Learning About Precipitation

Students in grades three through six learn about snowflake shapes and raindrop sizes through virtual and real life observations. Three lessons are shared in this article. In the first acti... See More

Students in grades three through six learn about snowflake shapes and raindrop sizes through virtual and real life observations. Three lessons are shared in this article. In the first activity students try to estimate the shape, size and distance a raindrop travels. Students working in small groups collect data during a rainfall event. In the second activity students use paper and scissors to create snowflakes. The third activity has them explore a website to learn about the shapes of snowflakes and how they are classified. All three activities are described in full and easy to implement in a classroom. If I were using this information I would introduce activity three before activity two in an effort to make their snowflakes more like real snowflakes and then to possibly classify those they created using the system provided on the website.

Precipitation

I think this article has great potential for teaching observation skills using raindrops and snowflakes. I am concerned about students younger than 6th grade with some of the higher level... See More

I think this article has great potential for teaching observation skills using raindrops and snowflakes. I am concerned about students younger than 6th grade with some of the higher level concepts that are part of the water cycle. After teaching grades 4-6 for many years, I know that many misconceptions are formed when the water cycle is introduced too ealry, or at least that has been my expereince.