Most children are easily captivated by nature’s marvels. A perfect winter activity for you to do with your children is watching and studying the patterns of snowflakes. With some kind of magnification device, you can actually see the intricate patterns of the snowflakes. The magnification does not have to be sophisticated, and a pocket magnifier is sufficient to see the tiny crystals.
Interest the Children in Nature
Anyone who lives where it snows can take time to watch the snowflakes. Snow is pretty as it falls, and it is made of crystals and flakes that are exquisite when studied up close. With your own genuine enthusiasm, you can interest your children in the wonders of nature and snowflakes right outside your door. You can study the snowflakes with your children, and you can help them do crafts indoors making paper snowflakes for decorations and homemade cards.
Make Science Fascinating
Snowflakes are different, and children will find it interesting that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. You can also teach them about the different types of snowflakes and crystals like the simple prisms, stellar dendrites and sectored plates. You can learn about these types and study with the children about the various shapes of snowflakes and crystals. They can try to draw the types and color them as if rainbow colors of light were passing through them. The science of weather as well as geometry can seem much more practical when the children study snowflakes and their shapes.
Magnification Devices
A pocket magnifier that magnifies 5 to 10 times is all that is needed to see the tiny snow and ice crystals. Snowflakes are intricate and delicate pieces of art that are there to enjoy and study. You and the children in your life can have fun on snowy days discovering the incredible art and science of snowflakes. You can see their patterns through a pocket magnifying glass or fold-up magnifier. However if your children catch the enthusiasm and take the snowflake watching seriously, you can purchase an inexpensive student microscope for interested learners.
Keep in mind that the light underneath the little glass plates can get hot enough to melt the snow, so cooling the glass plates is important. Learning how to use the microscope to spy on the snowflakes is amusing to young and old. Then for the best in microscopic products, premium grade student microscopes are sure to make discovery a thrill viewing snowflakes and other tiny objects.
Author Bio
Hayley is an amateur scientist, author and blogger residing in Portland Oregon. For premium grade student microscopes, visit microscope.com. For more fun and interesting science projects, visit chemistry.about.com.
I wish it would snow in Louisiana more than it does! Last time it snowed was in 2010 the day my daughter got married Dec. 26th. It was like a blessing from up above, as her wedding theme was snowflakes! It didn’t last long, it didn’t accumulate on the ground, but it snowed enough to count! LOL My daughter was so excited when I called her at the hall and told her to go look outside because it was snowing (we were on our way there with our son-in-law to be). I truly believe that was a congratulations from our family members who had passed on and are keeping watch over her and the rest of the family.