The Secret of Snowflakes

Look closely at a snowflake. What do you see? Each tiny flake is a crystal of ice. It starts high in the sky as tiny water vapor. This vapor freezes into a small crystal. As it falls, more water vapor freezes onto it. This helps it grow bigger. Most snowflakes have six sides, like a star with six points. They get this shape because of how water molecules link together when they freeze. As the snowflake tumbles through the air, it meets different temperatures and moisture. Each little turn and change makes it grow in a special way. This is why no two snowflakes are exactly alike. They all start with six sides, but each one takes a unique journey down to Earth.