Snowflake Symmetry Students Examine Properties of Snowflakes and Use Snowflakes to Identify and Describe Symmetry

Snowflake Symmetry Students examine properties of snowflakes and use snowflakes to identify and describe symmetry.

Grade Level: 1st Next Generation Science Excellence in Environmental Standards Education Guidelines Phenomena: What makes snowflakes unique? 1-ESS1-2. Make observations at Strand 1—Questioning, Analysis, different times of year to relate the and Interpretation Skills Objectives: amount of daylight to the time of A) Learners are able to develop  Students will identify at least year. questions that help them learn one line of symmetry on a about the environment and do snowflake. Science and Engineering simple investigations. Practices:  Students will describe three Developing and using models. F) Learners understand that properties of snowflakes: have Planning and carrying out relationships, patterns, and six points, are symmetrical, are investigations. processes can be represented all unique from one another. by models. Disciplinary Core Ideas: Materials: 1-LS1 From Molecules to  Hexagonal paper Organisms: Structures and  Scissors Processes.  String (optional)  Dry-erase markers Cross Cutting Concepts: Scale, proportion, and quantity.  Laminated pictures of Systems and system models. snowflakes and symmetrical

objects in nature

 Laminated pictures of asymmetrical objects found in nature  Poster of snowflake riddle Background remain in the cloud. When the Appendixes: air temperature cools, these  Snowflake riddle: Page 6 A popular misconception of liquid droplets freeze and  Hexagonal pattern: Page 7 how snowflakes form is the become ice crystals. The  Snowflake images: Pages 8-10  Symmetrical nature images: thought that snowflakes are condensing and freezing Pages 11-13 frozen raindrops. This is false. however, does not take place  Asymmetrical nature images: Frozen raindrops are known at the same time. Instead, Pages 14-16 Time Considerations: as sleet. Snowflakes on the droplets will form and freeze Preparations: 15-20 minutes other hand have a process of independently. As minute Lesson Time: 45-60 minutes their own. droplets condense and freeze Introduction: 5-10 minutes Activity 1: 10 minutes to the ice crystals, a snow Activity 2: 5-10 minutes The story begins with water flake is formed (Libbrecht, K. Activity 3: 10 minutes Activity 4: 5-10 minutes vapor. Water is first G.). Conclusion: 10 minutes evaporated from bodies of Related Lesson Plans: water and rises as a gas, On the hand other, “sleet Let it Snow! Let it Melt!, Can You Measure the Wind?, Winter known as water vapor. When occurs when a snowflake falls the vapor cools, the gas from a cloud then enters into a condenses on grains of dust to warm layer and melts. The form a minute droplet. These now melted snowflake then droplets are liquid water, which continues to fall then it enters

into a cold layer near the If a shape can be folded in half are being scientists. In science, surface of the earth and freezes so that both sides are identical, we ask questions about topics, again. When the frozen droplet it is said to have a line of conduct investigations and impacts the earth, it is usually in symmetry. Snowflakes have make observations to attempt the form of ice and does not multiple lines of symmetry, as to answer questions. freeze upon impact” (Wiggin, do other objects found in nature. Doing the Activity K.). The difference between Preparation these two types of precipitation is in their formation and how Gather all needed materials and Activity 1: Snowflakes! they reach the surface. practice folding and making a In order to study the properties snowflake. of snowflakes, students will The most basic form of a snow Introduction: The Snowflake create a snowflake model from crystal is a hexagonal prism. Poem paper. This structure occurs because Begin by telling the class you certain surfaces of the crystal have a poem that describes the Hand out hexagonal paper to accumulate material very slowly. topic that will be investigated each student. Have the students When snow crystals are very today. count the number of points of small, they are mostly in the their hexagon. Pose the form of simple hexagonal Read the snowflake poem one question to the class: will their prisms. But as they grow, time through, and have students snowflakes have the same branches sprout from the identify the topic. (snowflakes) number of points? corners to make more complex shapes. Explain to the class that parts of Walk students through the the poem are things we already process of making a snowflake. While it grows, the crystal is know about snowflakes, and blown around inside the clouds, parts of the poem are things we Begin with students holding their so the temperature changes can ask questions about. We’ll papers at the long flat edges, so randomly. Crystal growth use our questions to help guide the long points are at the top/ depends strongly on us as we investigate snowflakes bottom. Make sure to temperature. The six arms of the today. demonstrate this to the class snow crystal each change their before they do it themselves. growth with time. The end result Re-read each paragraph of the is a complex, branched structure poem. Have students list things Next, fold the paper in half so that is also six-fold symmetric. that they know and things they that the points go together to have questions about into two make a trapezoid. categories. While holding the shape vertical, List the following questions on fold the top most point to the the board under the heading, second lowest point, to make a “Snowflake Questions”: Six diamond. points? Same on both sides? All different or the same? Lastly, have students fold the diamond in half to make a Explain to students that by triangle. studying snowflakes and thinking about our questions, we The six points of a snowflake 2

Next, have students place their snowflake and see if it is the means: exactly the same. paper on their desks and watch same on the left as it is on the how to draw and cut out their right. Explain to the class, that shapes. students will move around the To better identify this, have classroom observing their Demonstrate how to draw students fold their snowflake in medium size shapes on the flat half to see if their cut out shapes edges of the paper. Depending match up on both sides. on the class, one shape to one side of the snowflake works Next have students draw a line best. using their pencil down the middle fold. And again ask if Remind students to keep their their snowflakes are the same paper folded shut when they on the left as it is on the right? begin to cut out their shapes. Explain to students that when Now it’s time to open it up and objects can be divided in half check it out! Have them write showing each side to be Symmetry found in nature their names on the edge. identical, these objects are said to have a line of symmetry or classmate’s snowflakes. Their Activity 2: Six Sides to a are called symmetrical. goal is to find another snowflake Snowflake? that is identical to their own. Direct the students’ attention to Use the kite prop and objects in their snowflake questions. Read the room, to provide examples Set expectations for this activity, their first question regarding that that many objects in nature such as observe only with your snowflakes have six points. have symmetry. eyes, and begin!

To answer the question, have If time is available, have If a student claims to have found students lay their snowflakes flat students examine pictures of an identical snowflake, compare on their desks and count the snowflakes. Have students the two and have the class number of points. come up one at a time to draw a determine if they are identical to line of symmetry on the each other. To reach other learning styles, snowflake in dry erase marker. Return to the snowflake have students identify these questions and ask the class if points, by numbering their points Also use the pictures that show they feel their questions were using a pencil or marker. objects from nature and have answered completely. students find the line of Activity 3: Same on Both symmetry in them. Conclusion Sides? Activity 4: Blizzard in the Return to the list of snowflake Room Summarize the key points of the questions. Direct students’ Again direct the class to the last lessons and read the poem one attention to the second question: snowflake question: are all last time. are snowflakes the same on snowflakes the same or both sides? different? Students may use their snowflakes as you read, to see Ask the students to look at their Review what the word identical that each part of the poem is

indeed true. Choose one student to Use students to help set-up the Evaluate student performance represent a particle of dust. experiment. Begin by placing by their ability to complete the Choose six other students to snow inside of a filter with the paper snowflake activity. branch off the dust and to filter sagging just a little in the represent the six points of a container. During activities three and four, snowflake. assess students comprehension Have students share their of snowflakes having six sides The remaining students may predictions as to what they will and symmetry, based on how attach themselves to the six see left in the filter. each student labeled their points. snowflakes. Pour warm water over the snow Snowflake Comparison and check out all the dirt filtered Assessment Using envelopes with precut out of the snow. snowflakes, have students apply Informally assess students by what they have learned about Explain that snowflakes start their contributions to class snowflakes to decide if all from a piece of dust. From that discussions and their ability to snowflakes have these dust, small pieces of water answer teacher questions. properties: six sides, begins to freeze on little by little. Human Snowflake! symmetrical, not identical. As the little snowflake is blown Brainstorm with the class ideas around in the air, more and about how snowflakes are Read key points about more pieces of water start to made. snowflakes before handing out freeze on in different ways. envelopes to pairs. Extensions When it is heavy enough it falls Summarize the activities by to the ground in the form of a Explain that during the winter reviewing each property with flake. there are little bits of water students; ex. Ask students to suspended in the air - water show thumbs up if all the droplets suspended in clouds. snowflakes have six sides, etc. Along with these bits of water, there is dust that is blown How is Snow Made? around outside. You will need the following materials: coffee filter, snow When the temperature is just that is as clean as possible, right, these bits of water freeze container and warm water. to the singe grain of dust to create an ice crystal. Tell the students that we just As the ice crystal is blown learned how special snowflakes around, more ice crystals freeze are and how no two snowflakes forming a snowflake. are alike. But how is snow made? During this description or afterwards, position students in Brainstorm with the students the following way to create a and have them share their ideas human snowflake. aloud.

Vocabulary Line of Symmetry: a line that you can draw through a shape where both sides match or are the same

Bilateral Symmetry: when only one line can be drawn through an object and both sides match

Radial Symmetry: when an object can be rotated and look the same; when one can draw more than one line of symmetry

Symmetrical: having matching points, parts or shape on both sides of a dividing line

Asymmetrical: a shape that is asymmetrical cannot be divided so both pieces match exactly in shape and size

Sources

 Libbrecht, K. G. (1999, Feb. 1 ). The Life of a Snowflake: A Snowflake Primer. Retrieved Jan. 29, 2011, from Snow Crystals.com: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/primer/primer.htm  Wiggin, K. (2007, Dec. 7 ). Snow, Sleet, and Freezing Rain - They're All the Same, Right?. Retrieved Jan. 30, 2011, from Ezinearticles.com: http://ezinearticles.com/?Snow,-Sleet,-and-Freezing-Rain---Theyre-All-the-Same,- Right?&id=868391

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What Am I? A Snowflake Riddle By: Jessica Snaman

When it’s winter and cold I come from up high Twirling and dancing As I fall from the sky

I’m light and I’m white With six points all around If it’s cold enough outside I’ll stick to the ground

I’m the same on the left As I am on the right Just like if you folded A symmetrical kite

No two of my kind Are ever the same And I turn back to liquid If I melt into rain