This is a lesson we used while home schooling our four children. Take a look!
Our ultimate goal in this lesson and others we are doing, is to teach our children the beauty in differences among us as people and prepare them to embrace the uniqueness of others. Diversity is a good thing and we are not all created the same. Created with the same love? Yes! We want our children to love the diversity of creation, God's creation, and honor life even in the smallest of things. We are starting with these simple lessons to open doors for conversations with our biological children about their soon coming Ethiopian siblings. We want the children to feel free to talk to us about their questions, concerns, and interests in those who are different than what they know, feel comfortable with, and currently understand.
Ok, that's the vision behind the lessons that we will be posting periodically, now let's get down to the fun of it!
Here's what we did:
1. Spark Interest: It's wintertime in the mountains around us. Snowsuits and gloves are overtaking our mudroom, so we are in the mindset of "the white stuff." I first showed the kids these pictures from a children's magazine and asked them what they knew. It's not hard for them to know that it's the shape of a snowflake, but they were surprised that these were actual photographs of a real single snowflake and that snowflakes could look so different one to the next. That sparked their interest.
2. Explore: We went on the deck to grab a mitten full of snow to see if our eyes could see a single snowflake and these patterns which they held. If you have a little one, bring indoors a large mixing bowl of snow. Give the little one some kitchen utensils, cupcake molds, or cups and let them explore with the snow in the house! I just put down a couple bath towels on the floor and let him play. This way I can talk more with the older kids.
3. Curiosity Flow: This is a time where I just let the kids ramble on about their questions, ideas, and guesses of what we were going to do next. Here were some questions and comments: "How do you photograph a snowflake?" "Wouldn't the snow melt?" "There are a bunch of snowflakes in one pile of snow." "How many snowflakes are in a snowball?" "How could God make something so tiny?"
If you wanted to, you could make a chart of these questions and see if they were answered throughout the lesson and/or have an older child write their thoughts and questions.
4. Information: I told the children how each snowflake was different, special, and creatively made. There are no identical snowflakes made ever in the history of the world (theoretically). Isn't that amazing! God surely is an awesome artist and craftsman! We then read a book called Snowflake Bentley (see the link below). It is William Bentley's biography about his childhood curiosities for snowflakes and other tiny creations. Even as a young teen William would study the fine, delicate parts of nature and try to draw what he saw in order to share the beauty with others. With a microscope he was able to see the intricate patterns of a snowflake and with a generous gift from his humble farm working parents, he was able to photograph a snowflake. William Bentley was the first photographer of a snowflake! There is a great website with William Bentley's actual photographs: Snowflakebentley.com and more information on his life as a scientist.
Leave time for more questions from the kids. Ask them some questions and allow them time to build conversation with you about their thoughts.
5. Diversity Connection: We believe that God created these gorgeous snowflakes and gave men and women the intelligence to capture this beauty by way of science and inventions. We shared with the children that we are like snowflakes each intentionally created unique and beautiful in our own designs none more lovely than the next. There are similarities in the patterns of the snowflakes, but not always. Most snowflakes have a hexagon shape or five pointed * asterisk shape (related to the touch points of the hexagon's interior angles). Most snowflakes are symmetrical, but there are many beautiful differences too. Like us, we have similarities as people. On the outside we see eyes, noses, hands, etc. to be the same, but we have differences too. On the insides people have similarities and differences too. We are the same in that we hunger, laugh, desire the basic needs, have feelings, and questions. We differ in our experiences, talents, interests, food choices, and so on. See where we are going with this? Roll with it to what extent your children can grasp and contribute to the conversation. Discuss what similarities and differences the children observe in the snowflakes (you could chart this if desired) and if these characteristics make one snowflake better than another. Discuss the same observations about people stressing the beauty of the differences. Perhaps say to the children, "Let's call this a similarities vs. unique beauties chart instead of 'differences.' That's the attitude you want to convey to the children.
Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:15-18 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."
| Job 31:15 | For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb. |
Making Our Own Unique Snowflake Art
Snowflake Bentley used black trays to collect his snowflakes for study and for photographing so we used black paper to create our own unique snowflakes.
Materials: white paint, Q-tips or paint brushes, black construction paper, and optional glue,glitter, and jewels.
Last, but not least. We share our artwork with each other to compliment the artist's work. This helps the kids to see the beauty even in the differences!
Extension ideas: If you wanted to expand this lesson here are some things you could do:
1. Study the water cycle
2. Keep a Weather Log including temperatures, precipitation, cloud types, ...
3. Study temperatures effects on water in the states of matter: solid, liquid, gas
4. Use a microscope or magnifying glass to explore other intricate creations
5. Go on a nature walk outside and draw something interesting that you see too share with others (like Bentley did with the snowflakes)
6. Make snow-cones for a treat!
7. Check out Pinterest for loads of snowflake crafts ;)
8. Math connections: Shapes, symmetry, patterns
Comments
Post a Comment