Project ARTiculate

Snowflake Prints

Grade 4

Karen Stomberg,

Students explore connections between math, science and art through studying the beauty and structure of snowflakes. They examine the snowflake photographs of scientist Wilson Bentley and Kenneth Libbrecht, creating original snowflake prints and cut-paper snowflake designs which demonstrate radial symmetry.

Objectives and assessment criteria

Students will:

1. observe and identify the geometric structure of snowflakes (see the 'math' in the design).
2. learn about the life and work of scientist/artists Kenneth Libbrecht and Wilson Bentley.
3. demonstrate radial symmetry by creating a snowflake print and cut-paper design.
4. experience printmaking by creating a plate, rolling ink with a brayer, then pulling a print and a ghost print.