Wintery Fun
Snowflakes
This bulletin board is purely decorative. Think of ways to enhance it with student work. For example, students could write winter poems or descriptive paragraphs. They could also write stories about winter and snow. In the "We're on the Polar Express" bulletin board pictured below, students created winter-themed similes. They typed them on computers and illustrated them using clipart.
Consider incorporating the picture book Snowflake Bentley into your lesson. This book tells the story of Wilson Bentley, who was fascinated by snowflakes and became the first person to photograph them. After reading the book, students can create their own snowflakes and write about what they've learned from Bentley's story.
For math, you could have students explain the symmetry and geometric shapes they used when creating their snowflakes.
For science, students could write about the formation of snowflakes and the unique patterns they create or facts about winter weather.
Instructions for Making Snowflakes
Follow these steps to create your own beautiful snowflakes from paper towel rolls:
Gather empty paper towel rolls and cut them into half-inch sections. This can be done quickly and easily using a paper cutter.
Bend (fold) each ring into shape to form petal-like pieces. Arrange these pieces into a snowflake pattern on a flat surface.
Once the pattern is complete, use white school glue to attach the rings together. Place the snowflake on waxed paper to prevent sticking and allow for easy lifting and movement while drying.
Use clothespins to hold the rings together during the drying process. Allow the glue to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
Once the glue is dry, spray the snowflake with adhesive glue and dip it into white glitter to give it a sparkling, frosty appearance.
After the adhesive has set and the glitter is secure, hang the snowflakes using fishing line for a floating effect.
Environmental Awareness
Incorporating recycled materials into art projects is a great way to teach students about environmental awareness. By using paper towel rolls, students learn about the importance of reusing and recycling materials. You can expand on this by discussing other ways to repurpose everyday items.
Cross-Curricular Connections
Connect the snowflake activity to other subjects. For example, in science, you can discuss the formation of snowflakes and the unique patterns they create. In math, students can explore symmetry and geometric shapes. In language arts, they can write descriptive paragraphs or stories about winter and snow.