I love making snowflakes. Have always loved making snowflakes, but it’s not always the easiest project to do with young children with beginning scissor skills. It isn’t always easy with older children that see lacy, involved snowflakes in their mind, but cutting the design is not feasible. Then you have all that paper – scraps, waste? – newspapers or magazine just don’t work the same as white paper. But making snowflakes is part of the experiences we want for our children right? For me the answer is yes.
Here’s where technology has come in handy this year. I found a sight that allows one to design snowflakes for free with the click of a mouse ~ SnowDays – It’s Always Snowing. Now there are other sites online, but this one worked the best for us. Even my 2 yr old enjoyed. I handled the mouse click and she moved my hand where she wanted. She not only had fun controlling my hand, but the excitement as she saw what was developing. I just kept seeing a smile and hearing “Pretty!”
We all made multiple snowflakes, watched many fall, checked out where others that were made were from and even went on a snowflake search.
Don’t worry we gets lots of scissor time here. Making snowflakes is not about scissor time, but that finished lacy snowflake.
and the one we already knew by Jan Brett 
~ The children discussed their observations about what was the same and different between these 2 stories. I wrote their observations onto our large white board, placing into the correct sections, as guided by the kids. 
The wire was a perfect fit for the hole in the pots. Any odd beads, buttons, etc would work if hole size fit the wire. I drilled holes the size of the wire in 2 corners of the wood block,
shaped the wire and threaded through the pots. Decided to use just the pots because they are different in shape and texture and we use buttons for so many things around here. Pushed wires securely into the holes and done. 
I didn’t glue as the fit was real tight and also leaves me a chance to change out the beads/pots. These are small – just right for little hands and fit nicely on the shelves around the space for storage with easy use. 
I used colored Sharpies for writing in the shape names. My guys are nowhere near reading, but I expose to the written labels for items whenever I can. Then I hit the construction paper scrap box for making the playing pieces from random colors. I cut 12 of each shape, laminated them and we were ready to use. 
Of course we sorted first, then divide the shapes equally between us and the challenge was on. First to sort all their shapes correctly won. Yes, I won, but C was having enough fun that we played 3 times. He’s looking forward to challenging his school age friends.
