Snowflake Bentley

Six-sided frozen crystals fascinated Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. See how he studied and photographed these delicate structures.

• 1.

  Read <EM>Snowflake Bentley</EM> to learn about photographer and self-made scientist Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley. He discovered the uniqueness of each snowflake while taking photographs of them through a microscope, a technique now known as microphotography.

• 2.

  Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils and your imagination to draw a picture of Snowflake Bentley taking photos of snowflakes falling, perhaps outside of a barn. Use your eraser to highlight the wood grain, draped cloth, or the accordion-like folds of the camera.

• 3.

  Use Crayola Fine Tip Markers or Gel Markers to draw snowflakes falling. Enlarge one to show detail.

Benefits

• Students learn about the life and accomplishments of Wilson Bentley, photographer and self-made scientist.
• Students understand how Bentley used the lens in a microscope to photograph individual snowflakes.
• Students discover why snowflakes are unique.
• Students draw Snowflake Bentley and an enlarged snowflake.

Adaptations

• Cut out paper snowflakes, each with a different pattern.
• Create a classroom precipitation poster showing what conditions in the atmosphere produce rain, snow, sleet, hail, and other forms of precipitation.
• For younger children and those with special needs, show photographs of the type of camera Bentley used, or visit a museum to see antique cameras. Explore how microscopes work. In winter, catch snowflakes to see variations in their patterns.