Monday
Jan122009
« Catching Snowflakes »
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 10:20AM 
We got some beautiful snow this weekend … big, fat flakes that just floated down.
We put a couple pieces of dark felt into the freezer for a half hour or so, then took them outside to catch some snowflakes.
Because the felt is very cold, the snowflakes don’t melt as soon as they hit it.
Then you can use a magnifying glass to see them up close — just don’t breathe on them or they’ll melt!
Note: This works best in a light snow when there is almost no wind. You want to catch those individual flakes that are floating down!
Want to know what kind of snowflakes you caught? Check out this cool online Guide to Snowflakes!
in science, things to do, winter
science, things to do, winter 
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Reader Comments (26)
way cool! I'll run right outside and do that. Oh wait. Never mind. ;)
Still looks really cool!
Awesome! They're so pretty.
Sean's reaction to this post, "We should go to that place!"
Two very jealous boys envying your snow...but we'll put black felt in the freezer anyway...just in case the weather gods gift us with one more snowfall before spring!
I cant WAIT to get back to the snow! Spoken with all the naivete of a coastal californian.
What a neat close-up photo of the snowflakes! Did you take that with just the regular close up setting on the camera?
sheila, yes, that is just the ordinary macro setting on my camera. i tried to get a good shot through the magnifying glass, but that eluded me. ;^) part of the problem was, we were cold and therefore we kept joggling the camera *or* the magnifying glass. the other problem was, we kept fogging up the camera lens *or* the magnifying glass. lol
sarah, teri, deirdre and steph -- er, i somehow erased my answer to your comments, but at least you’ll get it in e-mail! :^P
so fun! we often go to flickr to see lots of good pictures of what we are learning. here are some snowflake pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fwwidall/sets/72157603415282264/
What a wonderful idea! We've tried catching them on our tongue, and the boys always try to catch rain like that, but on felt - that's very clever, that! ;-)
It may snow a little here before March, you never know.
that is really awesome!!
Snowing those light great flakes right now.. off to get some felt into the freezer!!! Thanks!
now I'm jealous! i guess snowflakes via the internet are better than none, thanks for the link;)
sarah, i love that! thank you! i e-mailed for permission to post a picture -- awesome!
sam, thank you! :^) i hope you get some snow!
thank you, leisa!
dawn, let me know how it goes! :^)
nancy - who knew?! so many people wishing for a bit of snow. :^)
Way cool! We're majorly snow-deficient here in central MO at the moment, but hope springs eternal (especially for two little boys with brand-new sleds). I'll get my dark-colored felt ready! (My 10-year-old is going to be ecstatic when he hears about your equally long-haired son, by the way...)
lynn, we haven’t been able to sled yet this winter, either, and the 9yo is dying to! we really need a good thick snow to sculpt a safe path down our hill -- there are a lot of thorny trees, thorny bushes, and a wall to avoid ... got to have enough snow for buffers! :^)
lol re: your long-haired 10yo .. i see boys with long hair around on the ’net, but none to equal my boy’s! he calls it his mane. sigh. ;^)
The snow stopped just as I found the felt... but we have snow in the forecast for the next week and only one day above freezing so we will get our chance... we will get our chance!!
yay! we tried again today but the snow was clumpy and we couldn’t get good individual flakes. lol. it’s so complicated! :^P
we did have a lovely walk in the snow, though, and caught some on our tongues. ;^)
Cool! We have a snowflake book from the library we are reading. We have done the hairspray on a board to catch snowflakes, but not a cold piece of dark felt. We'll definitely have to try this - going to be snowing for days now! :)
i hope you get a snow light enough, denise -- sounds like you’re getting the serious stuff! ;^)
Lori - such a neat tip! I can't wait to do this with my boys. :)