2 minute read
A Study In Snowflakes
Andi Sedlacek
Andi Sedlacek is acting communications director for the DNR.
Just like people, every single snowflake is unique.
Though their patterns are different each time one falls to the ground, all snowflakes do have one thing in common: Every snowflake has six points.
Let’s learn how a snowflake is made.
When extremely cold droplets of water freeze onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky, an ice crystal begins to form, which is the first step in the creation of a snowflake.
As the ice crystal continues to fall, water vapor freezes on it, building new crystals that will eventually become its six points.
As snowflakes fall from the sky to the ground, each one encounters different atmospheric conditions that shape their final formation. Those different conditions create one-of-a-kind snowflake patterns, but because each point experiences the same atmospheric conditions, all six points are identical.
Do You Want To Make A Snowflake?
You don’t need ice crystals or the right atmospheric conditions to make snowflakes at home — all you need is white paper, scissors (and maybe adult supervision) and a pattern.
Take an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper and fold one corner across diagonally to create a triangle.
Cut across the bottom to remove the rectangular-shaped strip of paper.
Fold the triangle-shaped paper in half diagonally.
Fold the paper into thirds. Start by folding the left corner, overlapping the bottom corner past the bottom of the triangle.
Fold the right corner, also overlapping the bottom corner past the bottom of the triangle.
Cut the pointed, overlapping ends off in a straight line.
Follow the patterns below to cut out a beautiful design for your snowflake.
Once you’ve cut out all the pieces of your pattern, unfold your snowflake and admire your work.
