Catching Snow

I missed finishing this activity in time for our first snow fall but now I am ready for what comes our way!

I decided this year that Clemmie and Spencer would enjoy trying some snowflake observation and study. They have made paper snowflakes over the years and drawn plenty of snow not to mention snowball fights and sledding. They have also practiced the time honored tradition of catching snowflakes on your tongue. However, we have never taken the time to really study the flakes themselves.

Grandmother was kind enough to scare up some good heavy cardboard and black velvet for us, so with supplies in hand we created our snow catchers.

1) Take a piece of heavy cardboard of the desired size (our are apx 8.5x11 inches and come from the back of a sketch or watercolor paper pad) and cover in cling film. This may be unorthodox but I thought it might assist with keeping our cardboard dry. I taped the corners with packing tape.

2) Cut velvet to be apx 1 inch larger than cardboard on all sides. I began on one short end of the cardboard base by stapling the velvet to the base with a heavy duty stapler. Then I pulled the material taught and worked on the opposite side.

3) Next staple the long sides 1-2 inches in from the corner while pulling the material taught on the final side. Fold the material in at an angle to form corners and staple corners.

4) I then covered the rough edges of the velvet on the back with packing tape to cut down on the fuzzies produced.

5) Grab a magnifying glass and your new catcher-head out into a snowfall and enjoy. The black highlights the details and the texture traps the flakes and slows melting. I have used velvet since childhood but perhaps velor or corduroy might work as well.

I hope they have as much fun as I did at their age. Sometimes its beneficial to enjoy the peace of a snowfall and the beauty of a snowflake.