The Art, Math, and Science of Snowflakes
With recent winter storms plaguing the country, now is the perfect time to introduce students to the study of snowflakes and crystals. Perhaps you thought that gazing at and trying to understand these beautiful creations was just a fun way to spend a few moments outside. However, some people dedicate their entire lives to studying these gifts from nature.
SnowCrystals.com was created by Kenneth G. Libbrecht, professor of physics and chairman of the Physics Department at
Caltec. At this website, which is very well laid out and easy to follow, you will find:
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incredible galleries of snowflake photos,
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the classification of different types of snowflakes,
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books about snowflakes,
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information about the physics of snowflakes,
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snowflake activities, and
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tips on where to go to view the best snow crystals.
The
Electron Microscopy Unit Snow Page, created by the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) offers a series of annotated photos of snowflakes taken with a Low Temperature Scanning Electron Microscope (LT-SEM). This website describes:
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the special microscope that is used,
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the procedure for collecting the specimens, and
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an elaborate system for classifying snow crystals.
It is so easy to get caught up in the required curriculum and ignore the everyday wonders that surround us. But by introducing students to a wide variety of subjects and interests that may be outside of the regular curriculum, we may just spark an interest in kids that will carry them forward to additional paths of inquiry.