Color of snow
4. Individual snowflakes are made of transparent ice, but when lots of snowflakes are grouped together, they can reflect light, making them look white.
Unusual colors
5. In higher altitudes, you can get "watermelon" snow – this is where it becomes pink with algae that grow there!
Spark a discussion
- How is a snowflake made?
- How many sides does a snowflake have?
- Which do you think would melt faster: a single snowflake, or an ice cube? Why?
Twig Science: A Complete Pre-K–8 Program for the NGSS
Immersive Investigations with High-Quality Multimedia
- Investigating, designing, building, and understanding phenomena
- Hands-on, digital, video, and print investigations
- Synchronous/asynchronous distance learning