Subtle Snowfall

Challenge
Did you know snowflakes generally are hexagonal structures because of the chemical bonding that occurs within the water as it freezes? or that each snowflake is unique? Do you know what kind of snowflake falls the fastest or slowest through the air? Your job is to find out this last question! The task is to design a prototype snowflake using paper and scissors. Once you've built your snowflake prototype, you can test it out by dropping it from different heights and using a stopwatch to time which design falls the fastest or slowest.

Your snowflake design does have some criteria and constraints. Every snowflake created has to be from the same origami template (see step-by-step instructions with pictures here: http://www.origamiway.com/how-to-make-paper-snowflakes.shtml). There has to be a 1cm border on the top and bottom that cannot be cut. At least three areas have to be cut out from the template. The snowflake should be dropped from the same height every time, held open with two hands, and held horizontal (flat) to the floor for fair trials. You and your group should try to design a snowflake following these guidelines that falls the fastest or slowest.

Materials

• square pieces of paper
• scissors
• stopwatches

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Hints and Tips for Success

1. Allow students planning and discussion time by having them experiment with a sample to see how cuts shape and design the outcome.
2. After experimenting, allow student groups to plan their final design. Warn students that the final template will be the only one given for their design.
3. For differentiation, adjust the size of the paper squares, type of paper, size of the borders, height of the drop, number of areas cut out, or only focus on one challenge (fastest or slowest). Adjustments could be made to make it more challenging or simpler.
4. Have an origami template ready for each group with borders already marked.
5. Connect to mathematics by having students identifying shapes, graph their snowflake drop trials, practice reading and writing decimal numbers, adding/subtracting decimals, and ordering decimals.
   
6. Connect to ELA by using the text, Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, to introduce and provide background knowledge on the structure and uniqueness of snowflakes. Students could also practice sequencing with the book or create a timeline of Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley’s life.