Make The Best Crystal Snowflake Ornaments - Science for Kids

Snowflakes are so beautiful and fascinating. Every winter the kids wait patiently for the first snowfall so they can run and play in the snow. If they are lucky, they get to put out their hands or tongues to catch the fallen snowflakes. It’s the best! But the little sparkly snow flurries don’t last long, so to bring a little bit of winter goodness inside you can easily make Crystal Snowflake Ornaments. These beautiful borax crystal snowflakes are a great winter science experiment. Plus they are so much fun to make.

Easy Snowflake Crystals

Make The Best Crystal Snowflake Ornaments – Science for Kids

What you will need to make your Snowflake Crystals is in this picture below. However, I have it displayed in list form towards the bottom of the page. Have fun!

How to Make Crystal Snowflake Ornaments

Start by boiling 4 cups of water and pour it into a large glass measuring cup or bowl. Mix in the borax until it’s dissolved. Make sure the glass container is deep and wide enough so the snowflakes won’t touch the bottom or each other.

To make the snowflakes: Cut 3 pieces of pipe cleaner 3-inches long. Cut 6 pieces about 2-inches long. Twist the 3 longer pieces together at the center, so you have 6 arms sticking out evenly spaced. Take one of the smaller pieces and twist it around the end of one of the arms so each end sticks out. Repeat that using the other 5 pieces. It should look like a snowflake when you are done.

Now tie a piece of string loosely to the end of one snowflake arm on each snowflake. Wrap the other ends of each string around each one of the pencils or wooden spoons, so the snowflakes are hanging about 2 inches from the pencils.

Set the pencils on top of your glass container and dangle the snowflakes down into the borax water. Make sure they are fully submerged in the water and that they don’t touch each other or the sides of the container (a little bit is ok).

Leave it in the borax solution overnight so the crystals will grow on the pipe cleaners.

Remove your snowflakes from the water when they are full of crystals. Cut off the strings from the pencils and lay the snowflakes on paper towels to dry.

Tie a new piece of string on each crystal snowflake ornament for your hanger and hang them on a tree, nature table or use them for a window decoration.

Easy Borax Snowflake Crystals

Aren’t they beautiful?! We have done this science experiment – winter craft at least 3 times and everytime we do it the snowflake crystals come out different, and the kids love it.

These Make Great Homemade Christmas Ornaments – Crystal Snowflake Ornaments

Make Borax Snowflake Crystals

What’s Needed

¾ cup Borax
4 cups Boiling Water
3 Pencils
String
9 Pipe Cleaners, white and blue

Directions

1. Boil 4 cups of water and pour into a glass measuring cup or bowl. Mix in the borax until it’s dissolved. Make sure the glass container is deep and wide enough so the snowflakes won’t touch the bottom or each other.

2. To make one snowflake: Cut 3 pieces of pipe cleaner 3-inches long. Cut 6 pieces about 2-inches long. Twist the 3 longer pieces together at the center so you have 6 arms sticking out evenly spaced. Take one of the smaller pieces and twist it around the end of one of the arms, so each end sticks out. Repeat that using the other 5 pieces. It should look like a snowflake now.

3. Repeat step 2 for the other 2 snowflakes.

4. Now tie a piece of string loosely to the end of one snowflake arm on each snowflake. Wrap the other ends of each string around each one of the pencils, so the snowflakes are hanging about 2 inches from the pencils.

5. Set the pencils on top of your glass container and dangle the snowflakes down into the borax water. Make sure they are fully submerged in the water and that they don’t touch each other or the sides of the container (a little bit is ok).

6. Leave it in the borax solution overnight so the crystals will grow on the pipe cleaners.

7. Remove them from the water when they are full of crystals. Cut off the strings from the pencils and lay the snowflakes on paper towels. Tie a new piece of string on each snowflake for your hanger and hang on the tree or use for any craft.

Fun Science experiment and holiday craft for the kids!