5 Easy Snow Science Experiments: Fun Activities for Kids
- By Deedee Wills
- Updated on December 19
- No Comments
Table of Contents
Snow Science Experiments & Activities
If you have a snow day and you’re looking for some simple science experiments, you are in the right place! These winter science activities are a great way to spark curiosity and help students step into the scientific method. These fun winter science experiments are just what you need when the weather turns chilly and you want to bring a little seasonal magic into your classroom.
With each of these easy experiments, we want to be intentional. That’s why we follow the 7 steps of the scientific method:
Simply make an observation
Ask a question based on that observation
Form a hypothesis (a testable explanation)
Make a prediction based on your hypothesis
Test the prediction to see what happens
Use those results to keep exploring (make a new hypothesis or prediction!)
In early childhood education, much of this happens orally… but students can also draw pictures or write their observations. And wow — seeing their thinking come to life is just the sweetest thing!
Fake Snow Recipes
These easy science experiments are all about the chemical reactions taking place. Kids of all ages — even those who have never seen real snow — will have such a perfect time making their own fake snow. It’s messy. It’s magical. And it’s a perfect chance to spark curiosity!
You might even ask your students how this diy fake snow is different from real snow. Their observations can go right into a class science journal or an anchor chart so you can revisit the snow science experiment over several days. So much great thinking happens when they compare and contrast!
Here are two simple best fake snow recipes your students will love:
Fake Snow with Baking Soda and Conditioner
Mix 2 1/2 cups of baking soda with 1/2 cup of white conditioner.
That’s it! It feels cool, moldable, and oh-so-satisfying.
Fake Snow with Baking Soda and Shaving Cream
Combine 1 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of shaving cream.
Use a fork to mix so it stays fluffy like real powdery snow.
Add water one drop at a time until it looks “snow-like.”
Depending on your room humidity, you may need a bit more baking soda or water.
Your students will have a blast exploring these textures and noticing the changes. It’s science + sensory play wrapped in one snowy package!
Insta-Snow
Steve Spangler’s Website has Insta-Snow powder, and oh my goodness… young children LOVE this stuff. This superabsorbent polymer comes in a tiny container, but it grows over 100 times its size once you add fewv drops of water! Be sure you have plenty of room in your container and follow the instructions carefully — a little water goes a long way.
This fun winter science experiment opens the door for all kinds of sensory play. As the water molecules evaporate, students will notice the snow-like texture begin to fade. Before long, it turns right back into a fine white powder. And here’s the magical part: give it a spritz of water and fluff it up again! Just be careful not to add too much at once.
Snow Volcano Experiment
If you get real snow in the winter season, this is such a fun and easy experiment to take right out onto the playground. (And if you don’t have snow — sand works too!)
This simple experiment creates a chemical reaction by mixing an acid (white vinegar) with a base (baking soda). The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, which makes everything bubble and fizz. Add a squirt of dish soap and a few drops of food coloring, and your little scientists will be mesmerized.
You can read more about this great experiment in the article from:
There’s also a quick video below that walks you through each step. Your students are going to have a BLAST creating their own snow volcano with this one!
Frozen Soap Bubbles
Frozen bubbles are a perfect example of a physical reaction — and they are SO much fun. Truly one of the simplest winter science ideas out there. You just… freeze bubbles!
If your winter weather dips below 0°F (or –18°C), chances are you won’t be staying outside long. But even temperatures in the 20s can sometimes give you beautiful results. The trick is to make sure your soap solution is warm or even hot before you head out. Then blow your bubbles, try to catch one on the wand, and watch the magic happen. Seeing a bubble freeze right before your eyes feels like something out of a storybook!
If it’s not quite cold enough where you live, you can still enjoy the experience by watching this stunning video by Canadian photographer Chris Ratzlaff. The way the ice crystals form across the bubble is just breathtaking!
Maple Syrup Snow Candy
To make maple syrup taffy (also known as snow taffy), you’ll need REAL maple syrup and plenty of fresh snow. Make sure the snow is newly fallen — right after a snowstorm is perfect. If you’re making the candy outdoors, pack cups of snow into a pan so it’s firm enough to hold the hot syrup. If winter is extra harsh in your neck of the woods, you can bring a pan of snow right into your classroom. Just pack it down the same way.
Here’s how to make this magical winter treat:
Heat maple syrup until it starts to boil.
Once the syrup reaches 235–240°F, carefully pour it in thin lines over the packed snow. (BE CAREFUL — it is VERY hot.)
Place a craft stick or popsicle stick into the syrup. As it cools, gently roll the stick so the candy wraps around it.
You can also skip the stick and make individual bite-sized pieces instead!
If you don’t have fresh snow, you can crush ice cubes in a tray. It works beautifully and still feels like a winter wonder!
The Science Behind Snow Candy
When you heat the maple syrup, some of the water evaporates. Then, when you pour the hot syrup onto the cold snow, it cools so quickly that it can’t hold all that sugar anymore. So some of the sugar starts to form tiny crystals, giving the candy that yummy, semi-solid texture. Such a sweet little science moment for younger kids!
Exploring Frost
This easy experiment helps answer the big question: How does frost form? The air around us can hold a surprising amount of liquid water, but we don’t always notice it. We usually see frost when that water vapor condenses on cold temperature surfaces like cars and windows. When the surface is just cool, we might see dew — like on the grass in springtime. But when the surface is cold enough, the water vapor freezes… and that’s when we see beautiful frost crystals!
For this simple winter science experiment, you will:
Use an empty tin can or jar and fill it with crushed ice.
Add salt to the ice.
Wait a few minutes and students will begin to notice frost forming on the outside of the container.
Encourage students to observe the frost with a magnifying glass.
Ask: Can you see the tiny crystal snowflakes?
It’s such a magical moment when they spot those little sparkles!
You can find the science response page by clicking:
Additional Winter Science Lessons
I am a huge fan of SciKids on YouTube! This is a great information source for your students.
Snow by Cynthia Rylant Read Aloud Lesson Plans
We love the beautiful language in Cynthia Rylant’s book Snow (affiliate link). You might even say I’m a total Cynthia Rylant junkie! This is one of those books you’ll want in your personal collection forever. In our reading comprehension units, we use this lovely text to explore figurative language. The kids soak it up, and the discussions that follow are just magical!
If you are a Cynthia Rylant junkie like me… you’re going to LOVE this little detail. Can you spy her other book in this illustration? Do you see Scarecrow sitting right there on the table? My students squealed with delight when they spotted it! Moments like that make read-aloud time feel downright magical.
Snow Figurative Langage Lesson
Here is an anchor chart we used to capture our thinking about all the beautiful figurative language in this mentor text. The kids had such thoughtful ideas, and watching them notice the author’s craft was just wonderful!
Students draw pictures to show their understanding, and the results are always so precious. Displaying the figurative language worksheet on the interactive whiteboard is such a helpful way to support students and their approximations. It gives them the confidence to take risks and try out new ideas!
Then students complete their own figurative language worksheet response page.
Here are few more reading comprehension response pages for the book Snow.
Snowman Craft
This fun little craft is also part of our Snow Lesson Plans unit of study. And oh my goodness… we love how they turned out! The kids were so proud of their snowy creations, and they look absolutely adorable on display!
Snow Literacy Centers and Worksheets
Here are a few additional activities we use as learning centers. during our snow unit. I’ll link the images to the product so you can find them easily if you want to check them out.
These snowflake phonics centers come in two levels — one focuses on long or short o, and the other includes three different vowel sounds. By offering students choices, they’re far more likely to stay engaged with learning that feels just right for them. It’s such a simple way to support differentiation while keeping things fun!
Snow Math Centers
These winter math centers also have two different levels of difficulty.
Each of these snowflake activities ask kindergarten or first grade students to work with subtraction.
Winter Worksheets
Here are some of the winter worksheets that are also included in the Science, Math, and More activity pack.
Winter Directed Drawing
We even have a winter directed drawing activity that kids love!
Winter Blog Posts for Kindergarten and First Grade
I hope you were able to find a few cool winter science experiments you can use with your young children or students!
Here are few more blog posts with winter activities and learning that might come in handy.
- Melting Ice Experiments FUN! (free file)
- Fun Winter Kindergarten Activities – Free Literacy Center!
- Free Kindergarten Winter Math Activities
- Free Polar Express Printable (Free PDF) Plus Activities & Worksheets
If you are looking for more read aloud lesson plans like this one, here are a few that are perfect for winter!
Snow Activities for Kindergarten
Would you like to grab this free lesson plan template? Simply click the lesson plan image below to download the file directly from my Google Drive. It’s quick, easy, and ready to use!
For extra convenience, the PDF version of these lesson plans is also linked within the resource, so you can access it anytime you need.
Want to see other weekly lesson plans like this?
If you’d like to explore additional lesson plan posts filled with hands-on activities and fresh classroom ideas, click below to keep the inspiration going:
Deedee Wills
Pin for Later
Recommended Posts
