1 of 14

The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Do You Want to Build a Snowflake?

2 of 14

Do You Want to Build a Snowflake?

A Kindergarten STEM Lesson

Kathryn Berger

January 2024

3 of 14

Notes for Teachers

Students will explore the math concepts in snowflakes.
This lesson takes place in a classroom for one, two, or three 30 minute class periods depending on the length of class and if choosing to give students the opportunity to use a variety of building materials.
Students may work in small groups of 2-4 at tables or on the floor depending on the materials being used for building.

List of Materials

A variety of building materials such as LEGOs, LEGO baseplates, KEVA Planks, Magnatiles, Brain Flakes, Bloxels, Pattern Blocks, Playdoh
Nonfiction books about snow and/or snowflakes
Optional: paper, pencils, whiteboards, whiteboard markers and erasers, snowflake templates

4 of 14

Arizona Standards

Math

K.G.A.2

Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientation or overall size (e.g., circle, triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon, cube, cone, cylinder, sphere).

K.G.B.5

Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., use sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.

Science and Engineering Practices

ask questions and define problems
develop and use models

ELA

K.SL.2

Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

K.SL.3

Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.

5 of 14

Objective(s):

Today we will explain how a snowflake is formed.

Today we will identify hexagons in a snowflake design.

Today we will collaborate with our table group to design and create six-sided snowflakes using a variety of building materials.

6 of 14

Agenda

Day 1

Discuss experiences with snow.

Share: What do we see, notice, wonder about snowflakes.

Watch video(s) and have a follow up discussion about how snow is made and the features of a snowflake.

Day 2

Review the features of a snowflake.

Build snowflakes with materials.

Gallery walk.

7 of 14

Have you ever seen snow?

What is your favorite activity to do in the snow?

8 of 14

Take a look at these snowflakes.

What do you see? What do you wonder?

Do you notice any shapes or patterns?

9 of 14

Where do you think snow comes from?

Let’s watch these videos to learn more!

10 of 14

How many points and sides

does a snowflake have?

6

hexagon

What shape did you see in the middle of the snowflakes? Let’s click the snow globe to check our answer!

11 of 14

Let’s build snowflakes!

Collaborate with your table group to create snowflakes with the building materials at your table.

Start with a hexagon and add 6 branches.

Hands-On Activity: Review procedures and expectations of using building materials. Give each table group of 4 students a building material such as LEGOs, LEGO baseplates, KEVA Planks, Magnatiles, Brain Flakes, Bloxels, Pattern Blocks, Playdoh, etc. Encourage students to create snowflakes of different sizes with six points and sides. Display illustrations of snowflakes on the class screen and/or at each center if students need support with including the features of snowflakes.

You could also provide paper or whiteboards for students to plan their design by drawing their snowflake before they begin building. This step may be challenging for Kindergarten students so starting with building might be a better option depending on your students. Hexagon plastic pattern blocks are helpful to trace around as students begin drawing their snowflakes.

If desired, snowflake building centers can be repeated for a few more days to allow students building time with a variety of materials.

12 of 14

Gallery Walk

Carefully walk around the classroom to see all of the beautiful snowflakes that you have created!

13 of 14

Assessment

Does your snowflake have six sides and branches?

Does each branch look the same?

Did you work collaboratively with your group to create the snowflakes?

What is the name of the shape in the middle of the snowflake?

How many sides does a hexagon have?

14 of 14

Differentiation

Provide an outline of different types of snowflakes on laminated cardstock for students to use as a guide to create their snowflakes.

Partner students as needed.

Provide key vocabulary with images.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Teach students how to draw snowflakes.

Teach students how to cut snowflakes.

Students code robots such as Edison or Dash with marker attachments to draw a snowflake.