STEM Education Resources for Engaging Science Teaching
Marshmallow Snowflake STEM Activity
Your Students can make their own Unique Snowflake Designs!
ddI really like to try and do some seasonal STEM activities whenever possible with my students.
In winter, kids love learning about snowflakes and how they form. This super fun activity engages your students in making their own unique snowflakes using marshmallows and toothpicks. This is a perfect Winter STEM activity for December, January or February.
Students learn about how snowflakes form, watch amazing time-lapse videos of snowflake formation, and then design their own unique snowflakes.
This activity does not really require much prep, you just need colored paper or cardstock, regular marshmallows and mini marshmallows and toothpicks.
The most important thing is to make sure your marshmallow bags have not got too hot, or squashed. Make sure that the marshmallows can be easily separated from each other when you buy them, otherwise this activity can turn into a sticky mess. It's a good idea to have handwipes at the ready too!
For older students I have created a Google Slide that can be used. Have students either read this by themselves on Google Classroom or read together as a class.
Making Snowflakes using Marshmallows and Toothpicks
Let's get started making Snowflakes!
These materials can easily be purchased from Amazon (I added the links) or local supermarkets.
Materials per Group:
Marshmallow and toothpick snowflake designs.
Building Your Snowflakes
Work on a Piece of Blue paper, start in the middle and work outwards!
Remind your students that snowflakes always start from a central point and then grow outwards. Students should start with a mini or regular marshmallow in the center (regular size is easier) and then add 6 toothpicks.
Stress that snowflakes always have six sides, for older students you can talk about 6 lines of symmetry.
When building their unique snowflake design, they should make sure that they do the same thing to all 6 parts of the design.
Building out Snowflakes from the Center outwards
Snowflake Science
Students can Extend their Knowledge of Snowflakes
For students who finish quickly, I like to give them something extra to do to extend their knowledge on this Google Slide Here, students can watch time-lapse videos of snowflakes forming, and a video about where snowflakes come from. I also included a simulation where students make their own snowflakes. Snowflake shapes depend on the position that the snowflakes form in the cloud and temperature. Students can vary this in the simulation, and make different shapes!
The Complete Unit: Marshmallow and Toothpick Snowflakes
Visit the TPT STEM Voyage Store
All the resources needed for the Marshmallow and Toothpick STEM Activity can be found on my STEM Voyage TPT store.
They include:
- Google Slides: The Science behind how Snowflakes form.
- Google Slides: A beautifully illustrated set of instructions.
- Google Slides: Snow Flake Science, videos and simulation.
- A Teacher Information Guide.
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Marshmallow and toothpick snowflake designs.