water ice experiments

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Easy Ice Experiments for Kids

September 11, 2018 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Ice experiments are always fun, easy to set up, and often mess-free! These investigations are great for cooling down in summer, and if it’s cold enough in winter, you could try leaving water in a mould or tray outside overnight to see if it freezes without a freezer.

Don’t forget I have lots of FREE printable science experiments you might also like!

Ice Experiments for Kids

Easy ice excavations.

First up is this easy LEGO ice excavation . How could you speed up the melting of the ice? Try dropping warm and cold water over the ice with a dropper, pipette or spoon. Older children can try adding a little salt.

Another idea is to experiment with either lots of small excavations or even a giant one!

Why does salt melt ice faster?

Do you know what happens when you put salt onto ice ? Find out with these easy investigations, including making ice cream from milk and frost appear on the outside of a tin can!

Adding salt to an ice cube also allows you to lift an ice cube with a piece of string !

Why did the titanic sink?

Discover one of the reasons the Titanic hit an iceberg by making your own icebergs.

Creative ice experiments

The Artful Parent has a beautiful melting ice, salt and watercolour experiment .

Freeze small plastic fish inside an ice cube and try some ice fishing ! This is a lovely preschool science activity where children discover how water temperature impacts how fast the ice melts.

Make some pretty ice decorations . Is it cold enough for them to freeze overnight?

Try some ice painting ; this is great fun for even very young children, as once the ice starts to melt, paintbrushes glide over the surface easily. Once you’ve finished painting, wipe the surface and paint again.

We love these frozen Elsa hands from Happy Hooligans.

Ice Experiments in the kitchen

Making ice cream in a bag is another excellent demonstration of the effect of salt on ice .

Make slushy drinks from fruit juice frozen into ice cubes.

Make hot ice – a science illusion

Did you know you can make  hot ice ?

Finally, test your hockey skills with this mini ice hockey rink .

Can you think of any more ice experiment ideas for us?

More science experiments for kids

Find out why ice feels sticky to the touch .

Try one of my winter science experiments and STEM Challenges.

Little ones will love these sensory snow recipes too!

Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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Instant Ice Science Experiment

This science experiment is an exciting experiment to show your child water transforming from liquid to a solid instantaneously!

The Instant Ice experiment shows the transformation from liquid to solid in an instant! When purified water is supercooled (cooled below freezing point), it will instantly turn from a liquid to a solid when it is disturbed. This could be by a jolt to the container or just adding an ice cube to it.

To make it more exciting, your child can create fun ice sculptures while pouring the supercooled water. Since it only takes a few items that you likely have on hand, this is an easy at-home experiment.

How to make the Instant Ice experiment

Supplies you will need.

For the Instant Ice experiment, you’ll need:

• Bottles of purified water
• A freezer with space to lay bottles flat

Before you start

I found that water bottles with harder plastic tended to be easier to handle than softer plastic. I used Dasani water bottles and had a much easier time than with a softer plastic bottle like Zephyrhills.

Instructions

Here is how to do the Instant Ice experiment:

Step 1: Place your water bottle(s) in the freezer on their side

I wanted to have a few water bottles in the freezer, just in case I accidentally messed up on the experiment.

It varies for everyone, but your water bottles will likely need at least 1.5 hours to get ready, likely more. Mine needed about 2.5 hours.

If, by 1.5 hours, your water bottles are not ready, check back every 15-20 minutes.

Optional (but encouraged): I also added a water bottle with tap water in it as a control. Once the tap water bottle froze and the purified water was still liquid, I knew it was ready to go.

Step 2: Carefully open the water bottle

Remember how I mentioned that a simple jolt could ignite the freeze? Since you have to hold the bottle in order to unscrew the cap, you will want to be careful about the amount of pressure you place on the bottle.

Step 3: Pour the supercooled water into the empty container

You won’t have to be as careful with this step.

Step 4: Start the freeze!

Take a piece of ice and simply touch it to the surface of the supercooled water. You won’t have to hold it for long: it should instantly activate the freeze and you will be able to see the water transform to ice!

The ice cube you added will sit on top at this point.

Get your child involved : Let your child touch the ice cube to the top of the water and ignite the freeze. They will feel like they have superpowers!

Step 5: Add water to create ice sculptures

You can do this in either container (the newly-formed ice or the container with ice cubes).

Slowly pour the water out of the water bottle and into these containers to create fun ice sculptures!

Get your child involved : Allow your child free reign over the ice sculptures. Let them get creative! There’s no right or wrong with this step.

Here’s a quick video of creating ice sculptures:

The science behind the Instant Ice science experiment

The Instant Ice experiment showcases the transformation from a liquid to a solid in an instant.

How it works

This experiment studies supercooled water, which is when the water’s temperature falls below freezing but does not actually freeze.

When water is very pure, it is difficult for ice crystals to form because they need what is called a “nucleation point” (the first step in the formation of a new thermodynamic phase) to begin freezing.

When supercooled water is disturbed (by hitting it or introducing a piece of ice, like in our experiment), it instantly turns to ice!

More chemistry experiments to try out with your child

• Fizzing lemons experiment – using lemons and baking soda to make a lemon volcano
• Homemade lava lamp – vinegar and baking soda bubble around in a container of oil
• Magnetic Slime – classic slime, but with an interactive lesson in magnets

FAQ about the Instant Ice Experiment

Does the plastic bottle have to be a harder or softer plastic.

In my opinion, plastic bottles with harder plastic allow you to handle them easier in their supercooled state than a softer plastic bottle. When I used a softer plastic bottle, I initiated the freeze accidentally every time.

Can you make instant ice with tap water?

For this experiment, it is not recommended to use regular tap water. Tap water holds contaminants that could be enough for a nucleation point, which would trigger the freeze when the water reaches the freezing point. By using purified water, you have no contaminants, which will allow your water to stay a liquid well under freezing temperatures.

Related experiments

The Science Scoop: How to make ice cream in a bag (and learn while you do!)

I've got a very tasty science experiment to do today! Making ice cream in a bag is all science! This exciting experiment allows you to create your own frozen treat while delving into the world of...

Instant Ice: Winter Science Experiment for Kids

My kids love science projects that involve something that looks just a bit like magic. We’ve had a lot of fun making glow-in-the-dark projects, flying projects, and anything that has a “wow” factor. This winter, we resolved to try and make instant ice. We knew the project could be a bit tricky, but we didn’t have any problems with it at all! The experiment turned out just as it ought to, which is always a great feeling!

Watch ice form before your very eyes in this fun science experiment!

You’ll need just a few things for this project:

• Water bottles (we used a dozen, just in case!)

Place 6-12 water bottles in your freezer (or you can do it outside, but the temperature is less predictable out there). Lay them flat on their sides rather than upright. For some reason, they freeze better this way. If your kids want to experiment, place some upright and some on their sides and see which one works best!

Cool the water for about two to two and a half hours. At the two hour mark, take out one bottle and test it. If you can slam it on the counter and nothing forms, the water isn’t cool enough yet. When you get one that hardens, it is ready to go, but you’ll have to work quickly!

Turn bowl upside down over a towel (to catch the spills) and place a large ice cube on the bowl.

Carefully pour the water slowly onto the ice cube.

The water will create a column of frozen ice!

In about 20 seconds, the water will get too warm for this trick to work. But you can repeat it with all the water bottles you have!

Instant Ice Science Explained

The trick to this experiment is super-cooled water. You’re catching the water when it is cold enough to freeze, but hasn’t quite frozen yet. When ice freezes, the water forms small crystals that gradually spread. If you catch the cold water before the crystals have time to form, you can still pour out the water and it will freeze as you pour. Pouring it over an ice cube triggers crystals to form faster than they normally would.

You can get a similar effect by smashing a still-closed bottle of super-cooled water onto a hard surface. This triggers the crystals to form, instantly hardening the ice inside the bottle. The weather term for this process is called a “snap freeze.”

Ice Science Vocabulary

Celsius – Celsius (or “degrees Celsius”, or sometimes “Centigrade”) is a temperature scale. It is used to tell how hot or cold something is and is often written as °C. Water will freeze at 0°C and boil at 100°C

Fahrenheit – is also a temperature scale, typically used in the United States. We use it to tell how hot or cold something is. It is often written as °F. Water will freeze at 32°F and boil. at 212°F.

Snap-freeze –  a term used to describe a process by which a scientific sample is lowered to temperatures below -70 °C, very quickly. This is often accomplished by submerging a sample in liquid nitrogen. This prevents water from crystalizing when it forms ice, and so better preserves the structure of the sample.

Liquid Nitrogen – Nitrogen turns liquid at -210 degrees Celsius or  -346 degrees Fahrenheit. When nitrogen is liquid, it looks a lot like water.

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More fun science for kids:

Instant Freeze Water – Bottle Slam

Sharply knock a bottle of supercooled liquid water on the table and it instantly turns to slushy ice before your eyes.

Print this Experiment

You put a plastic bottle of soda pop or water in the freezer for a few minutes to get it ice cold. It’s still a liquid when you take it out to enjoy but the second you twist the cap, the liquid instantly turns to slush! The process is amazing to watch but hard to repeat.  This is a great illustration of how supercooled liquids defy freezing even at temperatures well below their freezing points. You’ll need some ice, salt, and several unopened plastic bottles of purified water to attempt this science demo. It’s cool… below-the-freezing-point cool!

But first… If this happens to work on your very first attempt, go buy a lottery ticket! You have to be patient and understand that all of the measurements of time, ice, water, and rock salt are summaries of what has worked for others. Shoot a video of every attempt you make to document your hits and misses – and plan on several misses, too. When the ice crystals do begin to form in the water as planned, expect to hear lots of spontaneous screams and cheers coming from – you! It really is cool. Just remember: NO glass bottles!

Experiment Videos

Here's What You'll Need

Caution: do not use glass bottles, water: bottled, purified, or distilled (several bottles, refrigerated), large, deep bowl or container, crushed ice, thermometer, adult supervision, let's try it.

Nearly fill the container with ice.

Shove two refrigerated, plastic water bottles deeply into the ice. Keep them close to the center of the bowl but keep each surrounded by and buried in ice as much as possible.

Scatter a generous amount of rock salt all over the surface of the ice.

Insert the thermometer into the ice between the bottles. Monitor the temperature. Over the next half-hour, the temperature will fall slowly. Add ice and salt to the container as needed to keep the bottles buried in it. Watch that thermometer!

The temperature in the bowl needs to drop to 17℉ (-8℃). If the water gets too much colder, it may freeze prematurely.

After the water has been this cold for 10 minutes (and is still a liquid), gently remove a bottle from the ice/salt mixture. Strike the bottle sharply against the table. Ice crystals may immediately form near the top of the bottle and quickly move down through the liquid. Carefully remove the second bottle and twist open the cap. The same instant freezing will likely occur from the top down.

How Does It Work

You used salt and ice to drop the temperature in the chill mixture below the normal freezing point of water. This is called “freezing point depression.” This very cold salt water can be used to cool other water and soda samples below their normal freezing point to discover which of them can be be supercooled. You might also discover which samples freeze at their normal freezing points no matter what.

When water freezes, the molecules come together in a very orderly way and form a crystalline structure. Because of this, water molecules as ice have less energy than water molecules as liquid. That means to go from liquid water to solid water, the molecules have to lose heat energy. In other words, as supercooled water freezes when you tap it or open it, it also warms up the rest of the water. This heating may allow only ten or twenty percent of the water to freeze and that accounts for slush being in the bottle instead of it being a solid chunk. The formation of ice crystals happens very quickly but heat flows slowly in water.

When water is cooled to its freezing point, ice crystals can begin to collect in the water. Like snow flakes, these crystals need something on which to grow and they use microscopic impurities in the water or locations on the bottle to do just that. If you work with really pure water and cool it slowly to produce supercooled water as a liquid, there’s different outcome. When an impurity (e.g. an ice crystal) is added to this supercooled pure water, it speeds up the crystallization process even more. The water instantly freezes solid with no slush in it anywhere. This is called “snap freezing.”

If you supercool soda water or soda pop, there are some other factors to consider. When soda pop is produced, large quantities of additives (like sugar, colors, and flavorings) as well as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) are pumped into water. These additives are called solutes and when solutes are added to a liquid such as water (the solvent), the freezing point of the water drops. By lowering the freezing point, soda has to reach a much colder temperature than plain water to freeze. The carbon dioxide gas in the soda is maintained only as long as the bottle is kept sealed. When the bottle is opened and you hear that “whoosh” of gas and foam rushing out of the bottle, the concentration of solutes in the water quickly goes down. The freezing point goes up and, without all those solutes, the soda freezes very quickly. Of course, all those bubbles provide places for the ice crystals to begin forming, too. You can test this by tapping a supercooled bottle of soda pop without opening it. Bubbles will form after the tap and freezing will likely occur.

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Top 10 Ice Experiments for Kids

Explore the wonders of ice through these exciting experiments!

We’ve selected the best, fascinating ice-related science experiments designed to awaken your inner scientist, even on the coldest days! These hands-on, educational activities promise not only to improve your understanding of ice’s cool attributes but also to spark a love for scientific exploration.

These experiments can be performed in the classroom and are appropriate for students of all ages and scientific proficiency levels.

1. Fishing for Ice Experiment

In this experiment, students will create their ice fishing setup using a piece of yarn or string, and then simulate the process of fishing through the ice.

2. Colorful Melting Ice Ball Patterns

This experiment is a great way to incorporate art and creativity into the science classroom. This experiment can help students develop important scientific skills such as observation, measurement, and data analysis.

By conducting this kind of hands-on experiments, students can gain a deeper understanding of scientific concepts and learn to think like scientists.

3. Ice Excavation

The simple ice excavation experiment is a thrilling and educational activity that may teach children about the characteristics of ice and the concepts of excavation.

Students can investigate the physical characteristics of ice and learn about the methods used by archaeologists and paleontologists to unearth fossils and artifacts by freezing small toys or objects in a block of ice and then excavating them using different tools.

Learn more: Easy Ice Excavation

4. Make an Instant Ice Experiment

Students should try this experiment because it is a fun and engaging way to learn about the science of ice formation and the principles of thermodynamics.

5. Make an Iceberg Experiment

Have you thought about the formation of icebergs and how they impact ship behavior? Students can learn about the characteristics of water, the principles of buoyancy, and the factors that influence iceberg behavior through this exercise.

Learn more: Titanic Science- Make an Iceberg

6. Frost in a Can

Students can develop a stronger appreciation for the natural world and a deeper knowledge of scientific ideas by participating in hands-on activities like the frost in a can experiment.

Frost in a can is a simple but fascinating experiment that demonstrates the science of how frost forms.

7. How to Keep Ice Longer? | Kid Ice Experiment

Have you ever wondered a way to slow down the melting of ice? Students will investigate several methods and supplies in this project that can be used to protect ice from melting too quickly.

8. Glowing Ice Cubes

In this experiment, students will create their own glowing ice cubes using tonic water and a black light, and then observe the colorful patterns as they melt.

Learn more: Glowing Ice-Cubes

9. Grow Your Own Spike

By observing the behavior of the spike and the water, students can gain a deeper understanding of the properties of water.

Students can develop a deeper comprehension of scientific ideas and develop their capacity for scientific thought by engaging in practical experiments like this.

Learn more: Ice Science: Grow Your Own Ice Spikes!

10. Burning Ice

The fascinating and educational burning ice experiment involves lighting a piece of ice on fire. The science of combustion and the characteristics of water can both be introduced to students through the use of this experiment.

It’s important to keep in mind that this experiment can be hazardous and shouldn’t be carried out without the appropriate supervision and safety measures.

Similar Posts:

• 68 Best Chemistry Experiments: Learn About Chemical Reactions
• 37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy
• Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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Ice Science Experiments

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Kids don’t have to live in a cold climate to be fascinated with ice. In fact, the hot days of summer make most of us crave ice! In the following science experiments, kids can watch ice molecules interact with water molecules , try their hand as insulating an ice cube, and learn how salt works together with ice as homeschool students lift an ice cube with a piece of string and then make ice cream.

Density Science Experiment

Water molecules, in liquid form, move around hitching and unhitching themselves to other water molecules. As the molecules lose heat, their movements slow and they lose the ability to unhitch themselves from other molecules. These loose bonds form lattice patterns with space between the molecules. This spacing is the reason ice is less dense than water and can float.

Freeze food-color tinted water in a small paper cup. Remove the colored ice from the cup and place it in a large glass of warm water. As the ice melts, watch the resulting colored water. What happens as it gets warmer?

Related Post: Convection Current Experiment

Make an Icebox Science Experiment

Before electricity, people harvested ice in the winter from frozen lakes and then stored it in icehouses for use in refrigeration during the rest of the year. The key to a good icehouse is proper insulation. The insulation needed to be dense enough to prevent warm air from reaching the ice cube.

When warm air comes in contact with slower-moving ice molecules, energy is transferred from the air to the ice. When the water molecules move faster, the ice melts.

In this experiment, kids can make their own icehouse and experiment with different types of insulating materials. Grab these supplies:

• 4 or 5 pint-sized cardboard milk cartons
• various materials for insulation, such as straw, hay, grass, cotton, dirt, sand, dried beans, etc.

Pack all but one milk carton with an insulating material using one type of material in each carton. Place an ice cube in the middle of the material. Then, close the carton.

In the remaining carton, place an ice cube without any insulation. Set all the cartons near a heater or put them outside if it is warm. After fifteen or twenty minutes, compare the sizes of all the ice cubes. Which material made the best insulation?

Salt And Ice Experiment

For this experiment, you are going to need a glass of water, ice, a string, and salt. Fill your glass 3/4 with water. Add a few ice cubes to the glass of water. Next, lay a piece of string on the ice cubes and sprinkle salt over the string.

Wait about a minute or so and then lift the string out of the water. When you lift the string, an ice cube should come with it! How did the ice get attached to the string?

Salt lowers the freezing point of water below 32 degrees. This causes the ice around the string to melt. This water refroze onto the string when it was cooled by the surrounding molecules.

We, also, use this principle of lowering the freezing point of water when we make ice cream.

Related post: Salt And Ice Experiment

Making Ice Cream Experiment

The ingredients in ice cream do not freeze at 32 degrees F like water. They need to be colder. If we are making homemade ice cream and are using ice to cool the ingredients, how do we lower the temperature of ice? Add salt!

As demonstrated in the experiment above, salt lowers the freezing/melting point of water. Adding salt to an ice-water mix can lower the temperature 8-10 degrees F. We can use an ice-water-salt mix to get the temperature of the ingredients enough to make ice cream.

To try this out, you will need these supplies:

• two sandwich-size Ziploc bags
• two cups of ice
• 8 tablespoons of kosher salt
• 1/2 cup of milk
• one tablespoon of sugar
• ¼ tablespoon vanilla

In one bag, add the milk, sugar, and vanilla. Squeeze out as much air as possible and then seal the bag. Add one cup of ice and four tablespoons of salt into the other bag. Place the sealed ingredient bag inside the ice bag. Add the remaining ice and salt.

Seal the bag and shake for ten minutes. Look to see if the ice cream is done. If it isn’t, shake for a couple more minutes. Grab a spoon and enjoy!

Try this again, but don’t add salt to the ice. What happened?

Add these activities to lesson plans for ice, water density, molecules, or winter. Younger children will also enjoy doing these activities (especially making ice cream), even if they are too young for the concept of molecules.

I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director.  I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.

This educational resource is part of the Cool As Ice spotlight

Make Supercool Fruit Pops

Grade level, 15 min - 1 hr, activity type:, crystallization , ice , nucleation , molecules , heat.

These Aha! resources are also available in Spanish !

When you cool water down below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), it should freeze, right?

Well, that’s not always what happens.

Most of the time, when water dips below its freezing point, it transitions from a liquid state to a solid state, which you know as ice. However, under the right conditions, pure water can remain a liquid even when cooled to well below its freezing point. When water remains a liquid below its freezing point, it is called supercooled water .

How do you supercool water, and what causes it to finally freeze solid? To find out, let’s make supercool fruit pops. Here’s how:

Wooden skewers or toothpicks

Chunks of fruit, like bananas, strawberries, peaches, or pineapple

Ice and access to a freezer

Distilled water

Large glass or metal bowl

Small glass bowl or jar

Make supercooled water

• Freeze fruit on a skewer in the freezer for at least two hours.
• Fill a small glass jar one-third of the way with distilled water.
• Place the jar in the center of a large bowl and surround the jar with ice, making sure the ice comes up past the height of the water on the sides of the jar.
• Sprinkle a dusting of salt over the ice, being careful not to get any salt in the water in the jar.
• Rest a kitchen thermometer in the jar. Leave the jar in the bowl full of ice until the thermometer reads 30 F or below.
• When the water is below 30 F, carefully remove the thermometer from the jar. If your water is still liquid at this temperature, congrats! You’ve created supercooled water! If not, dump the ice that has formed in the jar and try again.
• Remove a frozen fruit skewer from the freezer and gently place it in the supercooled water in the jar. You should see ice crystals form around the fruit pop. Once the ice crystals have formed, remove the fruit skewer and observe (and eat) your frozen water masterpiece!

Be curious, ask questions, mess with stuff

• Does supercooled water look any different from room-temperature water? If the thermometer hadn’t been in the water as it cooled, would you have been able to tell from its appearance that it was supercooled?
• What happened when you put the frozen fruit into the supercooled water? Be as specific as possible.
• How did the water change? Did ice crystals form? If so, where did they begin to form? How did they grow?
• Did all the water in the jar turn into ice crystals, or did some water remain? Try putting more frozen fruit in whatever water remained in the jar. Did that fruit instantly freeze, too? Why or why not? Use a kitchen thermometer to test your prediction.
• Examine the ice crystals that formed on your fruit pop. What do they look like? Are they smooth and glassy, or are they spikey? Is the ice that formed thick or thin?

AHA! Ice crystals help supercooled water freeze!

In order to get an idea of what just happened in your glass jar, you have to picture water at the molecular level. Each water molecule consists of a pair of hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. In a warm liquid state, water molecules bounce around and collide with one another constantly and randomly, propelled by energy in the form of heat.

But when water is frozen solid, water molecules don’t really move around. Instead, they’re arranged in a rigid, highly organized, three-dimensional grid called a crystal, where they vibrate in place. If you’ve ever noticed frost on a window, peered into an ice cube, or seen a snowflake, you’ve observed the results of this molecular organization process, called crystallization.

So, how do you get water molecules in a liquid state to arrange themselves into crystals? First you have to slow them down—and to do that, you have to drop the temperature, just like you did when you chilled the water in an ice bath. Second, you have to give those chilled water molecules something to crystallize around, called a “ seed .”

In your experiment, the seed you provided was in the form of tiny ice crystals on the outside of your frozen fruit pop! Those tiny crystals acted like a pattern, or template, for water crystal formation, providing a guide to help water molecules arrange themselves into a crystal lattice. The initial formation of crystals around a seed crystal is called nucleation , and is an essential first step in the process of crystallization.

Many substances can seed crystallization in supercooled water, even impurities like dust, other minerals, and tiny air bubbles. That’s why it’s best to use purified water like distilled or filtered water when making supercooled water!

Experiment more, make predictions. It’s what scientists do.

• Ask questions: What other things could you use as a seed crystal for water crystallization?
• Modify the experiment : Repeat this experiment, but instead of putting the fruit pop into the supercooled jar of water, hold your frozen fruit pop over the sink and pour the supercooled water over the top of it. How does the ice formed with this method differ from the ice that was formed when you dipped the fruit into the supercooled water?
• Make a prediction: What other substances besides frozen fruit would cause crystal formation in supercooled water? Can you make ice crystals form on a non-frozen fruit pop? What about on a jellybean or a plain ice cube? Repeat the experiment using different substances to seed crystallization, adding the ice in your bowl as needed to keep your experiment cool.
• Document your results : Write down all the different versions of this experiment that you try, snapping pictures of the ice that you create, and describing differences in ice crystals between experiments.

Aha!  by Science Friday, is a series of short science experiments that you can do in 15 minutes or less, with materials you can find at home.

Meet the Writer

About ariel zych.

Ariel Zych is Science Friday’s director of audience. She is a former teacher and scientist who spends her free time making food, watching arthropods, and being outside.

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Melting Ice Science Experiments {Fun!}

January 23, 2021, join the conversation, categories/tags:, ages 5-7 ages 8-10 stem activities, want these great ideas sent right to your inbox sign up for the newsletter..

Here are two ice science experiments that are perfect for winter or for any time that you are studying states of matter. Both of these experiments use simple supplies from the kitchen, so they’ll be easy to set up .

First we’ll explore the volume of ice compared to the volume of water. Then we’ll answer the question, “Why does salt make ice melt faster?”

I would recommend both of these ice science experiments for the elementary grades (ages 6-10). You can definitely do them with preschoolers and kindergartners as well, but I think the first grade and up crowd will be able to more fully understand what’s going on.

Experiment #1: How much space does ice take up compared to water?

This science experiment was inspired by the classic experiment where you fill a jar with snow, let it melt, and then compare the volume of water to the original volume of snow. It’s amazing how much LESS space the water takes up! However, some of us don’t have snow. Like, almost ever. So here’s a way to do a similar experiment with ice!

First, find a clean empty jar and a dry erase marker. Fill the jar with ice. We chose to fill ours to the point where ice was sticking out at the top!

Draw a line on the jar to show where you think the water level will be when all the ice has melted.

We have two lines – one for Janie’s guess and one for Jonathan’s guess.

It will take several hours for all the ice to melt, so if you’re doing this experiment at school, you’ll want to start on it very early in the day.

Check in on the ice from time to time to see the progress!

Here’s what our jar looked like when all the ice had melted!

States of Matter Science Lesson

Once the ice has melted, you can discuss WHY water takes up so much less space!

• The cubes of ice had air in between them, and the air was taking up space in the jar . Ice is a solid, and solids don’t take the shape of the container. So even though the jar was full of ice, it wasn’t completely full.
• Ice takes up more space that the same amount of water . The molecules in ice (a solid) are arranged neatly in a regular pattern. When the molecules in the ice gain more energy (from the heat in the room around them), they begin to move around. The molecules in a liquid have more energy and move around freely, so water is able to take the shape of its container while ice cannot. Water expands as it freezes because of the shape of its molecules and the angles between them. The crystalline structure of ice takes up more space than water, which is a good thing! Most liquids contract as they freeze. The fact that water expands allows ice to float in the ocean, rather than sinking to the bottom, which would be very bad for marine life!

Experiment #2: What substance will make ice melt faster?

In this experiment, we’re going to test 4 different substances to see if any of them affect how fast ice melts.

We chose to use sand, salt, sugar, and baking soda, but you can compare other substances if you want! Just make sure one of them is salt. 🙂

I chose to use all solids rather than a combination of solids and liquids. If we poured a liquid on the ice, the ice would melt faster because of its increased contact with the warmer liquid regardless of whether that substance really affects ice or not.

Once you have your substances chosen and ready, find four bowls. Put an equal number of ice cubes in each bowl .

Sprinkle some of each substance on the ice. Use a generous amount! Then label your bowls so that you can remember which is which.

Check on your ice every 15 minutes or so. Within the first 15 minutes, we could already tell that the salt was melting the surface of the ice!

Sand is often used on roads when it’s icy out. But sand only improves traction, and it does not cause the ice to melt any faster . We actually found that our sand and baking soda bowls melted the slowest, possibly in part because of the insulating effect of the materials on top of the ice.

After an hour, there was a very noticeable difference between the salt and the sugar bowls. The salt almost appeared to be eating into the ice cubes. It was interesting to watch!

*Note: The rate at which your ice melts will depend on the size of your ice cubes (ours are small) and the temperature of the room.

Why does salt make ice melt faster?

Salt lowers the freezing point of water. The freezing point of pure water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit/ 0 degrees Celsius. The freezing point of salt water is different depending on the amount of salt in the water, but for reference, the freezing point of ocean water is about 28.4 degrees.

As the salt mixed with melted ice (water) in our bowl, the salt water it made continued to melt the ice further.

The temperature of the water in the bowl was lower than 32 degrees, which actually allowed frost to form on the outside of the bowl! Moisture in the air condensed into water droplets on the outside of the bowl (because of the temperature of the bowl) and then froze. SO COOL!

Supply List for Both Melting Ice Science Experiments :

• Clean, empty jar
• Dry erase marker
• Baking Soda
• Four more bowls for the salt, baking soda, etc. (optional if you just have the containers they came in)

Science is awesome! If you’re looking for more science experiments, we’ve got some good ones!

Here’s one about ice and INSULATION – Don’t Melt the Ice ! Challenge kids to design a container that will keep ice from melting for the longest amount of time.

Rachel Angel Jan 25, 2021

Love your science experiments!

Leslie Jan 30, 2021

Hi Sarah, My two grandsons( 4 and 7 years old ) are into science experiments right now( especially the 7 yr. old ). I am enjoying giving them experiments from your blog to try. However, I am wondering if you have ever recommended a science experiments book that you think is particularly good? I am particularly looking for experiments that are easy to create, using mostly supplies you can usually find at home. I would appreciate any suggestions you might have on this topic. Thank You, Leslie Gardiner

Susan Wood May 12, 2021

Today my grandchildren age 10 and 7 did the ice experiments. They really enjoyed them. Tomorrow morning we’ll check the melted ice to see how much water is in the jar. They had a good time gathering what was needed for the experiment. Thank you for sharing your ideas. They help this grandmother.

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How to Make Instant Ice? (Impressive Cold & Hot Ice Making)

• May 25, 2021
• 7-9 Year Olds , Chemistry

Performing science experiments , especially by kids is so much fun. Hence to add more fun, we are here with another fun-loving experiment – How To Make Instant Ice?

Instant Ice formation has been proven beneficial in many aspects. Its endothermic nature and time-saving property have been immensely used in scenarios of cold-time crunch treatments. Instead of following those long processes, we can make it in a few seconds.

In this article, we have given step-by-step experimentation and detailed information regarding every single thing you need to know about making instant ice. So, go ahead and read below!

How To Make Instant Ice?

The most basic type of instant ice formation. No additional substances except water is used.

You may be interested in our Amazing 18+ Ice Science Experiments

Steps to make –

• Grab a dozen or so water bottles (better to be safe than sorry; if one bottle fails to show the desired product, another can be immediately used).
• Place them in the refrigerator for two hours (add a quarter or half-hour more, if the result is not achieved), preferably in a horizontal position.

• Gently take the bottles out on completion of the allotted time, and place them carefully on a flat surface.

For Instant Ice in a Bottle :

• Hold one of the cold bottles in your hand and slam it down hard on a flat surface.

• The bottle freezes rapidly from top to bottom (roughly 5-10 seconds), turning non-transparent and having your Instant Ice.

For Instant Ice as an Ice Sculpture :

• Pour the contents of one of the bottles on a piece of ice placed on a flat surface.

• As soon as the poured water comes in contact with the already ice placed, it transforms instantaneously. Continuous pouring causes the ice to accumulate in height, and an Instant Ice sculpture is created.

Instant Hot Ice Making

• In a beaker/pot, add 1 lt of baking soda slowly (to avoid a volcano, which may overflow) to 4 tbsp of vinegar with constant stirring. The following reaction occurs.

[HCO3]– + CH3–COOH → CH3–COO– Na+ + H2O + CO2

Sodium acetate and carbon dioxide are formed as products.

• The solution formed is a diluted one, and we need a concentrated one. To do so, boil the contents of the solution for about an hour or so until a thin film (100ml-150ml) is obtained. Do not worry about any discoloration that may occur.
• Remove the solution from the heat source and cover it immediately to protect it from any crystal formation. If crystals do appear, then mix a small amount of water until they dissolve.
• Place the solution into a refrigerator.
• For making “hot” ice sculptures, i.e., to occur crystallization, either touch the surface with an object or add a small preformed crystal of sodium acetate, which will set off the nucleation process.
• Pour the solution on a flat surface, and your “hot” ice sculptures are ready.

Science Behind Instant Ice Formation

The Experiment performed appears quite exceptional to the naked eye and indeed very awe-inspiring to those who do not have a science background.

Diving deeper into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of it, we learn that this miracle is mind-blowing and has a very simple and straightforward explanation.

The mechanism behind the magical instant ice is a phenomenon called ‘ Snap Freeze ’.

The freezing point of water is 0℃ or 32℉. The technique of ‘Snap Freeze’ is to take water when it is super cool but hasn’t frozen yet; it’s just at the brink of it.

This method lowers the temperature to -70℃ or -94℉ in a “snap,” as the name suggests.

For the experiment to be successful, you must use supercooled water but should not reach the finish line of the freezing point yet.

On exposure of this “almost frozen water” to any kind of force, a slam or a whack (in case of instant ice in Bottle procedure) or to ice, which acts as a precursor to the pouring chilled water (in case of instant ice in Ice Sculpture procedure), ‘Nucleation’ occurs.

Nucleation is the changing of a substance from one state to another.

Water has numerous nuclei which act as a harbour for any impurity or the water molecule to turn into an ‘ice crystal’.

The ‘ice crystal’ initiates a chain reaction of crystal formations called ‘ crystallization .’

A trigger for nucleation is a contact to any deformity. Hence, when slammed/whacked against a solid surface, it begins to freeze fast and within sometime the entire bottle is frozen.

Another trigger is, contact with already prepared ‘ice crystals’. Therefore, when it touches the ice, it freezes rapidly.

Both the cases are examples of ‘Heterogeneous Nucleation’.

Suppose, ice is formed naturally without any external disturbance or introduction of any impurity, just like the usual long-term method of storing water in the freezer for an extended period. In that case, it is an example of ‘Homogeneous Nucleation.’

Influencing Factors

• The volume of water.
• Dimensions of the bottle.
• Initial Temperature (before placing in the refrigerator) – preferably should be room temperature for the best outcome.
• The temperature of the refrigerator.
• Final Temperature (after placing in the refrigerator).
• Position of the bottle, since the more surface area exposed, the faster is the cooling process-

Vertical – less surface area exposed – slower cooling.

Horizontal – more surface area exposed- faster cooling.

Amount of impurities –

More – hinder cooling.

Less – smooth cooling.

Presence of the tiniest of impurities may set off preterm Nucleation.

Features/Conditions

• It can maintain its state as instant ice for about 15-20 seconds, variable, depending upon the environment it is being performed in and the climatic conditions of the location.
• Pure water is a compulsion for this experiment because being devoid of any impurities will lead the water to reach the freezing point before forming crystals accidentally.
• Alternatively, for an even quicker experiment time duration, add ‘salt’ to the pure water. The addition of ‘salt’ lowers the freezing point significantly. So, the refrigeration time can be reduced to 10-15 minutes which is remarkably lower than the standard period.

Liquid Nitrogen / Cryopreservation

‘Cryopreservation’ refers to preserving any substances, especially biological compounds, by subjecting them to lower temperatures. These usually range between -80℃ to -196℃.

Nitrogen’s freezing point is -210℃ or -346℉. It turns from gaseous to liquid state on attaining its freezing point and has an uncanny resemblance to water. The temperature of liquid nitrogen formed is -196℃ or -320.8℉.

This form of nitrogen applies to quick and rapid freezing, such as cooking competitions and bakeries, where time is of the essence.

The sample to be frozen is directly dipped into a container of any sort filled with liquid nitrogen. There is no chemical change in the substance subjected to this procedure.

Also, an added merit other than being a massive time-saver is, liquid nitrogen preserves the structure of the substance dipped in it and does not form crystals as seen in regular refrigerator freezing.

Purpose / Practical Applications of Instant Ice

1. beverages.

Since it is an ‘exothermic reaction,’ ‘latent heat’ is released in the ice as it freezes from top to bottom, heating it and increasing the water temperature.

The increase in temperature makes it a bit warmer, suitable for consumption. It can simply be taken or added to other beverages to enhance them.

E.g., It is added to fruit slushies like mango or strawberry to add a refreshing element to them.

2. Ice Sculptures

Different shaped ‘Ice Sculptures’ can be created by placing ice beforehand in the shape you wish to achieve. You will then simply have to pour the cooled water over the prepositioned ice, and your Ice Sculpture is ready!

3. Ice Packs

It is a 2-layered mobile bag which consists of – a plastic bag of water/water-laden gel, inside a bag of ‘Ammonium Nitrate, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate or Urea.

Here, the Ionic compound which is Ammonium Nitrate, Calcium Ammonium Nitrate or Urea, and the Non-Ionic compound is water.

Interactions between an Ionic and Non-Ionic compound are always heat-absorbing.

When the barrier between the two bags is forcefully broken at the time of use, the contents of the two bags mix, and an endothermic reaction takes place, absorbing all the heat from the surroundings. Instantly, the bag turns cold, fulfilling its purpose.

The instant-mix-ready packs are crucial in treating primarily sports injuries or domestic accidents, like in sprains, strains, muscle pull, jaw injuries due to punches, etc.

4. Food Preservation

Delicate and perishable food items are subjected to sudden and instant ice to pause their physical and chemical processes, preserving their natural characteristics of taste and smell.

Their cell membranes remain intact even after denaturation. On heating, the food returns to its fresh form and is consumable.

Related Ice Experiments for you to try on:

Glowing Ice Cubes

Balloon in Hot and Cold Water

Triple point of Water

Instant Ice is both exciting and valuable to work with. Its phenomenon is nothing short of miraculous.

Even though there is a scientific background to it, it will always be an astounding manifestation to witness.

For fun-loving science enthusiasts, coloured instant ice is the latest invention. It is done by adding colour-imparting pigments to the base mixture in both standard and hot instant ices .

It has spread its branches and roots of applications vastly in various aspects of provisions.

Be it food preservation, food preparation or an instant relief for an injured football player, instant ice has got everything covered.

Happy Ice-making!

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I help moms with simple, natural ways to look after their families. Find recipes, fun stuff for kids, and simple DIY ideas. Plus natural solutions made easy peasy!

Instant Ice Winter Science Experiment

indoor activity STEM activity winter This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

During the winter months, kids are obsessed with ice and all things snow. But sometimes, it’s just too cold to go outside and play or learn. But you don’t have to put on a coat to enjoy the great outdoors this winter!

Try this fun instant ice winter science experiment and wow your kids, neighbors, classroom, and anyone else who will pay attention with this easy science experiment that looks just like magic!

Follow these guidelines to make your own version of instant ice. It’s science that is just like magic!

What you need to make the instant ice winter science experiment:

• Water bottles (we usually stock about 6 for this activity)

The secret to this experiment is in how ice freezes. In this experiment, you lower the temperature of the water to just below freezing, but not cold enough to actually freeze.

When the water molecules start to move when the water is shaken or poured, they instantly freeze, making it look like you can pour ice directly from a water bottle!

There are a few tricks to this experiment. It took us about an hour in the freezer to get our bottles to the right temperature. You can tell it’s the right temperature when you hit the bottle on the counter and ice particles form inside the bottle.

Wait much longer though, and your water will become ice, making the experiment impossible.

Cool the water bottles in the freezer for about an hour. Check every 30 minutes by hitting one bottle on the counter to see if ice forms (it will look like this when it’s ready).

Place a couple of ice cubes on your upside down container. This will help form the ice tower.

Carefully pour the water slowly onto the ice. It should start to form an ice tower right away. If it doesn’t, your water is too warm.

Keep pouring gently until the ice tower stops forming. You can use other bottles from the freezer to make the ice sculpture even bigger.

Once the water warms up though, it will start to destroy the tower, so watch out when you’re pouring.

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Ang Paris says

January 19, 2018 at 7:11 am

What a fun project!!

January 30, 2018 at 3:01 pm

Anyone else having trouble getting this to work?

January 30, 2018 at 3:05 pm

What’s happening, Jen?

February 7, 2018 at 10:45 pm

This is a great project! Will try with my nieces this weekend!

Carrie says

January 9, 2021 at 3:52 am

We couldn’t get this to work. Chilled 6 water bottles. At 1 hour 15 min, I could hit one on the counter and get ice crystals. But when we slowly poured it on the ice cubes on the upside down container, it just poured off as water. Tested all 6 bottles, trying different speeds and techniques. None worked.

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Cool Dry Ice Experiments

14 Projects Using Solid Carbon Dioxide

• Projects & Experiments
• Chemical Laws
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• Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
• B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Dry ice is extremely cold, plus it's also cool! There are many interesting and educational dry ice experiments and projects to try.

Dry ice , the solid form of carbon dioxide isn't dangerous if stored and used correctly. If dry ice is not properly stored, it can present hazards such as frostbite , asphyxiation, and the possibility of an explosion . So be careful and have fun!

Here are several dry ice experiments for you to try:

Cool Dry Ice Fog

One of the simplest yet coolest things to do with dry ice is to toss a chunk of it into a container of hot water. This causes the dry ice to sublimate (turn into vapor) more quickly, producing dry ice fog. This is a popular party effect. It's even more spectacular if you have a lot of dry ice and plenty of water, such as enough dry ice to fill a hot tub.

Dry Ice Crystal Ball

CasPhotography / Getty Images

Place a piece of dry ice in a bowl or cup containing a bubble solution. Wet a towel with bubble solution and pull it across the lip of the bowl, trapping carbon dioxide into a giant bubble that resembles a crystal ball .

Make Your Own Dry Ice

waraphorn-aphai / Getty Images

Some grocery stores sell dry ice, but many don't. If you can't find any dry ice, the first cool thing to do is to make some yourself.

Frozen Soap Bubble

Freeze a soap bubble over a piece of dry ice. The bubble will appear to float in the air over the dry ice. You can pick up the bubble and examine it.

Inflate a Balloon With Dry Ice

Seal a small piece of dry ice inside a balloon . As the dry ice sublimates, the balloon will fill up. If your piece of dry ice is too big, the balloon will pop!

Inflate a Glove With Dry Ice

~UserGI15632523 / Getty Images

Similarly, you can put a piece of dry ice into a latex or other plastic glove and tie it closed. The dry ice will inflate the glove.

Simulate a Comet

Jonathan Blair / Getty Images

You can use simple materials to simulate a comet . In a big plastic bowl lined with a trash bag, mix together:

• 1-liter water
• 2 cups dirt
• 1 tablespoon starch (holds comet together, not found in real comets)
• 1 tablespoon syrup (comet organic component)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (for amino acids )
• 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol (like the methanol in real comets)

Dry Ice Bomb

waraphorn-aphai / Getty Images

Sealing dry ice in a container will cause it to burst. The safest version is to place a small piece of dry ice into a plastic film canister or potato chip can with a pop lid.

Dry Ice Erupting Volcano Cake

JennyPPhoto / Getty Images 

While you can't eat dry ice, you can use it as a decoration for food. In this project, dry ice produces a volcanic eruption for a volcano cake.

Spooky Dry Ice Jack-o'-Lantern

joeygil / Getty Images

Make a cool Halloween jack-o'-lantern that spews dry ice fog.

Cool Dry Ice Bubbles

Amrut Kulkarni / Getty Images

Place a piece of dry ice into a bubble solution for fog-filled bubbles to form. Popping them releases dry ice fog , which is a cool effect.

Carbonated Dry Ice Ice Cream

RossHelen / Getty Images

You can use dry ice to make instant ice cream . Because carbon dioxide gas is released, the resulting ice cream is bubbly and carbonated, like an ice cream float.

Singing Spoon

Pakorn Kumruen / EyeEm / Getty Images

Press a spoon or any metal object against a piece of dry ice and it will appear to sing or scream as it vibrates.

Carbonated Fizzy Fruit

Castle City Creative / Getty Images

Freeze strawberries or other fruit using dry ice. Carbon dioxide bubbles become trapped in the fruit, making it fizzy and carbonated.

• 10 Cool Chemistry Experiments
• Where to Buy Saltpeter or Potassium Nitrate
• Cool Things to Do With Dry Ice
• 5 Ways to Make Glue
• How to Grow Table Salt or Sodium Chloride Crystals
• 10 Amazing Chemical Reactions
• How to Make Non-toxic Dry Ice Smoke or Fog
• Equation for the Reaction Between Baking Soda and Vinegar
• Homemade Dry Ice Recipe
• Cool Halloween Jack o Lanterns
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• Early Childhood

6 Quick and Easy Kids Experiments with Wintry Ice

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It was a snow-themed episode of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” that got my preschooler curious about the wonders of winter. As we watched Daniel and Miss Elaina put on their winter gear and make an astronaut snowman, my daughter wanted to have snow day fun, too. Yet, we live in an area with a climate with an average high temperature of 65 degrees in January. How could I harness my child’s curiosity and recreate the magic of a snow day right at home?

Ice experiments are relatively mess-free and build on a child’s interest in snow and winter. Simple science experiments are a great way to boost early learning STEM skills for children. As the National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends, we can value children’s questions, find answers together and invite curiosity while using objects from our homes.

Here are six quick ideas to experiment with wintry ice in your home:

1. Make frozen juice popsicles. Pour a favorite low-sugar juice into an ice cube tray or muffin tin and place a popsicle stick in the center. Monitor what happens when the liquid is placed in the freezer after one hour, two hours and overnight. Help your child make observations on how long it takes to transform the juice from liquid to solid. Once frozen, enjoy the icy treat!

2. Experiment and predict with melting ice. Place one ice cube on a plate, one in a bowl of cold water and one in a bowl of warm water. Make predictions on which will melt first. Have your child make a chart to document what happens to each piece of ice. Identify which one melts first, second and third. Then, think of ways to keep it from melting. For older children, try experimenting with salt, sugar and tap water with this PBS KIDS “What Makes Ice Melt Fastest?” activity. You might consider using this “ Ready, Jet, Go” “Ice Cubes and Water: Now and Later” guide.

3. Make secret sidewalk messages. Enjoy this clip from “ Peep and the Big Wide World ,” and head to the driveway or sidewalk on a sunny day. Using ice cubes, have fun exploring the melting ice on the pavement. Trace, draw, or write secret messages with the ice cubes and watch as they disappear.

4. Make colorful ice artwork. Place a piece of chalk in a small bag and use a rolling pin or hard frying pan to grind the chalk into small pieces. In a small bowl, mix the ground chalk and water until well-blended. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and place it in the freezer. After the cubes are frozen, use them on black construction paper to make beautiful ice chalk art. Share your artwork on your next video call with faraway friends and family.

5. Does it sink or float? Place ice in a bowl of water and observe how it floats on top. Then place small, waterproof objects in the bowl to discover if they float or sink. Use a mixture of items of various sizes, shapes and weights.

6. Color mixing with ice. Make different colored ice cubes with all-natural food coloring. Then place two different colors in a bowl and watch as they melt and mix in color. Have children make predictions on what colors might form, and document the process with a chart or draw it on paper. You might also consider adding colored ice cubes to different low-sugar juice to observe how it changes in color.

While you might not be busting out the hats and gloves on a cold wintry day, you can still have fun together with ice. Remember, you don’t need scientific equipment to support early science. A little imagination, curiosity and investigating can go a long way toward boosting these skills.

• PBS LearningMedia. “ Peep and the Big Wide World ” “Paint with Water”
• PBS KIDS for Parents. “What Makes Ice Melt Fastest?”
• PBS LearningMedia “ Ready, Jet, Go ” “Ice Cubes and Water: Now and Later”
• PBS Parenting Minutes “Limiting Soda & Sweet Drinks”

5 Winter Activities to Warm up Kids' Math Skills

Get Cozy with These 7 Wintry Math Children's Books

Science for Kids: Salt and Ice Experiments

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Brrr! Winter brings ice and snow and all the fun and not-so-fun activities along with it. As you or your children may end up shoveling a walkway or driving behind a snow plow this winter, everyone might be wondering why we use salt to help melt ice on our walkways and roads. Here is an easy experiment that is relatable to real-world winter conditions. You can test and observe the effects of salt and other household materials on ice. I’ve included the science and real-world applications at the end of this post so you can relate what you discover to the conditions you’ve experienced this winter!

Materials for Salt and Ice Science Experiment

You most likely have everything you need for this experiment right in your kitchen. There is a lot of wiggle room in your experimental design. Have your children help decide what materials you will test on the ice.

You will need:

• Kitchen scale (these scales are great for tons of different science experiments )
• At least one of the following: sea salt, kosher salt, or other salts from around the globe (try these fun salts for some variety !) sugar, cornstarch, coffee, sand, baking soda, cornmeal, bath salts, etc.
• Several containers or small plates
• Stopwatch or clock
• Measuring spoons

The beauty of this experiment is that you can test just about anything on your ice cube. Just stick to harmless household items. Skip powdered soaps or caustic materials that might be irritating to eyes and skin.

Salt and Ice Experiment

Choose your materials and get started. You’ll need at least 3 different containers. One will hold a plain ice cube as the control in the experiment. Another will hold an ice cube and a pre-determined amount of salt, the third will hold an ice cube and a material for comparison. You can certainly set up more than three if you’d like.

For even more accuracy, you can use the kitchen scale to determine the mass of the ice cubes before you begin. Later on, you can mass them again to get an idea of how much water has melted.

Once you’ve done any sort of weighing or measuring the ice cubes and taken notes, put them in the designated containers. Keep one ice cube bare and cover one with salt. Use the same measurement for all of your materials. For example, if you use 1 teaspoon of salt, use 1 teaspoon of sugar on the next cube. Your ice cubes most likely are not all the same size, but you can control the amount of “melter” you are using. It is always good to teach and remind about precision in an experiment.

Once the experiment is set up, wait a designated amount of time (5 minutes is a good place to start) to see the effects. Take notes on observable changes. If you got the mass of the ice before the experiment, you can brush off any salt or other melting agent and weigh the cube again. Note that any particle left on the ice cube does add mass, so this measurement helps with accuracy but is not 100% precise.

Keep track of the changes and determine the results of the experiment. If you are working on graphing in math, this is a great opportunity to graph the masses you observed before and after the experiment.

Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

So why do we use salt on our roads and walkways? Why does it seem to melt ice? Salt lowers the freezing point of water. This is called “freezing point depression”, and it means that the water will not freeze until it has reached a lower temperature than the normal freezing temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius). The salt’s structure makes it more difficult for the water molecules to form the rigid formation they need to be in to become ice.

All substances have freezing points–the temperature at which they freeze–and melting points.  To further explore melting points, check out  science experiment with the pop-up timers used to cook meat .

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50 of the Coolest Winter Science Experiments and Activities

The weather outside may be frightful, but these projects are so delightful.

Winter means shorter days, colder temperatures, and lots of ice and snow. That means it’s time for experiments that you can only do in winter! These experiments and activities are perfect for keeping kids busy and learning all winter long. No snow where you live? No worries! You can still do most of these winter science experiments and activities with a freezer or some fake snow instead.

1. Study the science of snowflakes

Did you know that every snowflake has six sides? Or that snowflakes form from water vapor, not raindrops? There’s lots to learn about the science of snowflakes.

Learn more: What Is Snow? How Does It Form? (Free Google Slides Lesson + Printable Worksheets)

2. Grow the Grinch’s heart

To begin, grab a green balloon and use a red Sharpie to make a heart on it, then fill the balloon with a few teaspoons of baking soda. Then, fill a water bottle with vinegar. Finally, put the end of your balloon over the water bottle and watch the Grinch’s heart grow!

Learn more: Grow the Grinch’s Heart activity at Creative Family Fun

3. Weigh and compare snow

This is a simple but effective way to get kids thinking. Scoop up two cups of snow and weigh them. Are they the same? If not, why? Allow the snow to melt. Does it weigh the same? So many questions from such a simple experiment!

Learn more: Weighing Snow activity at Inspiration Laboratories

4. Determine how weather affects snow textures

Anyone who sees a lot of snow every winter knows there are many different kinds—heavy wet snow, dry powdery snow, and so on. Older students will enjoy this winter science project that tracks atmospheric conditions to find out how we get different types of snow.

Learn more: Snow Science activity at Science Buddies

5. Make candy cane slime!

A little bit of everything, including glue and shaving cream, goes into this fun, candy cane–colored slime. We especially love the idea of adding a little bit of peppermint extract or candy cane fragrance oil for a pleasant scent! ADVERTISEMENT

Learn more: Candy Cane slime at Kimspired DIY

6. Discover the beauty of frozen bubbles

Bubble experiments are always fun, but frozen bubbles add a whole new dimension of beauty. Take your class outside to blow bubbles when the temps are below freezing, and watch the magic happen! (No freezing temperatures where you live? The link below offers tips for trying this with dry ice.)

Learn more: Frozen Bubbles at ThoughtCo

7. Find out how penguins stay dry

It seems like penguins should freeze solid when they get out of the water, right? So what protects their feathers and keeps them dry? Find out with this fun experiment using wax crayons.

Learn more: Penguin activity at ABCs of Literacy

8. Make a beautiful watercolor ice painting

This is a fairly simple experiment that yields really big results! Grab some watercolor paint and paper, an ice tray, and some small metal objects, then get started.

Learn more: Magnetic ice painting at Sparkling Buds

9. Waterproof a boot

Now that you know how penguins stay dry, can you apply that knowledge to a boot? Ask kids to select various materials and tape them over the free boot printable. Then, test their hypotheses and see which ones work best.

Learn more: Waterproof a boot at Science Sparks

10. Learn about condensation and frost

Use snow or ice cubes for this winter science experiment that explores condensation and the formation of frost. All you need are some metal cans and salt.

Learn more: Condensation experiment at STEAMsational

11. Crush a can with air

Scoop up some snow and bring it inside to use for this air-pressure experiment. (Use caution, because you’ll need boiling water too.)

Learn more: Crushing cans at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

12. Erupt a snow volcano

Take the classic baking soda volcano experiment and add snow! Kids learn about acids and bases with this popular winter science project.

Learn more: Snow volcano at Science Sparks

13. Grow your own polar bear

This is such a fun and easy winter science experiment that will certainly be a hit in your classroom. All you need is a cup of fresh water, a cup of salt water, a cup of vinegar, a cup of baking soda, and some gummy bears. (Be sure to have extra gummy bears on hand in case your little scientists get hungry.)

Learn more: Grow Your Own Polar Bear activity at The Sprinkle Topped Teacher

14. Explore how mittens keep you warm

Ask little ones if mittens are warm, and they’ll likely answer “yes!” But when they measure the temperature inside an empty mitten, they’ll be surprised by what they find. Learn about body heat and insulation with this easy experiment.

Learn more: Mitten experiment at Classroom Magic

15. Don’t melt the ice

We spend a lot of time in winter trying to get rid of ice, but what about when you don’t want the ice to melt? Experiment with different forms of insulation to see which keeps ice frozen the longest.

Learn more: Ice insulation experiment at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

16. String up some sticky ice

Can you lift an ice cube using just a piece of string? This experiment teaches you how, using a little salt to melt and then refreeze the ice with the string attached. Bonus project: Use this process to make a garland of colored ice stars (or other shapes) and hang them outside for decoration.

Learn more: Ice cube string activity at Playdough to Plato

17. Construct an igloo

Calling all future engineers! Freeze blocks of ice (milk cartons work well) and create a life-size igloo with your class. If this seems too ambitious, try a smaller version with ice cubes instead.

Learn more: Build an igloo at Science Buddies

18. Light up some snowmen with a simple circuit

Create a simple parallel circuit using a couple of play-dough snowmen, a few LEDs, and a battery pack. Kids will get a thrill out of seeing their snowmen light up!

Learn more: Light-Up Snowman experiment at Science Sparks

19. Measure the water content of snow

Two inches of snow is not the same as two inches of rain. This easy winter science experiment measures the amount of water actually found in an inch of snow.

Learn more: Snow measurement at KC Edventures With Kids

20. Experiment with candy canes

Experiment with how quickly candy canes dissolve in different temperatures of water. Keep some extras on hand since the temptation will likely be too much for your favorite scientists.

Learn more: Candy cane science at Inspirational Laboratories

21. Have fun with hockey science

A hockey puck slides effortlessly across the ice, but what about other objects? Gather up some classroom items and take them out to a frozen puddle to see which slide best.

Learn more: Hockey Science at Creative Family Fun

22. Determine the best way to melt ice

Conventional wisdom says we sprinkle salt on ice to melt it faster. But why? Is that really the best method? Try this winter science experiment and find out.

Learn more: Ice-Melting Experiment at The Chaos and the Clutter

23. Freeze oobleck

Kids love to play with the mysterious oobleck, a non-Newtonian liquid that becomes firm under pressure. Try freezing it to increase the fun factor and see how it reacts as it melts.

Learn more: Frozen Oobleck at Inspiration Laboratories

24. Make an ice lantern

We love that this STEM project also combines art and creativity since kids can freeze almost anything into their lanterns, from sequins to dried flowers.

Learn more: Ice Lantern activity at What I Have Learned Teaching

25. Watch wintertime birds

Winter is a great time to set up a bird feeder and observe our feathered friends. Learn to identify common backyard birds in your area and discover which foods they prefer. Take this winter science activity even further by signing up your class for Project FeederWatch , a citizen science project all about winter bird-watching.

Learn more: Winter bird-watching guide at The Lead Learner Mom

26. Play around with pine cones

Head out to the snowy woods and gather up some pine cones, then bring them inside and experiment to see what makes them open and release their seeds.

Learn more: Pine Cone Experiment at Lemon Lime Adventures

27. Conduct a winter nature study

There are so many natural wonders to study during the winter months! Measure temperatures, track the snowfall, look for animal prints—and that’s just a few ideas. Make winter nature study even easier with free printables at the link below.

Learn more: Winter nature study at Jimmie’s Collage

28. Find out how arctic animals stay warm

Grab some rubber gloves, zipper bags, and a can of shortening to learn how layers of fat help to insulate animals and keep them warm. Do this winter science experiment outside in the snow or inside with a bowl of cold water and ice cubes.

Learn more: Arctic animal experiment at Forgetful Momma

29. Add color to melting ice

In this colorful winter science activity, you’ll use salt to start the ice melting (it lowers the freezing point of water). Then, add pretty watercolors to see the ravines and crevices that form as the ice melts.

Learn more: How to make colorful ice at Artful Parent

30. Melt ice with pressure

There are plenty of experiments that melt ice with salt, but this one is a little different. Instead, it uses the heat produced by pressure to move a piece of wire through a block of ice.

Learn more: Ice-melting experimen t at KiwiCo

31. Melt a snowman

First, make a snowman out of baking soda and shaving cream. Then, fill droppers with vinegar. Finally, let your scientists take turns squirting the snowman and watching them fizz and melt.

Learn more: How To Make a Fizzy Snowman at 7 Days of Play

32. Make instant ice

Here’s a winter science experiment that seems more like a magic trick. Place a bottle of water in a bowl of ice (or snow) and rock salt. When you take it out, the water is still liquid—until you slam it against the counter and it freezes instantly! Find out how it works at the link below.

Learn more: Rock Salt Experiment at STEAMsational

33. Create rainbow ice towers

Once you master the instant ice trick, add some food coloring and see if you can create instant rainbow ice towers! The video above walks you through the process.

34. Paint salt snowflakes to learn about absorption

Salt painting is a cool way to learn about the process of absorption as well as color mixing. Simply mix salt with glue and make your snowflakes. Then drop colored water onto the salt and see it spread, drop by drop.

Learn more: Salt painting at Little Bins for Little Hands

35. Experiment with fake snow recipes

No snow where you live? You’ll just have to make your own! Try a variety of fake snow recipes and determine which makes the best batch.

Learn more: Fake Snow activity at The Homeschool Scientist

36. Build a crystal snowman

It wouldn’t be a winter science list without at least one crystal project, right? This adorable snowman version is a unique twist on the popular supersaturated solutions experiment. Get the how-to at the link below.

Learn more: Crystal snowman activity at The Science Kiddo

37. Cook up hot ice

Tired of frozen toes in the name of science? This experiment has ice in the name but will keep you warm and toasty. It’s essentially another kind of crystal project, but this one forms the crystals instantly, due to the way you cook up the solution.

Learn more: Hot ice experiment at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

38. Savor the sweetness of hot cocoa science

After all these ice-and-snow winter science projects, you deserve a reward. This hot cocoa experiment aims to find the optimal temperature for dissolving hot cocoa mix. Once you’ve found the answer, you get to sip on the delicious results!

Learn more: Hot Chocolate Science at Creative Family Fun

39. Excavate LEGO bricks from blocks of ice

Tell your students to imagine they are archaeologists, then have them freeze a favorite LEGO figure, or “fossil,” into a block of ice. Finally, ask them to carefully excavate the fossil from the glacier while keeping in mind the fragility of the fossil.

Learn more: LEGO ice block activity at Lemon Lime Adventures

40. Explode a snowman!

This is such a fun introduction to chemistry for preschoolers or early elementary-age students. Have your students decorate a ziplock bag to resemble a snowman’s face and then put 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a paper towel inside the bag. Finally, put 1 to 2 cups of distilled vinegar into the bag and have fun watching the reaction!

Learn more: Exploding Snowman experiment at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

41. Winter solstice challenge

The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, provides a lot to teach in terms of the sun, shadows, the rotation of the Earth, and how humans celebrate. Teach students about the winter solstice with books like The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper, then have them create a model Stonehenge. Then, use a flashlight or other light to re-create what the structure looks like on the winter solstice and other days.

Check out Winter Solstice lessons at Little Bins for Little Hands

Buy it: The Shortest Day at Amazon

42. Catapult a snowman

This one starts out as fun and ends with serious science. Create a catapult using Popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Then, create a snowman out of a Ping-Pong ball and see how far you can catapult him. If you have snow, use the catapults to see how large of a snowball students can toss and how far each one goes.

Learn more: Snowman Catapult at Science Sparks

43. Construct a ski lift

In this engineering experiment, students create a ski lift using the concept of a pulley.

44. Discover why skis are as long as they are

In this activity, students will explore why skis are so long and how they work in snow. You’ll create a skier using an action figure and cardboard “skis.” Then you’ll place them into a plate full of snow.

Learn more: Why are skis so long? activity at Science Buddies

45. Make a thermometer

Figure out just how cold it is outside with a homemade thermometer. Make a few thermometers and take measurements in different areas—in the sun and in the shade, inside your garage or by the street. How does the temperature change and what factors influence the temperature?

46. Create a snowstorm in a jar

Combine things you probably already have around your classroom or house—baby oil, white paint, glitter, Alka-Seltzer, and food coloring—to create a snowstorm in a jar.

47. Discover how snowshoes work

Use a pan of “snow,” animal toys, and snowshoes that you create to show how snowshoes keep us above the snow. This teaches the concepts of resistance and weight distribution. When weight is distributed across a larger area, the snow holds you up. This experiment will be even better if you have enough snow on the ground to try this out yourself.

Learn more: How Snowshoes Work activity at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

48. Find out what causes an avalanche

Learn what creates avalanches and re-create an avalanche with this activity.

49. Learn about animal hibernation

Read a book like Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and talk about hibernation. What do bears need to hibernate? Then, challenge students to create a cave using materials that you have in the classroom or at home.

Buy it: Bear Snores On at Amazon

50. Build an igloo

Use marshmallows and other materials to build an igloo. Talk about what shapes make a good igloo and why those shapes provide solid structures.

Stay safe while you’re learning outdoors! Get our best Tips, Tricks, and Lesson Ideas for Winter Outdoor Learning .

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A quasi-steady model for estimating the rate of frost heave when subjected to overburden pressure.

1. Introduction

2. frost heave model, 2.1. physical model, 2.2. derivation of the mathematical model, 2.3. soil sample, 2.4. frost heave, 3. results and discussion, 3.1. parameters of the model, 3.1.1. characteristic curve of soil freezing and the freezing temperature under external pressure, 3.1.2. pore water pressure and hydraulic conductivity at the top of the frozen fringe, 3.2. model verification, 4. conclusions, author contributions, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Share and Cite

Chen, L.; Zhang, X. A Quasi-Steady Model for Estimating the Rate of Frost Heave When Subjected to Overburden Pressure. Water 2024 , 16 , 2542. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172542

Chen L, Zhang X. A Quasi-Steady Model for Estimating the Rate of Frost Heave When Subjected to Overburden Pressure. Water . 2024; 16(17):2542. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172542

Chen, Lei, and Xiyan Zhang. 2024. "A Quasi-Steady Model for Estimating the Rate of Frost Heave When Subjected to Overburden Pressure" Water 16, no. 17: 2542. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172542

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