Art and Culture Center of Hollywood

Distance Learning

Integrated Art Lesson Title: Ultimate (Kirigami) Snowflakes

Description and Overall Focus: Students will learn how to make unusual snowflakes by using
the Japanese art form of Kirigami to fold and cut their
creations.

Length of Lesson 45 minutes – 1 hour

Grade Range Lower/Upper Elementary

Sunshine State Standards (see attached)

Objective(s) Students will begin by learning about Kirigami and how it is a

method of folding and cutting paper that is used by the
Japanese. They will be introduced to Douglas Scissorhands (a
Kirigami artist) and be shown his creations.

They will also learn about the “Snowflake Man” (Wilson A.

Bentley) who became the first person to photograph a single
snow crystal.

They then will create their own snowflakes after learning about
the different kinds (Hawaiian, famous personality, etc.).

Materials: PLEASE NOTE: Some Scissors

materials must be acquired Pencil
Eraser
prior to this lesson Coffee filters (10 “) or
9” X 12” Construction paper (pre-cut into a circle)

Introductory activity Students will begin by learning about the history of Kirigami
and be shown the work of Douglas Scissorhands (a Kirigami
artist).

They then will be given background into the “Snowflake Man”

(Wilson A. Bentley) and the history of snowflake photographs.

Core activity Students will be shown some examples of Hawaiian and

Famous People snowflakes.

They then will create their own snowflakes using the Kirigami
method of folding and cutting.

Closure activity Students will complete their snowflakes and share their work
with others in the Distance Learning audience.

Assessment Students will have learned about snowflakes, their discovery,

and the wonderful art form of Japanese Kirigami.
Teacher follow-up idea Teachers can have students take their white (coffee filter)
snowflake and allow them to mount it on colored paper, or
they can be placed on display in a window or on a bulletin
board.

Student follow-up idea Students can make snowflakes online using the web site listed
below.

Book/Web references http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/symmetry/snow.htm

(online snowflake site)
http://www.papersnowflakes.com/3dsnowflakes.htm
(3-D snowflake craft patterns to print and color)
http://www..hollywoodsnowlakes.com/patterns.htm
(celebrity snowflake patterns)

Snow Crystals by Wilson a. Bentley

Robert’s Snowflakes by Grace Lin
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood

www.artandculturecenter.org
Lesson plan prepared by Sherie Tengbergen, artist and educator