how to make fake snow experiment

Fun & Easy Snow STEM Experiment for Kids: Testing 3 Fake Snow Recipes

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In this STEM experiment, fake snow recipes are tested to determine the most snow-like recipe so kids can experience snow all year long!

There is a lab worksheet we have created to go along with this snow STEM activity. See the email box just above the Recipe 1 section.

Snow is a magical substance that thrills most children from their heads to their toes. But not all kids have access to snow during the winter season. Children can still experience snow by making and playing with fake snow. But what fake snow recipe is the best?

Let’s experiment and find out!

Oh, and at the end of this post is a link to a STEM activity that uses fake snow. Check out the Build a Snow Plow activity .

Let’s Get Started with the Fake Snow Stem Activity

Here’s a a video version of this activity.

Supplies You Need for this Fake Snow Stem Activity

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Paper towels
• Instant snow
• 3 bowls, one for each fake snow recipe
• Small containers to hold the baking soda and vinegar before they are used
• 1/2 cup measuring cup for dry ingredients
• Tablespoon or a beaker that has metric and tablespoon measurements.
• Blue food coloring (Optional for the Instant Snow. We found it’s easier to watch the physical reaction of the polymer and water when food coloring is added to the water prior to mixing it with the Instant Snow product.)
• Gloves (Optional. We wore them because of the skin irritation caused by vinegar.)
• Pencil or marker, scissors
• Index cards or paper to label the three containers of fake snow

The Science of Snow

Real snow is more than just frozen water. Snow forms when the atmosphere is at or below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but snow doesn’t always form every time it’s freezing outside. There must be a certain amount of moisture in the air to make snow. Most snowfalls when it is about 15 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer.

Snow crystals form when ice particles cling together combined with air. This makes a sort of “puffed ice” that turns into snowflakes. The more wind is in the air, the smaller the snowflakes will be as the air breaks apart the delicate structures. Snowflakes can be as large as 2 inches across, but usually are no larger than half an inch across.

Snow itself has unique characteristics. It is wet (although it can feel dry), makes a crunching sound when stepped on, and can usually be packed into a ball.

Take your snow STEM learning further with these snow-related blog posts:

• Snowflake Science
• Snowflake Study Resources
• Snowflake Science Printable Lesson

Download the printable for this activity.

  fake snow stem experiment.

In this experiment, we tested 3 fake snow recipes. Use our lab worksheets to make a list of the properties of each type of snow as you conduct your experiments to determine which snow recipe is the most authentic. We have included a lab worksheet to go along with this snow STEM activity. See the email box below to receive the free worksheet. It’s ready to print and use!

Get the lab worksheets for this activity by signing up here. When the “Thank You” appears, the worksheets are on their way to you.

You will be subscribed to our email newsletter, which comes out at most twice a month. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Recipe 1: Instant Fake Snow

Instant fake snow is made up of synthetic polymers that are highly absorbent. These polymers are also found in disposable diapers.

Snow is formed by added water to the powder until the powder no longer expands. When fully expanded, the snow has a fluffy, snow-like appearance, but there is no crunch and it cannot be formed into snowballs.

What You Need for Fake Snow Recipe 1:

• 1 scoop of this polymer snow product “Super Snow.” The scoop is included in the container of Super Snow.
• 2 Tablespoons of water
• Optional: Add 2 to 3 drops of blue food coloring to the water before mixing it into the Super Snow.

Instructions for Fake Snow Recipe 1:

• Measure 2 tablespoons of water into a bowl. Optional: add 2-3 drops of blue food coloring and stir.
• Add the 1 scoop of Super Snow. Watch the physical reaction!
• After the fake snow expands, mix it around with your hand.
• Using index cards or paper, create a label for this bowl. Super Snow & Water
• How does it feel? Can you form the fake snow into a snowball?
• Fill out the lab worksheet for Recipe 1. Using the time intervals on the worksheet, record what happens to this mixture of fake snow. How is the mixture after an hour? 2 hours? 4 hours? 24 hours?
• Clean your area and prepare for Recipe 2.

Recipe 2: Baking Soda Fake Snow

This snow recipe is simply made of baking soda and water. Add just enough water to baking soda to form a snowball shape that crumbles when squeezed. This recipe has the most “crunch” factor similar to snow. It feels like wetter snow.

What You Need for Fake Snow Recipe 2:

• 4 Tablespoons of baking soda
• `1 Tablespoon cool tap water or room temperature water

Instructions for Fake Snow Recipe 2:

• Using the index cards or paper, create a label for this bowl. Baking Soda & Water
• Measure 4 tablespoons of baking soda into a bowl
• Add 1 tablespoon of cool tap water or room temperature water
• Mix well with your hands.
• How does it feel? Can you form the fake snow into a snowball? Can you make a snowman?
• Fill out the lab worksheet for Recipe 2. Using the time intervals on the worksheet, record what happens to this mixture of fake snow. Can you make a snowball over time? Can you make a snowman? How is the mixture doing after an hour? 2 hours? 4 hours? 24 hours?
• Clean your area and prepare for Recipe 3.

Recipe 3: Paper Fake Snow Using Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Paper Towel

Paper snow is made by mixing small pieces of paper towels with baking soda and some vinegar. This recipe has the most “crunch” factor similar to snow, but it’s rough texture prevents it from feeling as snow-like as some other recipes.

What You Need for Fake Snow Recipe 3:

• 1/2 cup of baking soda
• `3 Tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 paper towel cut into tiny pieces, which will yield 1 cup of paper towel pieces

Instructions for Fake Snow Recipe 3:

• Using index cards or paper, create a label for this bowl. Baking Soda, Vinegar, Paper Towel.
• Pour the paper bits into a bowl. (We cut the paper towel in half. Placed the halves together, cut the paper towel into very thin strips, then cut those strips into small pieces.
• Measure 1/2 cup of baking soda and add to the paper bits. Gently mix the baking soda and paper together. Be careful not to spill any of the baking soda.
• Measure 3 tablespoons of vinegar into a separate cup or bowl.
• Optional, put on the gloves if your skin is irritated by vinegar.
• Pour the vinegar slowly into the bowl or paper and baking soda.
• Fill out the lab worksheet for Recipe 3. Using the time intervals on the worksheet, record what happens to this mixture of fake snow. Can you make a snowball over time? Can you make a snowman? How is the mixture doing after an hour? 2 hours? 4 hours? 24 hours?
• Clean your area.

If you haven’t requested the lab worksheets that go with this STEM snow activity, request them here. When the “Thank You” message appears (after you click Subscribe), your copy is on its way!

Fake Snow STEM Experiment Results

Using the lab worksheets we created, compare and contrast the characteristics of all the types of snow.

In our snow experiment, we felt that the baking soda and vinegar felt the most authentic. Experiment with other fake snow recipes to find your favorite!

Input your email address, and we’ll send the worksheets right to you.

Download the FREE Did You S’know? Snow Science Printable 

Use These Fake Snow Recipes When You Build a Snow Plow

Now that you have tried the fake snow recipes, test them out with a snow plow your kids or students design!

Check out this super-fun and creative STEM activity.

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.

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How to Make Fake Snow

Learn how to make fake snow in just a few minutes using 2 simple ingredients ! This fake snow recipe is really easy to make, and it’s soooo much fun to play with!

Dig your fingers in and have a blast building a snowman, rolling out snowballs, and simply enjoying the powdery soft texture of this DIY fake snow. This sensory activity is easy enough for kids to mix together themselves, and it’ll create hours of exciting pretend play!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.

• 1 cup Baking soda
• 6 Tablespoons Conditioner
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoon
• Baking tray

Check Out The Video Tutorial:

Instructions:, step 1: find what you need.

Step 2: Add the ingredients to a bowl

Step 3: Mix well and enjoy!

Helpful Tips:

• We recommend playing with the fake snow on a cookie sheet, in a baking dish or in a plastic tub to contain any mess.
• Place the conditioner in the fridge for a bit before making the snow for a fun fake snow recipe that’s actually cool to the touch!
• Adjust the ratio of the ingredients for a more powdery snow (add more baking soda) or a squishy packing snow that’s perfect to build with (more conditioner).

How long does fake snow last?

We made fake snow 2 weeks ago that still feels the same as the day it was made! So if you store the fake snow in an airtight container or Ziploc bag at room temperature, it should last for at least a few weeks.

Of course, it all depends on how clean the hands are before playing with it, so keep an eye on your fake snow and use your best judgment. It’s easy to make a new batch, so it doesn’t hurt to throw it out after a few days if it smells or feels off.

How to play with this fake snow?

This fake snow is perfect for sensory play and squishing through your fingers. You can use beach toys , plastic spoons, and shovels to move the snow around.

Our fake snow recipe also makes a great vehicle for pretend play. You can add little plastic toys and figures into the snow.

We actually created a whole winter village scene and made our toys have a “snowball fight”, which you can see in the picture above. It’s so easy to get creative and build a whole world of make believe play!

Can you put fake snow outside?

No, this fake snow cannot be put outside, because the ingredients aren’t good for wildlife. If you’d like to make a fake snow that can go outside, you can buy the instant snow that we used in our cloud slime . This fake snow is biodegradable and safe to place outdoors!

How to make fake snow without conditioner?

We experimented with a few different recipes for fake snow and we definitely found that conditioner and baking soda make the BEST fake snow. But if you don’t have conditioner, or don’t want to use it for sensory play, there are a couple other recipes that work.

Start with the amount of baking soda you’d like and then add the wet/liquid ingredient until you’re happy with the mixture.

• Baking soda and baby oil: This snow is similar to the baking soda and conditioner recipe, with a really nice texture. But it was harder to make snowballs and build things with this mixture, so it wasn’t our favourite.
• Baking soda and shaving cream: This mixture is similar to the baby oil mixture, but a bit fluffier and less wet feeling. Shaving cream often has an overpowering smell that some people don’t like. Also, the fluffiness from the shaving foam disappears within a few hours.

We don’t recommend using cornstarch and shaving cream. It made a really powdery mixture, but it didn’t stick together or feel like snow at all.

Whether it’s too cold outside to play, or you live in a place that doesn’t get snow, this sensory craft is the perfect way to enjoy “snow” inside this year!

You can use pantry ingredients you probably already have to make this easy fake snow recipe. It’s such a fun winter activity, perfect for at home play or a weather unit in school.

Here’s even more fun sensory craft ideas:

Puffy Snow Paint

Ice Painting

Cloud Slime

Our book  Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!

Where to buy:

You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon , or wherever books are sold:

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   |  Books-A-Million   |  Indiebound   |   Amazon Canada

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About Debbie Chapman , the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids . I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

Low-Mess Crafts for Kids

72 Projects to Create Your Own Magical Worlds

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Which material makes the best fake snow?

January 5, 2021 By Emma Vanstone 3 Comments

We’ve yet to see any real snow this year, despite promises of downfalls in November, so we decided to make some fake snow of our own.

We made three different types of pretend snow and set about exploring their different properties for a wonderful snowy sensory experience.

Don’t forget to try my other winter science experiments too!

How to make fake snow

Cornflour snow.

Add a small amount of water to some cornflour.

This is just goop or oobleck . My littlest child was fascinated when it was in the bowl as it felt quite solid, but when we put it in our tray it started to flow like a liquid.

Baking Powder Snow

Add a small amount of water to baking powder until you get the consistency you want.

I liked the feel of this fake snow the best as it was quite smooth and silky.

I used this snow dough recipe  from The Imagination Tree. We liked this one the best as we could mould it into snowballs, and it felt quite squeaky ( I can’t think of a better word ).

You can see how the snow dough is slightly yellow in colour because of the vegetable oil, and we had to build a dam to stop the cornflour and water running into the others.

Have you made any fake snow this year?

More snow science ideas

For older children, you could experiment with quantities and try to work out exactly how much of each ingredient makes the perfect snow recipe.

What happens if you add too much oil or water?

Can you mould the oobleck into a solid ball?, what happens if you drop it?

Snow sensory ideas

This fizzy snow from Inspiration Laboratories looks like great fun!

We can’t wait to try No Time for Flash Card’s floam recipe .

This melted snowman idea is very cute as well!

If you enjoyed this activity, we’ve got lots more fun winter science ideas you can try too!

Warning – Do not let children eat the snow.

Last Updated on January 7, 2022 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.

Reader Interactions

December 18, 2013 at 7:58 pm

that looks like loads of fun Emma!

December 19, 2013 at 4:23 pm

Great ideas for pretend snow! My favorite will always be oobleck, too. 🙂

January 22, 2014 at 10:49 am

We made snow out of two boxes of corn starch and one can of shaving cream. It worked wonderfully!

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Fake Snow You Can Make Yourself

Have you ever wondered what fake snow is made of? Just two simple ingredients are all you need. Learn how to make fake snow with our simple DIY recipe and video below! Treat the kids to an indoor snowman-building session or fun winter sensory play with this super easy-to-make fake snow recipe! We have all kinds of fun winter-themed activities for you to try with your kiddos this season!

Easy Fake Snow Recipe

FAKE SNOW TIP: Making snow can get messy with little hands helping out, so be prepared for spills. Make clean-up super easy by setting your tray on top of a dollar store shower curtain, on a table, or the floor.

Watch the video:

• Large tray (cookie sheet works)
• Baking Soda
• Play Accessories; Cookie Cutters, Plastic Snowflakes, Pinecones, etc.

Learn how to make your own fake snow for less than $2!

How to Make Fake Snow Indoors!

Mix your fake snow in a bowl and transfer it to a tray afterward. The recipe calls for a 1:1 ratio of baking soda to cornstarch.

STEP 1:  Start by pouring equal amounts of cornstarch and baking soda onto the tray or a bowl. You can also measure if that works best for you. Choose whatever amount you want, such as 1 cup or the whole box. It’s up to you.

STEP 2: Mix the baking soda and cornstarch with your fingers.

STEP 3: Next, add enough water to form a ball when you squeeze some of the mixtures in your hands!

Gently loosen any clumps until your fake snow looks just like real snow.

FAKE SNOW TIP: Make sure to add the water very slowly. And if you end up with a too runny mixture, simply add a bit more of the baking soda and cornstarch mixture.

How Long Does Fake Snow Last?

It will last 7 to 10 days, stored in an air-tight container. Over time it will absorb moisture from the air, and the consistency will change. But it is super easy to whip a new batch of fake snow to play with!

Pour, mix, and crumble your fake snow till you have the perfect snowy consistency, and you don’t need a pair of gloves to enjoy!

Add snowflakes or other winter-theme cookie cutters to your fluffy fake snow! Build a winter scene with arctic animals and explore polar bear science with our blubber science experiment !

More Fun Winter Ideas

We have always enjoyed excellent homemade cloud dough (including hot chocolate cloud dough), and this cool DIY fake snow is another perfect indoor activity for kids!

Sensory play and simple science is perfect for kids of all ages, including their grown-ups. Make sure to check out more fun winter activities for kids below. We love hands-on fun with our projects! Click on each link below to find more ways to explore winter, even if it isn’t wintering outside!

• Learn how to make frost on a can ,
• Engineer your own snowball launcher for indoor snowball fights,
• Create a snowstorm in a jar ,  
• Explore how polar bears stay warm , 
• Try ice fishing indoors!
• Create a snowflake salt painting.
• Make shivery snow paint .
• Even whip up some snow slime.
• Mix up snowflake oobleck .

FREE Winter-Themed Project Guide.

More Fun Sensory Play Recipes

• Squish and squeeze this awesome foam dough .
• Two-ingredient oobleck is super simple to make and even more fun to play with.
• Try this easy no cook playdough recipe .
• You don’t need to buy it; instead, make kinetic sand .
• We have tons of edible slime recipes for you to try.

Winter Sensory Play Activities

Make a winter sensory bin or create a snowman sensory bottle ! Grab our free winter sensory play guide to keep the ideas rolling all season long.

Will the snow keep if stored in a sealed bag? Looking to make snowman kits for a class gift. Thanks!

I have never tried it! I’m not sure if and when mold might form would be the only question depending on how far in advance you want to make them…

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I’m a bit late here, but I wonder if it’s a good idea to send home a potential big mess! I’m a retired early elementary teacher, and did some of these activities with my students in the 90s.

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When you say a 1:1 ratio, is that in measurement form (1 cup:1 cup) or weight (1lb:1lb)?

Whatever amount you want to make, it’s just equal parts of both ingredients.

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Fake Snow Lab – Testing the Best Recipes

Winter is the time for bundling up and playing in the snow. But if you can’t get to snow, can you still have winter? In this fun experiment, kids will learn how to make their very own fake snow and determine the best fake snow recipe. And have a lot of fun playing in it, without having to pile on the coats! This post contains affiliate links.

Setting Up Your Fake Snow Lab

This experiment starts with a simple idea. What is the best fake snow recipe? Nothing says winter like snow, but if you can’t get the real deal (like we can’t in the San Francisco area!), use this STEM challenge to find out what fake snow recipe is the best.

Fake Snow Lab Supplies

• Insta-Snow (find it here!)
• Baking Soda
• Paper Towels
• Shaving Cream
• 4 small bowls

Recipe 1: Baking Soda and Shaving Cream

Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of shaving cream. Mix with a fork. Add a few drops of water until the mixture takes on a snow-like appearance. You may need to add a little more water or baking soda depending on the humidity of your room.

Recipe 2: Paper Towels and Baking Soda

Shred a paper towel into tiny pieces. Blend the pieces of paper towel in a blender or food processor. Add 1/2 a cup of baking soda and a few drops of water. Mix with a fork until a snowy texture is formed.

Recipe 3: Insta-Snow

Place a teaspoon of Insta-Snow powder in a small container. The snow will grow to 100 times its original size, so make sure there is plenty of room in the container. Add 2 ounces of water. Watch the snow magically expand before your eyes. You might need to mix it up a bit with a fork to distribute the water evenly.

Recipe 4: Insta-Snow and Shaving Cream

Complete the recipe above, but also add 1/2 cup of shaving cream. Mix the shaving cream in with a fork. Keep adding shaving cream until you can form a ball of Insta-Snow in your hand.

Testing the Fake Snow Recipes

We conducted a series of experiments on our snow recipes to determine which recipe is the best. Our tests were as follows:

• Coldness test
• Snowball test
• Texture test

Coldness Test

The coldness test was our first challenge. We tested each fake snow recipe to determine how realistic the snow was in terms of temperature. Surprisingly enough, some of the recipes actually felt cold, even though we didn’t use particularly cold water to make them. We looked up the explanation on the Steve Spangler Science page and found out that when Insta-Snow (and our other fake snow recipes) evaporates, the water leaving the snow makes it feel cool to the touch. Insta-Snow and the baking soda snow were the coldest. The paper towel snow and the shaving cream snow were not cold to the touch.

Snowball Test

The children tested each type of snow to determine which fake snow could be rolled into a snowball. Snowballs are an important element for any snow (according to the kids). The Insta-Snow could not make any ball shape. The paper towel snow was too lumpy. The baking soda snow balled up pretty well (ours was a little too dry to make a ball), and the Insta-Snow mixed with shaving cream made the best ball, making it the winner of the snowball challenge.

Texture Test

The kids decided right away that the paper towel recipe was nothing like the texture of real snow. The Insta-Snow combined with shaving cream was also nothing like snow. The baking soda snow felt like snow, except it was too gritty. The texture of Insta-Snow was its biggest weakness, as it felt more like packing peanuts than real snow. The baking soda snow won the texture challenge.

The Best Fake Snow Recipe

The kids determined that Insta-Snow was the best snow, even with its weakness in the snowball test. The kids loved how the Insta-Snow could sprinkle like real snow, looked like real snow, and was cold to the touch. The addition of shaving cream to the snow also made Insta-Snow perfect for making snowballs or fake snowmen. Even though the baking soda snow looked like snow and could make snowballs, the kids did not like the gritty texture.

Fake Snow STEM Elements

This activity includes everything you need for a comprehensive STEM project.

Science: Kids will use scientific inquiry and a series of tests to determine the best fake snow.

Technology: Children will learn about chemical reactions and why the Steve Spangler Insta-Snow expands so quickly.

Engineering: Children will test each snow for temperature, snowball ability, and appearance.

Math: Children must measure ingredients to create the right consistency for each snow recipe.

More Fake Winter Fun :)

For more fake snow fun inspired by California winters, try this California Snowball Fight !

Join us as we explore all things WINTER with the STEAM Explorers Winter Ebook Unit Study !

Kids will love freezing their own hockey rink, crafting a waddling penguin toy, figuring out what helps your jacket keep you warm, snacking on caramel polar bear paws, and so much more! You'll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!

More Weather Fun for Kids

This fake snow lab is a sneak peek into our Weather STEAM Explorers ebook ! Kids will love creating weather in a jar, capturing the daily forecast in an art journal, and becoming a meteorologist with DIY tools. You’ll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM exploration easy!

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7 DIY Snow Experiments Kids Can Do on Their Own

By Let Grow on Feb 21, 2020

Read Time: 3 minutes

Whether snow is one of those things you can take or leave, you can still learn a lot from it, especially if you try these DIY snow experiments. We put together some of our favorite snow projects, including a recipe for making the perfect fake snow. These are great science experiments for the classroom, and kids can do all of them on their own.

By the way, did you see our story about the town that finally stopped making throwing snowballs a criminal activity? Check it out here. 

1. Make your own snow.

2. Make your own DIY snow slime.

Source: Natural Beach Living

After you’ve conquered making your own snow, you might as well tackle making snow slime next. Our favorite recipe is this one from Natural Beach Living . It might not exactly feel like snow, but it sure does look like it, especially on one of those puffy, powdery snow days!

3. Create your own snowstorm.

Source: Mrs. Richardson’s Class

Anything that fizzes (thanks to an Alka-Seltzer tablet, in this case) is definitely a science experiment worth trying. Learn how to do this experiment, courtesy of Mrs. Richardson’s Class . She even has a printable you can download for free.

4. Make your own snow ice cream.

Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

You only need three ingredients for this recipe, and yes, snow is one of them. (If you don’t have snow, try using shaved ice instead.) We love this recipe and idea from Little Bins for Little Hands. They have so many great snow experiments and projects to try. Check out their article with DIY snow ideas, like making a snow volcano, trying an ice fishing experiment, and making crystal snowflakes.

5. Learn how much water there is in snow.

Source: STEAM Powered Family

This experiment is from STEAM Powered Family. They live in Canada, so they get a lot of snow each year. They found a way to use snow in a quick experiment. By filling jars with three things—snow, ice, and water—they made predictions about how much water was in snow and how much liquid they’d get from ice and snow. This is an experiment you can easily replicate on your own, too. Get more information on their website. 

6. Experiment with frozen bubble science.

Source: Growing a Jeweled Rose

A lot of people want to head inside when it’s cold out, but this is a great time to test out some experiments. This one isn’t exactly about snow, but it’ll help you learn about how ice crystals form, thanks to this cool idea from Growing a Jeweled Rose. Learn more about it here. 

7. DIY snow globe.

Here’s one more snow-related project, and you don’t have to get your hands cold at all. You can create your own DIY snow globe. This is one more project from Little Bins for Little Hands, and we love it. Get all the tips for making it right here. 

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How to Make Fake Snow

This Winter has been surprisingly mild and there hasn’t been a lot of snow outside. Whether you’re in a climate with snow or not – sometimes it’s too cold to venture outside to play with the snow! We’re sharing 3 ways you can make your own fake snow for sensory play and crafts. You only need a few ingredients to make them. Or you can buy instant snow and just add water! We have two recipes that only require 2 ingredients – things you probably already have on hand! Kids will love playing with this fake snow or creating their own puffy painted snowman.

RELATED:   Salt Painting Snowflakes

How to Make Fake Snow – 3 Ways

We’re going to show you 3 ways you can make fake snow:

1. Snow that can be used in a sensory bin to create your own small world play scene

2. Snow you can paint with! We call this puffy paint and you can create your own puffy painted snowman

3. Instant snow – you can buy this and re-use it. Kids love it!

Watch the full tutorial video here before you get started!

How to Make Snow for a Sensory Bin

The first kind of snow you can make is really simple – you only need 2 ingredients: 

• Cornstarch (or cornflour it’s called in the UK)
• Conditioner

You can also substitute the conditioner for lotion.

Add 1 bag of cornstarch (ours was 454 grams/ 16 ounces) with 1 cup of conditioner . We used unscented but a lavender or light scented version would also work.

If you find it’s a little too sticky, just add more cornstarch and if you find it’s too dry, add a little more conditioner.

You want the consistency to not be sticky. It should let you form it into little balls to make your own snowman!

Now that your “snow” is made, you can place it into a bin to create your own small world play scene!

We added pine cones and small animals like a polar bear and deer to make our own Winter sensory bin. We added a little bit of glitter in as well.

Store your fake snow so that it does not get exposed to air. This will help it from drying out. You can place some saran wrap on top. If it becomes really dry, add a little bit more conditioner and some extra water into it.

Puffy Paint Snow Recipe

Now we’ll show you how to make an easy 2 ingredient puffy paint recipe. Use this “snow” paint to create your own snowman. Toddlers and preschoolers can make a melted snowman version by just painting the paper and adding their snowman face features.

To make the puffy paint, add 1 cup of shaving cream and 1 cup of white glue . Mix together.

If you don’t need as much, cut the recipe in half and do 1/2 cup of shaving cream and 1/2 cup of white glue. One cup will give you enough for 2-3 kids to make snowmen with. If you only have 1 child, cut the recipe in half.

Now paint your snowman and add all of your snowman features! We used googly eyes, small buttons and glitter paper (red and black) to make the hat. We also used an orange foam glitter sheet to make the nose.

Instant Snow

Finally, if you’d rather not make your own fake snow you can buy instant snow! Instant snow is great for sensory bins and kids love playing with it and watching it grow. You just need to add water!

You can buy Insta-Snow here .  We recommend the brand Insta-snow since it’s non-toxic and safety tested. The best part about Insta-snow is it’s reusable. Just let it dry out and then you can add water back to it again and again! Always make sure to read the instructions and supervise while using.

The Insta Snow also includes an activity guide that explains the science behind the fake snow. And it’s easy to turn into snow – just add water and watch it erupt in seconds. Kids are always amazed at this!

Have fun playing with all kinds of fake snow this Winter! Let us know which sensory activity your kids loved the best!

More Winter Sensory Activities

These salt painted snowflakes are really fun to make! You just need glue and salt and there is a free snowflake template available.

Make your own fluffy snowman slime !

Related Ideas:

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Make Life Lovely

Your DIY Guide to a Lovelier Life

How to Make Fake Snow {In Minutes with Just 2 Ingredients!}

August 18, 2021 By Laura 12 Comments

Learn how to make fake snow that is cold to the touch using just 2 ingredients you already have!  Kids love playing with this DIY snow that feels SO real!

Living in Southern California means that my kids don’t get to experience snow.  They don’t know what it’s like to dig their fingers in cool, freshly fallen crisp snow and form a snowball or make a snowman.

I wanted my kids to have a taste of what snow feels like, so I created some DIY fake snow that feels just like the real thing!

It’s surprisingly easy to make snow at home that-

• naturally feels cold when you touch it (without placing it in the freezer)
• is really fun to play with
• is SO easy to make
• uses just two simple ingredients

Bonus:   This fake snow smells really amazing too!

Today I’m going to show you how to make fake snow with baking soda and shaving cream.  Seriously!!

This sock snowman made from a men’s sock goes perfect with the snow and takes only 10 minutes to make.

How to Make Snow Video

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make your own snow without having to deal with freezing cold weather.

Your kiddos are going to love this!

How to Make Fake Snow

Snow ingredients.

• baking soda
• shaving cream
• Dish or container (to mix it all up in)

DIY Snow Directions

Pour the baking soda into a plastic container with a lid.

Add some shaving cream, and knead it into the baking soda.

Add more shaving cream, mix, and repeat, until the mixture is the consistency of snow.

The DIY fake snow become light and powdery, and will leave very little residue on your hands when fully mixed.

It took me about 10 minutes to mix it all in with my hands, partly because the kids were really excited to “help” me mix. 😉

I used one full can of shaving cream, plus a small amount of another can, but this will depend on the size of the can that you use.

Our shaving cream scent was called “Arctic Snow,” which was perfect for this project!

Our DIY snow smelled amazingly brisk and cool due the shaving cream scent.

It was a nice surprise that our fake snow felt cold to the touch.

I’m not sure why the mixture is cold, but it definitely makes it more realistic, and even more magical!

To add to the magic, I just couldn’t resist adding Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Christoff, and Sven to our DIY fake snow.

The kids were all playing peacefully together with the snow for HOURS, which was really nice.

My kids took turn playing the different Frozen characters, and then made their own little snowmen complete with stick arms and tiny pebble eyes.

Our fake snow came together just like real snow when pressed.

My kids were so enchanted with their cold, fresh-smelling snow, and to be honest, so was I.

I played right alongside them for a while, digging my fingers into the cool powder.

It was very therapeutic!

How to Store the Fake Snow

I let the kids mix up the snow in a plastic container with a lid.

After my kids are done playing with the snow, I just put the lid on top and put it somewhere out of the reach of my kids until next play time.

Would you ever have believed that it was so easy to make fake snow?

I truly hope you enjoyed this how to make snow tutorial!

How to Make Snow

• Plastic container with lid or large bowl (to mix the snow in)
• 2 lb box baking soda
• 1-2 cans shaving cream

Instructions

• Pour the whole 2 lb. box of baking soda into a plastic container with a lid.
• Add some shaving cream, and knead it into the baking soda. Keep adding more shaving cream, mixing, and repeating, until the mixture is the consistency of snow. You will know it is done when it is light and powdery and doesn't leave residue on your hands.

This tutorial was originally posted in April 2015 and was updated in August 2021.

About Laura

Hi! I'm Laura, owner and creator of Make Life Lovely, a creative blog filled with creative craft tutorials, DIY projects, party tips, holiday ideas, home decor, and so much more! Make Life Lovely is dedicated to making everyday life more lovely, and I hope to inspire you and show you how!

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Winter Science Experiment – Fizzy Snowman

Introduce your kiddos to chemistry with this fun winter science experiment. All you need is some fake snow with baking soda and vinegar!

This is a really fun way to teach your kids how chemical reactions work, and you don’t even have to use real snow to do it. Use one of my baking soda-based snow recipes . 

Plus, it is fun for kids of all ages. Since it uses a large dropper, even preschoolers can participate and learn a bit about science. 

Keep reading and discover how easy it is to make your very fake snow science experiment with baking soda and vinegar.

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Watch the Video to See How to Set Up The Experiment!

In this video you’ll see how easy it is to make your own winter science experiment. In fact, you probably already have everything you need to make this! 

Make sure you have enough droppers for each child to have their own. You could even make multiple snowmen. Everyone is going to want to join in!

For written step-by-step instructions, read on below for more information!

Teach Chemistry With Fake Snow

I love science experiments that allow my kiddos to touch and explore what they are learning. Sensory activities that engage not only their mind but their other senses as well help them learn new concepts faster and more effectively.

With science and chemistry, I knew that giving my kids control of the reactions would keep them engaged and asking questions. Questions is the foundation of scientific curiosity.  

As your child drops the vinegar on the snowman, they will try to figure out why it makes it fizz up so much. 

If your kiddos love this, you have to try our Shaving Cream Cone activity !

• Baking Soda-Based Fake Snow
• Googley Eyes, Carrot, Sticks, and other items of your choice to make the snowman!

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Follow this tutorial and make your fake snow with baking soda and shaving cream.

Decorate a small snowman on a plate or tray.

Fill droppers up with vinegar.

Let your children take turns squirting the vinegar on the snowman and watching it fizz.

Educational Benefits of Fake Snow Science Experiment

This is a fun and exciting way to introduce your kids to the wonder of science and chemistry. There is so much to learn and enjoy!

Chemical Reactions: What happens when the vinegar mixes with the baking soda? Why does it fizz up so much? 

This is the perfect opportunity to teach your children about how all living things are made up of chemicals and sometimes those chemicals react in physical ways that we can see.

This chemical reaction is all about what happens when an acid (vinegar) reacts with a base (baking soda). When vinegar and baking soda combine, carbon dioxide is released causing bubbles and a fizzy froth!

Scientific Method: Every science experiment should follow the scientific method and this is a fun way to teach it. Ask your child to guess what will happen when they add the vinegar. Then, repeat the experiment a few times. Then, support or deny their hypothesis – did it work like they guessed it would?

Store-Bought Science Experiments

Here are my top picks for the best chemistry experiments you can buy!

Geyser Science Kit

Learn about chemical reactions and explore the Three Laws of Motion using a car fueled by soda and candy!

Chemistry Kits

This 3-Pack Chemistry Kits will ignite a passion for science. Including an electrochemistry lab, fire lab, and vortex lab.

National Geographic Earth Science Kit 

This kit lets your children learn hands-on about geology and chemical reactions in volcanoes.

Lab and Science Kit for Preschoolers

This 45 Piece Set is perfect for kids 3+. It includes 2 test tubes, dropper, funels, safety glasses, and 20 activity cards.

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Pin It on Pinterest

DIY Fake Snow: Winter Weather Science Experiment

From snow and ice to freezing rain and cold temperatures, there’s a lot to explore about the weather in winter. The winter season provides wonderful opportunities for fun and engaging science experiments in the classroom. DIY Fake Snow is a wonderful way to explore winter weather through hands-on fun!

How do you make fake snow? Well, if you only need enough to do snow science experiments with kids, it's actually pretty simple. Check out the video and instructions below for information on how to make DIY Fake Snow in your classroom.

Download our FREE printable below!

Required Materials:

• Mixing Bowl
• Shaving Cream
• Baking Soda

1 Gather Your Materials

Grab your baking soda, shaving cream, and a large mixing bowl to start creating your snow.

2 Create Your Snow

Squirt half a can of shaving cream (about 3 cups) into a large mixing bowl. Please note that the experiment will not work with shaving gel. Pour an entire box of baking soda onto the cream and mix thoroughly. The mixture will become a snowy texture that is easily moldable and cold to the touch.

3 Enjoy Your Winter Wonderland

Once you've created your snow, it's time to play! Encourage children to explore the DIY Fake Snow they've created! They'll love learning more about the winter season through this hands-on experiment.

Winter learning is cool with our fun seasonal activities and experiments! Browse our selection of related seasonal resources to encourage winter explorations and incorporate engaging activities into your classroom.

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Experiment: Make Fake Snow

• Curiosity , Elementary , Experiment , Pre-School , Science Experiments

15 Comments

How to make fake snow.

We’ve been making fake snow, which is equally fun for kids like mine who celebrate winter under a sea of palm trees or those who are house-bound by piles of real winter snow.

Note: This post contains Amazon links for your convenience.

• Instant Snow (sodium polyacrylate)
• Liquid Watercolors
• Low-walled clear storage box
• Spoons and bowls for scooping and filling

How we did it

We started by pouring a small amount of Instant Snow into a large tub. The material used to make fake snow is non-toxic (although you wouldn’t want to eat it), and you’ll recognize it as the same stuff used to absorb liquid in disposable diapers.

I almost always fall into the camp of “you can always add more,” so we started with just a little bit. I heard about a prank where someone poured the powder all over their parent’s lawn in the middle summer, only to be greeted by a sea of snow once their sprinklers went off. This vision sat firmly in my mind, so I poured gingerly, not knowing just how much the powder would expand.

Mix colors into your fake snow

This turned into a cool color mixing experiment. It was fascinating to see how many of the “snow” pellets absorbed one color or the other, and cast an illusion of purple when viewed at once.

Make Fake Snow with a Friend

What do you think? Will you try to make fake snow?

Learn more about  how disposable baby diapers work  from Imagination Station

Watch Steve Spangler demonstrate Instant Snow on the Ellen Show. I can’t help but smile at Ellen’s reaction to Steve. She’s hilarious.

Note: Use your best judgement and due diligence when using these materials with young children.

I would like to get some of this to try too! I love how you you had N add color to the snow and mix colors! BTY: Baby R is looking so big with all that hair! We just tried Water Beads and they are using the same idea (I think!) Ironically I mentioned Insta snow at the end of this post: http://www.thechocolatemuffintree.com/2011/09/water-bead-fun.html Great minds think alike! Love the video! Check this video out for the commercialized take on water beads (it is a little crazy!): http://www.orbeezone.com/

my best friend just commented on the hair, too, so guess it’s been a while since i’ve shared pictures of her. and melissa, i saw your post and haven’t had a chance to pop over and comment on it yet, but YES, great minds think alike! i must get my hands on water beads!!! they look like a ridiculous amount of fun.

When this is so much fun to look at, I can imagine how interesting it would be to do. I like that you introduced liquid water colours. The photos are so bright and colourful.

We don’t get anything by the name ‘fake snow’ but I will look for Sodium Ployacrylate.

thanks, rashmie. and good luck finding it!

When I taught preschool, I came across some of this in a cupboard. As a professional clown and daughter to two magicians, I know this material as slush powder. It’s wonderful! I poured about half the pack into our classroom sensory tub, added water, and for several weeks we had our own mini winter wonderland in our class. I threw in some scoops and some Arctic animals and the kids had a blast. What’s nice is if it starts to dry out a bit, you simply add more water! I love your idea of adding color; we didn’t do that. Would have been fun to do before I finally dumped it all!

Slush powder is such a descriptive, wonderful name for this stuff. Good idea to make it the backdrop for a winter play scene. I’ll have to try that this winter when it’s 80 degrees here in California 🙂

I use this stuff every year. I can usually find it in big containers in every teacher store or in a small test tube at places like Kroger or Drug stores. It does absorb a lot of water. If you have multiple children playing in it, you should have them wash their hands first because it also picks up the dirt and looks dingy after a week or so. I found if you keep a lid on it, it starts to smell funky. It says you can dry it out and reuse it but I thought it looked too dirty and smelly to want to.

Thanks for the great tips on storing this stuff, Kristah. It’s new to me, so I had no idea!

Included this post at the end of our making snow post!

Here’s the chemistry-teacher mom adding two cents…sodium polyacrylate will release all the water it has absorbed if you add sodium chloride–table salt.  It turns the whole pile of snow instantly back to liquid–kind of fun when you’re completely done playing with it!  And if you’re looking to retrieve it from a diaper, just cut some slits in the diaper (business side is usually easiest), put it in a large garbage bag, and shake-shake-shake.  You’ll have powdered snow in the bag!  (We used to do this to get the stuff for HS demos before it was so easy to buy.)

I did this experiment today with my 2 1/2 -3 year old class we used disposable diapers….they were amazed that their diapers could make snow.

How cool, Traci. I know that you can do this with diapers, but we haven’t tried it yet. Thanks so much for swinging back over to let me know how it went with your little ones. Cheers, Rachelle

Ha ha, I accidentally put a clean diaper through the wash once (we keep the diapers just above the clothes basket and one fell in when I didn’t notice.) I threw all the clothes in the washer as usual and went on with the rest of my house work. I came back to move the clothes to the dryer and discovered a white/clear jelly substance stuck all over the clothes. I could not figure out what it was until I found the diaper. (facepalm). I then had to shake all the clothes off before putting them into the dryer, leaving the stuff in my washer. By then, I was fed up with it, so I took a break and came back later to find what I had been hoping to find. The water had evaporated and all that was left was the powder which was much easier to clean off.

I think I’ll give this a try as a fun experience and not a messy one!

This is totally AWESOME!!

Thanks so much, Angela 🙂

Comments are closed.

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Winter Boredom Buster: DIY Fake Snow!

• Posted On Dec 14, 2022 | STEM

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Whether you live in a place where blizzards are common or where snow is a rare sight, snow is a holiday dream for kids. This winter break, when the kids are looking for something to do, why not bring the snow indoors with your own DIY fake snow? It even feels cold!

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Childhood Magic

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How To Make Fake Snow

This post may contain affiliate links .

If you are looking for an easy sensory activity, try making fake snow with the kids in your life and see how much fun you can have! This DIY fake snow is made from only two ingredients and is safe for most ages.

You can get kids involved by letting them help you make the fake snow, as it’s mostly a mixing project. And then playtime can begin!

Related: Learn to make puffy paint , fluffy slime , moon sand and Oobleck for more sensory fun.

Why Make Fake Snow?

• Sensory activities stimulate children’s senses which supports their brain development, gross motor skills and problem-solving skills.
• Celebrate or learn about the seasons even if you can’t leave home or don’t get snow in the area you live in.
• Encourage curiosity through creating (this DIY) and using the fake snow to make shapes or imaginative play.
• Spend quality time with the little ones in your life with an easy and affordable activity.

We know it takes a lot of work to make childhood magic happen for the kids in your life. If you are the one researching activities, gathering supplies, helping them to have success with the project and (likely) cleaning up, know this—we are cheering you on! It’s a lot of thankless work sometimes but we see you and think you’re awesome!

• Baking soda
• Shaving cream

You will also need a large bowl or container and spoon to mix with. You may also want a large Tupperware or gallon-size ziplock bags to store fake snow in if you want to use for multiple days.

Add the baking soda to a large bowl. Add shaving cream and mix with a spoon, but you will likely also want to use your hands to mix. You will know you’ve added enough shaving cream when you can easily press a snowball from the mixture and it will leave very little residue on your hands.

In the DIY card below, I have added approximate measurements for the baking soda and shaving cream, but you really don’t have to measure. This DIY does not need to be exact like some projects do.

Tips & More Information

• Storage – Store in an airtight container like a Tupperware or large ziplock bag. As long as your fake snow doesn’t dry out, you will be able to use it for weeks and weeks.
• Clean up – It’s best to play on nonporous surfaces like countertops, floors (not carpeted) or bathtubs. Avoid rugs, carpet, or fabric covered furniture. BUT if you do get fake snow on something, you can vacuum it up and baking soda is often used as a cleaning product, so it may actually be good for the carpet. 🙂
• Ways to play – Use toy cars or trucks to drive through the snow and make tracks or haul snowballs in. Use small action figures or plastic dolls (like Barbie) to play snow day with. You can also make snow butterflies (like snow angels) with your hands or feet. Practice packing firm snowballs in leftover Easter eggs.

I personally love the smell of shaving cream as it always reminds me of my grandfather. But if you don’t, you can often find it in different scents or you can add a scent to your fake snow by adding a couple drops of essential oil. Enjoy playing with this fake snow DIY!

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Get the How-To

• ▢ 2 pounds baking soda
• ▢ 1 cup shaving cream

Instructions

• Add the baking soda to a large bowl.
• Add shaving cream and mix with a spoon, but you will likely also want to use your hands to mix.
• You will know you’ve added enough shaving cream when you can easily press a snowball from the mixture and it will leave very little residue on your hands.

How to Make Fake Snow (with Just 2 Ingredients!)

Learn how to make fake snow that feels cool to the touch and won’t melt inside the house! Your kids will love making snowballs and snowman while staying warm.

On day 3 of our Disney-themed week, we travel to the land of Arendelle to visit our favorite princesses, Anna and Elsa from Frozen. 

But because we are in the land of Arizona, we don’t get to experience the cold or snow. The kids don’t know what snow feels like and the concept of a snowman is foreign to them.

To better understand what Olaf is made of and what winter in Arendelle is like, we made some fake snow at home. This DIY snow recipe is super easy and uses only 2 simple ingredients!

How to Make Fake Snow at Home

Ingredients:.

• Baking soda
• Shaving cream (the foamy kind, not gel)
• Container (for mixing and playing with the snow)

Directions:

• Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the container.
• Add some shaving cream.
• Use your hand to mix and knead the shaving cream with the baking soda. 
• Add more shaving cream and continue kneading until the mixture reaches the consistency of snow.

That’s it! So simple right? And if you want more fake snow, simply just add more baking soda and shaving cream. 

Even though our baking soda snow as a tad bit dryer than real snow, we were able to make snowballs. And when you can make snowballs, you can make … SNOWMAN! My kids were so excited to see a snowman because they have never seen one in real life. 

Of course, we had to invite our friends Anna and Elsa to come and build the snowman with us. We just happen to have LEGO Disney Frozen Playground set so the princesses were all dressed up in snow gear.

What’s more fun than building a snowman? Topple one over of course!

Then in a typical boy manner, my son decided he wanted to bury Anna and Elsa with the fake snow. I bet the princesses didn’t see that one coming! 

The Science Behind Baking Soda Snow

The coolest (pun intended) thing about making fake snow out of baking soda and shaving cream is that the snow is cool to the touch. You can always make the snow even colder by placing the baking soda in the fridge before mixing it with shaving cream.

However, even room temperature baking soda mixed with shaving cream feels cold. Why?

It turns out that baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, when mixed with shaving cream, or an acid/lanolin/sorbitan compound, creates an endothermic reaction. The mixture absorbs heat from the surroundings, or your hand when you are holding the snow. 

Final Thoughts on the DIY Fake Snow

Depending on what shaving cream you use, the fake snow may smell nice and fresh. My kids kept commenting on how they love the smell of the snow. Hopefully, they won’t be too disappointed by how real snow smells when they finally get to play in it!

My daughter also loved the way the fake snow felt in her hands. The baking soda snow’s texture is very close to freshly fallen snow. 

After they were done playing with the Frozen characters, she kept pretending to “wash” her hand in the fake snow. This makes the fake snow a great sensory play for even toddlers, but you just have to be careful that nothing goes into their mouths.

If your kid enjoyed the fake snow, let me know in the comments!

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About The Author

4 thoughts on “how to make fake snow (with just 2 ingredients)”.

Love this fake snow activity, Betty! Can’t wait til my son tries it. No real snow in the Philippines as well. Really awesome post!

Thanks! Haha yeah it’s rare to snow here where I am in the US too! Supposedly once in a long time … :). But I don’t think there is a chance in the Philippines right?

Awesome! Thank you for sharing with us.

How long will these ingredients keep after mixed together… 1 day? 2 days?

it will keep for a while! It’s just shaving cream and baking soda. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t lose moisture.

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"Artificial Snow" experiment

How to make snow with water and sodium polyacrylate

Snow in sum­mer­time? Im­pos­si­ble, you’ll say. But we say that if you know chem­istry, ev­ery­thing is pos­si­ble. Here’s an ex­per­i­ment where we show you how to make ar­ti­fi­cial snow !

Reagents and equip­ment:

• sodi­um poly­acry­late;
• dis­tilled wa­ter;
• Petri dish;
• nar­row-necked beaker;
• large beaker.

Step-by-step in­struc­tions

Put 3 g of sodi­um poly­acry­late in a Petri dish and add 15 ml of dis­tilled wa­ter. The sodi­um poly­acry­late will start to swell up and turn into “ snow ”. Also place a small amount of sodi­um poly­acry­late in a nar­row-necked beaker and add 100 ml of wa­ter. Ob­serve the sodi­um poly­acry­late ex­pand. Af­ter sev­er­al min­utes there will be so much of it that it will start to spill out of the beaker.

Pro­cess­es de­scrip­tion

Sodi­um poly­acry­late is a sodi­um salt of poly­acrylic acid. Its mol­e­cules are very long, con­sist­ing of iden­ti­cal re­peat­ing frag­ments con­tain­ing charged groups. Sodi­um poly­acry­late is a very hy­gro­scop­ic sub­stance, i.e. it likes to ab­sorb wa­ter. One of the main prop­er­ties of the com­pound is the abil­i­ty to ab­sorb liq­uid of 200-300 times its own mass. So it in­stant­ly ab­sorbs wa­ter and swells up im­mense­ly, form­ing flakes that re­sem­ble snow . Why does this hap­pen? The wa­ter mol­e­cules pen­e­trate be­tween the chains in­side the gran­ules of sodi­um poly­acry­late. Each sodi­um cation Na⁺ puts on a “coat” of wa­ter mol­e­cules. These “coats” also form around neg­a­tive­ly charged cen­ters – the car­boxy­late groups CO²⁻. Each chain of poly­acry­late that is “soaked” in this man­ner un­rav­els. How­ev­er, the wa­ter in this ex­per­i­ment is not suf­fi­cient for all of them, and goes in­side each gran­ule. So “dry” chains re­main on the out­side. From in­ner ex­pan­sion, air comes be­tween them, and the to­tal vol­ume in­creas­es. If there is too much wa­ter , the gran­ules be­come sog­gy, stick to­geth­er and turn into gel – a semi-trans­par­ent vis­cous mass which has a very sim­i­lar con­sis­ten­cy to jel­ly or as­pic.

Safe­ty pre­cau­tions

You can touch ar­ti­fi­cial snow, but don’t eat it. Don’t for­get to wash your hands af­ter touch­ing the ar­ti­fi­cial snow.

Warn­ing! Only un­der pro­fes­sion­al su­per­vi­sion.

Dozens of experiments you can do at home

One of the most exciting and ambitious home-chemistry educational projects The Royal Society of Chemistry