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❄️ Week 16: Winter Wonders

Lesson Overview
Grade Level Grades 1-2
Duration 30 minutes
Curriculum Year B
STREAM Focus S (Science), M (Math), A (Arts)

Week 16: Winter Wonders

🎯 Learning Objectives

STEM Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Observe and describe snowflake patterns 2. Identify symmetry in nature 3. Understand how water changes forms (states of matter) 4. Create symmetrical designs

Faith Integration Objectives

Students will be able to: 1. Appreciate God's creativity in unique snowflakes 2. Understand that God creates each person unique too 3. Marvel at the wonder of winter creation

Week 16: Winter Wonders

🙏 Faith-Reason Integration

Catholic Teaching Connection

Unique Creation — Every snowflake is unique — no two are exactly alike! God's creativity is infinite. Just like snowflakes, every person is unique and specially created by God.

Scripture Connection

"He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes." — Psalm 147:16

Saint Connection

St. Hildegard of Bingen — A scientist and artist who saw patterns in nature as signs of God's order. She found God's beauty in all creation, including winter.

📚 Materials Needed

  • Paper for snowflakes

  • Scissors

  • Images of real snowflakes

  • Magnifying glasses

  • Symmetry materials

  • Optional: actual snow if available!

📝 Lesson Procedure (30 minutes)

Opening Prayer (2 min)

"Dear God, You paint the world white with snow. Each tiny snowflake shows Your creativity. Help us see the wonder of winter today and remember that You made each of us unique and special too. Amen."

Introduction: Amazing Snowflakes (6 min)

Show images of real snowflakes:

  • "Every snowflake is different!"

  • "Scientists have studied MILLIONS — none are exactly the same"

  • "How does God create so many unique designs?"

Snowflake science:

  • Water freezes into ice crystals

  • They always have 6 sides (hexagon!)

  • Temperature and humidity create different patterns

  • Each one's journey through the clouds is unique

Symmetry:

  • "Snowflakes have SYMMETRY"

  • "That means one side matches the other"

  • "Fold it in half — both sides are the same"

Faith wonder:

  • "If God makes every snowflake unique, how much MORE unique are YOU?"

  • "You are God's special creation!"

Symmetry Exploration (6 min)

Finding symmetry:

  • Fold paper in half

  • Draw half a shape

  • Cut and unfold — it's symmetrical!

Practice:

  • Simple half-heart → full heart

  • Half-circle → full circle

  • Half-star → full star

Connection:

  • "Snowflakes have six-fold symmetry"

  • "Fold in sixths for snowflakes!"

Snowflake Creation (12 min)

Make paper snowflakes:

Folding steps: 1. Start with square paper 2. Fold in half (triangle) 3. Fold in half again (smaller triangle) 4. Fold in thirds (tricky!) 5. Cut designs on edges 6. Unfold carefully — SNOWFLAKE!

Cutting tips:

  • Cut small shapes

  • Don't cut all the way across

  • Try different patterns

  • Each one will be unique!

While creating:

  • "Your snowflake is unique — just like you!"

  • "No one else will make the exact same one"

  • "God's creativity shows in your creativity"

Display snowflakes:

  • Hold them up

  • Notice: all different!

  • All beautiful!

Discussion:

  • "What makes yours unique?"

  • "What do you notice about everyone's snowflakes?"

Closing (2 min)

Faith connection:

  • "God created YOU unique"

  • "There's no one exactly like you in the whole world"

  • "That's even more amazing than snowflakes!"

Closing Prayer: "Thank You, God, for the wonder of winter — for snow and ice and cold. Thank You for making every snowflake unique and beautiful. Thank You for making ME unique and special. Help me remember that I'm Your wonderful creation. Amen."

📎 Home Connection

"We explored winter wonders and made snowflakes! Ask your child: 'What makes snowflakes special?' 'What is symmetry?' 'What makes YOU unique?' We learned that just like no two snowflakes are alike, God made each person one-of-a-kind. Catch snowflakes on dark paper this winter and look at them with a magnifying glass!"

✅ Assessment

  • Described snowflake characteristics

  • Identified symmetry in snowflakes

  • Created symmetrical paper snowflake

  • Connected uniqueness to God's creation

Lesson Version: 1.0 — Year B | **