Students recently took part in a hands-on activity that combined science, math, and imagination. Inspired by the story of Wilson Bentley, the photographer who famously captured the tiny details of snowflakes, the students explored how snowflakes form their unique hexagonal shapes.
“We were trying to find fun things to do to keep them engaged,” said Foley. “My teaching partner, Katie Livingstone, had this great reading passage on snowflakes and how they’re all hexagons, tying into shapes and the science behind it. So, we read that, and there were some great questions that went along with it.”
For the class, reading was just the beginning. Next, the students used toothpicks and marshmallows to create their own hexagonal shapes and experiment with different designs. The goal was to make sure their creations were true hexagons—not just fun shapes.
“They liked figuring out how many different ways they could create a hexagon with the toothpicks and marshmallows,” Foley explained. “Some of them used mini marshmallows to make the center of the snowflake. A lot of kids asked for extra marshmallows so they could make a bigger center and then build out from there. I said, ‘Here’s another handful of marshmallows—build away!’”
The timing of the project couldn’t have been better. “That day it snowed, and we were out at dismissal, and they were looking at the snowflakes that were falling on their coats,” Foley shared. “They were saying, ‘They really are hexagons. They’re not just like balls!’”
While the marshmallows and snowflakes added some fun, Foley hopes her students walked away with a deeper understanding. “I hope they take away that everything is connected—reading, math, science—it all comes together,” she said.
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About Detroit Merit Charter Academy
Detroit Merit Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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