Let’s go outside and freeze things!
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| (Image found HERE) |
Start with bubbles – did you know they freeze if you blow
bubbles in weather colder than 32*F?
Blow a bubble, catch it on your wand, and watch it turn into a small
crystal ball. You can also just watch
the liquid crystallize on the wand.
Make popsicles by putting them outside instead of in the
freezer. Make your favorite flavor and
once you have it in the popsicle mold, cover it with plastic wrap if needed and
set it in a safe, cold spot. Wait a few
hours and enjoy!
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| (Image and more ideas can be found at Play at Home Mom) |
Experiment with ice.
Fill a small bucket and a cookie sheet with water and place them in a
safe area outside to freeze. Keep an eye
on them to see which container of water freezes faster.
Once they’re fully frozen, sprinkle salt on half of each
container. What does the salt do? How far down does it affect the ice? Does it make a difference if you add more or
less salt? If you try kosher, rock or
table salt? Try a variation by filling
two small buckets, one with saltwater, one with pure water. Watch and see how long each takes to freeze.
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| (Image and idea found HERE) |
Create ‘ice gems’ by filling small water balloons with water
and food coloring, or placing drops of water on a lined cookie sheet, then
freezing them. See THIS
LINK for details on how to make them.
When you’re finished, use your gems to decorate your front porch,
garden, or yard. Try making the ice
buttons into rainbows by layering different colors of water as they freeze. We put ours in our empty planter pot and they look
beautiful
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| (Image found HERE) |
If you want more color outside, fill some spray bottles (you
can get these from the dollar store) with water and food coloring. Take them outside and create colorful designs
in the snow. Make snow angels and give
them faces and clothing. Or color your
snowman.
If it’s snowing, bring a piece of black construction paper
outside with you. Catch snowflakes on it
and observe the different shapes of each one.
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| (Image and idea found HERE) |
And if you just want to enjoy the wonders of ice indoor, try this SENSORY TUB from COUNTING COCONUTS. It would be especially fun for your littlest ones!
Recommended Reading:
- The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats (Caldecott Medal winner)
- The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder, Mark Cassino
- The Snow Child, Harriet Ziefert
- Charlie and Lola: Snow is my favorite and my best, Lauren Child
- Let It Snow, Maryann Cocca-Leffler
- The Jacket I Wear in the Snow, Shirley Neitzel