Patterns for making snowflakes

 by Paula Johanson

If you're studying math, and fractions, sometimes it's hard at first to see the connection between numbers on a page and real life. That's when it's good to do some baking, where bakers use fractions and precise measurements to make wonderful cakes and cookies and pies. "Baking is science for  hungry people," wrote artist and writer Jeph Jacques in Questionable Content, his internet comic strip about friendship, romance, and robots.

There are other ways to use fractions and precision for fun. Do you like cutting paper to make snowflakes? Or do you like learning about marine life, like crabs or salmon or lobsters? How about making paper snowflakes with images of sea life? 

Here's a link to sea life snowflake patterns that can be downloaded for free, printed at home or the library, then cut out carefully to make decorations. Great for a project with budding marine biologists! These patterns were made by Andrea Mulder-Slayer and her husband Geoff Slater at Kinder Art. If you're making paper snowflakes with a mixed group of children and adults, this free set of patterns is a good thing to print out for that craft session.