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Teachers Nook
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Welcome to the December Teachers' Nook from Westcott!

In This Issue:

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Snowmen and Snowflakes

From the Teacher's Desk: Snowflakes

Do you know a snowflake's shape is created long before it arrives on the Earth's surface? First, an ice crystal surrounds a miniature piece of debris, inside a cloud - and forms a snow crystal. The shape of the snowflake will depend on the temperature of the cloud. When the crystals begin to fall from the clouds, they bond together to form snowflakes. Each snowflake is comprised of up to 200 separate snow crystals. These crystals form into one of seven different shapes. The Stellar crystal is the most popular shape. This famous star shape inspires artists and photographers. 

Study Snowflakes

If you'd like to study snowflakes with your students, go outside when it’s not windy and the temperature is between -12 and -16 degrees.  Bring a piece of dark cloth with you. This will make it easier to view the crystals. You might like to use a microscope or magnifying glass to enlarge the crystal for easy viewing.

"Snowflake" Bentley

In 1885, a man named Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley learned how to make the crystals show up in photographs. Wilson lived in a small town in rural Vermont and he adapted a microscope to a bellows camera and discovered that he could take a photo of a single snow crystal. He captured over 5000 snowflakes during his lifetime and he never found any two alike. You can find more information, photographs, and resources at the Snowflake Bentley official website.


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Snowflake Art Projects

Snowflake Art

Snowflake art projects are lots of fun too.

Use your imagination or try out these web sites for ideas and inspiration.

There are several online snowflake makers.

A very kid-friendly site is
Make-a-Flake Snowflake Maker.

Here students are able to manipulate a virtual pair of scissors to create a variety of snowflake designs.

And check out this one - how to make a snowflake from a coffee filter from the CBC.

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dividerMeteorology MobileClassroom Activities

Meteorology Mobile

Ready your class for any season by adapting this eyecatching mobile—create snowflakes for winter, raindrops for spring, suns for summer, and leaves for autumn!

Materials:

Check out the step by step instructions for this classroom activity >

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dividerPuzzles: Challenge students with problem solvers

As a teacher, Ken Weber discovered that mysteries and puzzles were an excellent way to gain students’ attention.

Try these puzzles in your classroom:

  • Looking at numbers in three different ways
  • A different perspective on 'Groaners'
  • Mr. Algie’s conundrum

Get puzzling and try the puzzles.

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