Let's Make Snowflakes!

Let's Make Snowflakes!

Introduction Have you ever looked closely at a real snowflake? Their intricate designs look similar to lace or delicate crochet patterns. You can make your own snowflake patterns by folding and cutting paper in certain ways. This book will show you how to make three shapes of paper snowflakes. You will also see how adding extra cuts can make each of your snowflakes look different. Let's get started!

Paper and Folds ①Place a piece of copy paper on a table with the long direction going across from left to right. Look at thediagram. Lift the bottom left corner and gently bring it up and toward the right side until the top edges touch. ②Crease the paper on the diagonal fold as in the diagram to crease the right. The top left corner should be a point, and the two top edges should line up together.

③Cut off the thin rectangle of extra paper that sticks out on the right side. ④Open up your paper triangle, and you'll see that you have a square. When you look at the diagonal fold line, can you see how the two triangle shapes can make a square? ⑤Now, fold your square paper in half to make it into a rectangle instead of a triangle. The diagram to the right shows you how.

⑥Next, fold this new rectangular shape in half, and it will make a smaller square. Can you figure out which corner is the center of the paper? Make a dot with a pencil to mark the center so you can find it again later. ⑦Then find the crease and fold your paper one more time. The new shape is a triangle again. Now you're ready to cut out some snowflakes!

Square Snowflakes ①Remember where you marked the dot for the center? Hold your folded paper with the center pointing down. The top edge of the triangle will be the outside of your snowflake. If you leave this edge straight, you will make a snowflake with square sides. Later, you will learn ways to change this outside edge.