# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What's more fun than running outside in the snow, building snow forts, snowmen and the best sledding ramps down the driveway and into the street?How about trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue or gloved finger? The only downside is the snowflakes melt as fast as they fall. Especially when you bring them inside. Using a little kitchen chemistry science, you can make these classic snowflake ornaments and bring a little winter inside. The best part? This is a simple and easy activity. You don't need a lot of science knowledge, materials or time.

Materials

Pipe cleaners (white, if possible)

String

Wide-mouthed jar

Borax (check your local grocer's laundry section)

A pencil

Boiling water

Food coloring (optional)

Scissors

Adult supervision

Instructions

1. Using a pair of scissors, cut a pipe cleaner into three equal sections.

2. Twist the three pipe cleaner sections together at their centers to form a six-sided snowflake. Don't stress if the sides aren't perfectly even, little imperfections make it beautiful.

1. Make sure that the shape can fit through the mouth of the wide-mouthed jar without having to squeeze through. If it can't, trim the sides down.

2. Cut a 4″ length of string to one side of the snowflake. Tie the other end of the string to a pencil. You want the length of your string to be enough that the snowflake hangs into the jar but doesn't touch the bottom. Once you have your length set, remove the apparatus from the jar.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil and pour into the jar. Add 3 tablespoons of borax per each cup of water a stir. It's alright if some borax settles to the bottom of the jar.

4. If you want a colored snowflake, stir in some food coloring.

5. Hang the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar with the pencil resting on top of the jar. Make sure that you've added enough water to completely submerge the snowflake.

6. Put the jar somewhere where it is safe from being disturbed. Seriously! You don't even want it to be bumped! Let it stay there overnight.

7. The next day, check out the gorgeous crystals! Untie the string from the pencil and you've got yourself a great holiday decoration.

What is the Science Behind?

So, you put a bunch of pipe cleaners that had been twisted into a snowflake shape into a solution of borax and water. How in the world did it turn into this beautiful crystal snowflake?

When you mixed the borax in with the water, you created a suspension. A suspension is a mixture that contains solid particles large enough to settle out. By mixing the borax into hot water, instead of room temperature or cold water, the borax stays suspended longer within the water.

As the borax begins to settle out, or sediment, it begins to crystallize.

You'll see this crystallization on both the bottom of the jar and, you got it, on your snowflake. The borax continues to sediment on top of the snowflake and on top of other borax crystals until you pull it out of the water the next morning.

We are proud to be co-hosting a Winter Holiday Hop with Projects for Preschoolers. Visit their site to enter the Holiday Sweepstakes and win some fun prizes to kick off the holiday season.
Visit all of our participants sites to find fabulous Winter Holiday Inspiration:
Share your holiday inspirations, activities and how you plan to teach your children about the spirit of giving this holiday season.
// <![CDATA[
document.write('');
// ]]>

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Borax Crystal Snowflake Ornaments - Kids Winter Blog Hop - Steve Spangler Science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What's more fun than running outside in the snow, building snow forts, snowmen and the best sledding ramps down the driveway and into the street?How about trying to catch snowflakes on your tongue or gloved finger? The only downside is the snowflakes melt as fast as they fall.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Starfall Education: Kids Games, Movies, Books & Music for K-5 and above

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
At Starfall, children have fun while they learn - specializing in reading, phonics & math - educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for children K-5 and above.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Nitro Type | Competitive Typing Game | Race Your Friends

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Amp up your typing speed while competing against others around the globe in our fun online typing game! Free to play and fit for all ages. Start racing now!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Practice addition, multiplication, fractions and algebraic reasoning with our popular math games. Discover fun learning games kids love to play.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Online Learning & Education For Kids | Funbrain

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Funbrain is the leader in online educational interactive content, with hundreds of free games, books & videos for kids of all ages. Check out Funbrain here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In order to log in and use this website, you need to enable "cookies" in your browser.

How you enable cookies will depend on your browser. It will generally be found in the Security settings under "Internet Options" or "Preferences".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In order to log in and use this website, you need to enable "cookies" in your browser. How you enable cookies will depend on your browser. It will generally be found in the Security settings under "Internet Options" or "Preferences".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
NASA.gov brings you the latest news, images and videos from America's space agency, pioneering the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Poptropica, a virtual world for kids to travel, play games, compete in head-to-head competition, and communicate safely. Kids can also read books, comics, and see movie clips while they play.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you want to play fun 5th grade math games? The games on this website are interactive and educational in the same time. Here you can fing interesting games such as car racing games, football math games, basketball math games,soccer games, baseball games, jeopardy games, and millionaire games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Shows

This Day In History

Schedule

Topics

Stories

Navigation Menu

1. Live TV

2. Shows

3. This Day In History

4. Schedule

5. Topics

6. Stories

7. Videos

8. HISTORY Podcasts

9. HISTORY Vault

10. Shop

11. History Travel
For information about The HISTORY® Channel themed travel, you can visit historytravel.com. HISTORY Travel™ is created, operated and managed by Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.

Link HISTORY on facebook

Link HISTORY on twitter

Link HISTORY on youtube

Link HISTORY on instagram

Explore Trips

HISTORY Travel™

Learn about exciting The HISTORY® Channel-themed trips operated by Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.

New Episodes Shows In Premiere

Free Episodes Watch Select Episodes Without Signing In

HISTORY Vault Sign Up for a Free Trial

Coming Soon

This Is HISTORY Editorial Features

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
HISTORY | Watch Full Episodes of Your Favorite Shows

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Watch full episodes of your favorite HISTORY series, and dive into thousands of historical articles and videos. To know History is to know life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Educational games and videos from Curious George, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows!