Snowflake Matching

 

This Snowflake Matching activity is not only great for cognitive development and visual discrimination, but it can also be used as a decoration after the activity is over! This is also a great time to discuss that no two fully-developed snowflakes are alike and read the following books.

 

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is a biography about Wilson Bentley, the first man who developed a technique to photograph snowflakes.

No Two Alike by Keith Baker is perfect for babies and toddlers! Although it isn’t exclusively about snowflakes, it does talk about various things found in nature that are “almost, but not quite” the same. Side Note:  This is a sweet book for twins as well! :)

 

Here’s what you’ll need for the activity:  coffee filters, scissors, clear tape, and either a laminator (I use mine ALL the time!) or contact paper.

 

1. Stack two coffee filters on top of each other. Fold the filters four times until it looks like the above picture.

2. With the two filters folded, start cutting various shapes into your triangle!

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the remaining 6 coffee filters. When you’re finished, you should have 2 of each design.

4. Unfold and separate each filter and then place inside the laminating pouch (or sandwich it between two pieces of contact paper).

5. Run each snowflake through the laminator and cut out.

6. Mix them up and tape them onto a nearby window or door.

Have your child pull one snowflake off the window and then start trying to find its match!

He found his first match…doesn’t he look thrilled???

Hang them back up with each match side-by-side or find another place to use them!

If you don’t have a use for your laminated snowflakes, consider donating them to your local nursing home. As the wife of a nursing home administrator, I can tell you with absolute certainty that such decorations would be graciously received and greatly appreciated!