Simple Science: Make a Crystal Snowflake

Here’s a simple science experiment to do at home or with the whole class.  Grow crystal snowflakes!  Learn about crystals and keep the finished products to decorate your room or classroom.

Supplies:

  • pipecleaner, cut into 3 equal length pieces
  • string or yarn
  • 500 ml yogurt container or mason jar
  • hot or boiling water
  • borax
  • pencil or dowel

What to do:

  1. Twist the pipecleaners together in the centre of each piece, and move ends around to make a star shape.

    Crystal Snowflake from borax and water

  2. Wrap one end of string around a point of your ‘snowflake’.  Then carry string to next point and wrap & continue to next point etc.  Wrap string around all points until back to the first point.  Then make a loop of string and secure the other end to pencil or dowel.

    Science for kids - make snowflake crystals

  3. Pour boiling water into yogurt container or mason jar.  Add 3 tablespoons of borax for every cup of water.  Stir to dissolve mixture.
  4. Hang snowflake in water overnight.  The dowel or pencil can sit across the jar or container opening to keep the snowflake suspended.

    Crystal Snowflake for winter science units

  5. Check on your snowflake the next day – it should be a crystally snowflake!

    Snow Theme Grow Crystals make snowflakes with borax

How this works:

When water is heated up, the water molecules move more quickly and spread apart, so the Borax (sodium borate) can easily dissolve.  When the water cools down, the water molecules start to move back together again, and the Borax starts to settle out.  Crystals start to form on top of each other and will cling to the pipecleaners in the water, creating a beautiful snowflake!