Educators' Science and Mathematics Institute Series

Winter Ecology Lesson Plan

Descriptive Title:  Study of Snowflake Crystals

Submitted By:  Jean Mannisto

Subject and Grade Level:  1st/2nd Grade literacy groups, Reading Recovery

Overview/Purpose:

Using scientific observation to look at snowflakes, using literature to appreciate snowflakes, using art activities to teach snowflake shape.

To teach the snowflake as a six-sided crystal structure.  To use literature for enrichment.  Have the children produce a book

Objectives (Learner Outcomes):

Students will know about Bentley The Snowflake Man

Students will construct 6-sided snowflakes

Students will observe in a snowy day the various crystal formations w/ magnets

Student will make snowflake puppets to perform as different shaped crystals.

Student will hear good literature

Activities and Procedures:

Begin on a Snowy Day

Go outside to observe on black velvet, snowflakes and use a magnifying glass for this

Talk about Wm. Bentley

Read his story Snowflake Man

Show his photographs

Read The Snow Child

Talk about melting, why she lasted (scientifically)

Make a 6-sided snowflake to hang up in the room to decorate the large Snowchild Model

Can show layers of snow and how the different levels look

Read the puppet play and make the types of crystals (needle, plate, column, copped, and stellar)

Make silver stellar snowflakes with pipe cleaners and glitter

Make a snow sculpture

Make snow shakers (small jar with water, twig, w/ florist clay)

Grow a snow crystal

Closure:

Can tie it all together in discussion of what they learned and compile a know/want to know/and learned chart

Write a lang. Exp. and capture the kids on camera

Assessment Strategies:

Visualization of becoming a snowflake

Make a snowflake book w/ their pictures; they write it, and they read it to me

Resources:

Bentley, The Snowflake Man, The Snow Child  a folktale

Hands on Nature  has the puppet play and different crystals

Standards Addressed:

Constructing New Scientific Knowledge investigating and learning

Mathematics (6 points on snowflakes)

Social Studies (child's impact on snow)

Language Arts (literature read, play and visualization)