Another wave of snow and ice have us all housebound. Dangerous road conditions mean safety takes precedent when it comes to our children. But that doesn’t mean a little fun can’t come out of this weather. We dug up a few simple projects that include a little learning, disguised as fun. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to play mad scientist with these fun and exciting Winter Science Experiments for Kids, that grown-ups will enjoy equally.
Snow Storm in a Jar
Fill a large glass jar with baby oil so it is three quarters of the way full. In a mixing bowl add warm water and enough white paint to create white water. Add enough white water to fill the jar to the very top. Let the kids sprinkle glitter into the jar and allow it to settle at the bottom. Break up a tablet of alka seltzer into tiny pieces. Let the kids drop the pieces of the tablet into the jar and watch the snow storm happen before your eyes.
Shivery Snow Paint Recipe
Chill a bottle of shaving cream and elmers white glue in the refrigerator for six hours or more. Allow the glue to thaw for ten minutes or so, to make it easier to squeeze out. Mix equal parts of glue and shaving cream in a bowl. Let your kids add a generous amount of glitter to the snow paint. Add a two or three drops of peppermint extract and stir ingredients well. Finally it’s time to break out the construction paper and paint brushes and let the kids create a masterpiece, be it a snowman or a likeness of your home in the snow. When the paint dries, it will become fluffy and elastic to the touch, making this a science imitates arts lesson filled with creativity!
Ice Suncatcher
Fill various sized bowls with water and freeze overnight. Remove the bowls from the freezer and loosen the ice using lukewarm water. Place the ice molds on a plastic tray or a cookie sheet, with a few old towels underneath to avoid a wet mess. Set your kids up with a few bowls of salt, liquid watercolors or food color dye and a few plastic spoons. Let your kids sprinkle the salt over the tops of the ice molds and allow them to observe how the salt melts unique cracks, cavities and crevices into the ice. Next, come the decorating. Using the plastic spoons, let your kids pour different colors around the molds, creating beautiful suncatchers. Once they have finished, place the suncatchers outside in the snow or use as a glass painted window for the snow forte or igloo they previously made in the blizzard last week.