Snow Wonder

By Jacob Rodenburg & Drew Monkman

With so much white around us on snowy days, we don’t often think about just how magical a single snowflake can be. And yet it is true, every snowflake is different— each flake is a beautifully wrought snow crystal—a diamond of frozen water, and we should take the time to admire its delicate and exquisite beauty.

A snowflake will form on the tiniest particle of dust. As the snowflake tumbles through the air, it forms a complex and beautiful snow crystal. When first formed, a snowflake is likely to be a hexagonal prism looking like a honeycomb. As it grows larger, arms of crystal form at the corners of the crystal (always six sided) and they begin to take on ever more complex and stunning shapes, often star like. However, they can also form as needles, plates, sheathes and columns (see below). A fully formed snowflake crystal is nothing short of magic! Here is a story of single snowflake…

It all began 1,000 years ago. A volcanic eruption in the Philippines sent up a cloud of dust and ash skyward 12 kilometers above lofty mountains. For many years one particle of ash tumbled around the sky buffeted by winds, mixing with the upper and lower atmosphere.

One December night, this small particle ended up in a part of the atmosphere that was super-cooled and stable… about -20°C. Moisture in the air gradually increased as winds blew warm ocean air upward over the mountains. A lone particle of ash bumped against molecules of water and a snow seed was born—a microscopic crystal so small even the world’s most powerful microscope would have trouble seeing it.

One by one other molecules were pulled towards the growing crystal fusing and becoming larger. Within two hours, the snowflake had grown a thousandfold, into a perfect hexagon. The snow crystal, now a snowflake, had become so heavy, it began to fall. Slowly at first, and then gathering momentum, it danced towards the earth. Every layer of air it fell through had slightly different levels of moisture and temperature. And each layer sculpted the flake into an ever more complex and beautiful shape.

I was walking with my two children in the first snowfall of the season, tongues outstretched to catch the tumbling snowflakes from above. One so delicately made, fell upon my daughter’s warm tongue and she smiled as it melted into the tiniest droplet of water, so soft it was almost never there.

And yes, you can catch a snowflake… Here is how

Find some black Bristol board and several magnifying glasses. You can get these both at the dollar store. Cut the Bristol board into squares about 10 inches by 10 inches. If you can, laminate these. On a day in which the temperature is about –5°C or about 23°F and it is gently snowing with little wind, go outside. Make sure you’ve allowed your Bristol board (snowflake catcher) time to cool so the snowflakes won’t melt. Catch snowflakes on your board as they fall. Study these through your magnifying glass. Can you find stellar crystals, hexagonal plates, needles or columns?

See the snowflake chart from snowcrystals.com. They also have beautiful snow crystal photos that you can use.

Make your own anatomically correct snowflake

Cut out a round circle of paper. Use an upside down glass to help you. Fold this in half. Fold again in thirds. Careful, this is a tricky step for some people! You should have three equal sections (see photo). Fold this section in half and begin cutting. Use the folded part as your spine. The more snowflakes you make, the more delicate and beautiful your designs become. You need to be brave in your cutting. As long as one part of your spine stays together, you’ll have a whole snowflake. You know if you’ve succeeded if you created a six-sided snowflake. If you like, iron these between two layers of wax paper. Create a snowflake mobile or hang your creation on a Christmas tree!

Snow games

SNOW WHEEL TAG

Here is game for three or more. In completely fresh snow, stamp out a large circle 20 to 30 meters or so wide (or whatever works in the space you have). You’ve just created a massive snow wheel. Now tramp out spokes in the wheel. Like a giant pie there should be about eight sections. Designate someone as “it.” The rest can be chased! Everyone must stay on the either the perimeter of the wheel or on the spokes (no shortcuts!). How long does it take for someone to get caught in this entertaining game of snow wheel tag? This game is fun because of the sudden twists and turns. When someone is caught, like traditional tag, they become “it”.

FOLLOW THE SNOW LEADER

In fresh snow, designate someone to be snow leader. Everyone else forms a line. They must step precisely in the footprints of the leader. This is harder than it sounds. Have the leader:

• Take giant steps

• Turn around and walk backwards

• Leap with two feet several times

• Do the “herringbone” walk

• Walk on their knees

• Run

• Jump on one foot

• Roll in the snow

Switch leaders regularly. “Snow” much fun!