STEM Education Resources for Engaging Science Teaching
A Winter STEM Activity. Build Snowflakes using Q-tips and Cupcake liners
Students make their own beautiful and unique snowflakes using Q-tips and Cupcake Liners!
Around Winter Break, I like to do fun STEM activities with my classes. The Snowflake Science Unit is a perfect balance of Science and Art, with a festive theme. It's perfect for December, January or February.
It really doesn't require much prep. Students need Blue Colored Paper , Q-tips Scotch tape and Cupcake Liners. I would however, cut up the Q-tips in advance, as shown below for younger students.
Snowflakes are six-sided, so this brings in a bit of math also!
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 Q-Tips and Cupcake Liners
Let's get Started making Snowflakes
Materials Per Group:
Prepping the Q-tips Ahead of Time
Prep the Q-tips in advance.
This is important for younger students, as it can be a bit tricky.
I give students a selection of full Q-tips, half Q-tips, Q-tip buds, and Q-tip sticks (with the cotton wool part removed) as shown on the left.
I would put the different parts of the Q-tips in different containers/bags for each group.
Using the Cupcake Liners to make symmetrical Snowflakes
Students can choose bigger or smaller Cupcake Liners
Snowflakes always form from the center and grow outwards, and so I like to start in the center with a bigger shape, such as the cupcake liner, and then work outwards using the Q-tips.
Snowflakes are six-sided and so the Cupcake Liners needs to be folded into six.
Directions:
1. Fold liner in half.
2. Fold liner into thirds. Fold the right side of the liner inwards, so that it is covers half of the semi-circle. Next, fold it in on itself again.
It's probably worth doing this folding activity with the whole class. If everyone does it together, then you can trouble-shoot and kids can help each other out.
Cutting the Snowflake Pattern
Once you have your cupcake liner folded into six, then you can begin cutting your snowflake patterns.
I like to cut little triangles at each side of the wedge shape, and change the top of the wedge shape.
Let your kids have fun and experiment.
It's always so exciting to unfold the liner and see what type of snowflake you have created!
Building Your Snowflakes
Work on a Piece of Blue paper, start in the middle and work outwards!
Let your students have fun building their snowflakes!
Students should start from the middle and work outwards. Remind students that each snowflake is unique and has six sides.
Use small pieces of tape to tape the snowflake parts in place.
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: Snowflake Science STEM Activity
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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