Even though snowflakes are all different, they all have the same basic shape. But why? Explore the activity below and see what you can find out!

‍Materials:

- Paper

- Pencil

- Scissors

- Ruler (optional)

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Procedure:

1. Create your snowflake template by drawing three straight lines on a piece of square paper. Use the example for drawing your lines. (Or download and print the template above)

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2. Fold the paper on the green line, then blue line, and then orange line. Your paper will fold over itself.

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3. Find the shortest layer and cut the edges to the same length.

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4. Cut shapes out of the sides of the folded paper.

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5. Unfold your paper once in a while to check that you like the design you are making or wait until the end for a surprise. You can do this as many times as you want.

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What’s happening?

‍All snowflakes start out as a hexagon! A hexagon is a closed shape with 6 sides and 6 points (or vertices). A snowflake starts as water vapor that forms around a piece of dust or pollen and freezes to make an ice crystal. Many of these crystals stick together to make a snowflake!

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Water vapor molecules have three little parts, one oxygen and two hydrogens. These parts come together to make a “V” shape. When six of the “V” shapes connect, they make a hexagon! As more ice crystals get stuck together, the shape grows. Scientists have named more than 30 different kinds of snowflakes!

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