Snowflake Bentley
Six-sided frozen crystals fascinated Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. See how he studied and photographed these delicate structures.
1. Read Snowflake Bentley to learn about photographer and self-made scientist Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. He discovered the uniqueness of each snowflake while taking photographs of them through a microscope, a technique now known as microphotography.
2. Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils and your imagination to draw a picture of Snowflake Bentley taking photos of snowflakes falling, perhaps outside of a barn. Use your eraser to highlight the wood grain, draped cloth, or the accordion-like folds of the camera.
3. Use Crayola Fine Tip Markers or Gel Markers to draw snowflakes falling. Enlarge one to show detail.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- Cut out paper snowflakes, each with a different pattern.
- Create a classroom precipitation poster showing what conditions in the atmosphere produce rain, snow, sleet, hail, and other forms of precipitation.
- For younger children and those with special needs, show photographs of the type of camera Bentley used, or visit a museum to see antique cameras. Explore how microscopes work. In winter, catch snowflakes to see variations in their patterns.
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