Make a Crystal Snowflake
What you'll need:
String
Wide mouth jar
White pipe cleaners
Pink food coloring (optional)
Boiling water (take care or better still get an adult to help)
Borax
Small wooden rod or pencil
Instructions:
1. Take a white pipe cleaner and cut it into three sections of the same size. Twist these sections together in the center so that you now have a shape that looks something like a six-sided star. Make sure the points of your shape are even by trimming them to the same length.
2. Take the top of one of the pipe cleaners and attach another piece of string to it. Tie the opposite end to your small wooden rod or pencil. You will use this to hang your completed snowflake.
3. Carefully fill the jar with boiling water (you might want to get an adult to help with this part).
4. For each cup of water add three tablespoons of borax, adding one tablespoon at a time. Stir until the mixture is dissolved but don’t worry if some of the borax settles at the base of the jar.
5. Add some of the optional pink food coloring if you'd like to give your snowflake a nice pink tinge.
6. Put the pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that the small wooden rod or pencil is resting on the edge of the jar and the snowflake is sitting freely in the borax solution.
7. Leave the snowflake overnight and when you return in the morning you will find the snowflake covered in crystals! It makes a great decoration that you can show your friends or hang somewhere in your house.
Pink Tip:
If you can't find borax, you can use sugar or salt. Add sugar or salt to the boiling water until it stops dissolving. The crystals will take longer to form so be patient!