When it is freezing outside, snow falls instead of rain. Snow crystals form when the temperature inside clouds is freezing or below. The crystals form on bits of dust as the water vapour condenses (turns into a liquid) and then freezes (turns into a solid).

Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) is known as the ‘Snowflake Man’ because he spent 46 years taking photographs of snowflakes. He took more than 5,000 photographs and, amazingly, he found that every snowflake was different in some way.

Even though every snowflake is different, all snowflakes have six sides. This is because of the way water molecules join together. When it is very cold, the flakes are small, but when it is close to freezing, the flakes are larger.

Black card or paper (keep this in the freezer until it snows and you are ready to use it)

A magnifying glass

When it starts snowing, take the black paper or card out of the freezer.

Go outside and catch a few snowflakes on the paper. The snowflakes won’t melt straight away because the paper is frozen.

Look at the snowflakes through the magnifying glass.

Snowflakes have amazing structures. Some of the snowflakes you catch will be ‘broken’, but if you look at enough snowflakes, you should find some great examples.

Draw the shapes you find and make a collage to hang on your wall.