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By Kim Vij 2 Comments

Snowflake Lab: A Winter Science Challenge for Kids

Snowflake Winter Science Lab for Kids

Create your own snowy blizzard at home with this Winter Science Lab. Perfect for indoor fun create a science challenge with you to discover and learn with. Here’s how…

Snowflake Winter Science Lab for Kids

As you begin this science challenge it’s time to encourage your child to think of was to create snowflakes that move on their own. Challenge them to see if they are able to think about how to do it.

Have them find items from the supply list and see if they can think of the science that might make this snowy blizzard challenge come to life.

(Contains affiliate links to Amazon)

Winter Science: Creating a Snowflake Blizzard

Snow%2BScience%2BLab%2Bfor%2BKids%2BSetup.png

As you begin it’s time to talk it up with your child about ways that you can create spooky monster eyes that move on their own. Challenge them to see if they are able to think about how to do it.

Have them find items from the supply list and see if they can think of the science that might make this Halloween Science Lab come to life.  

Supplies for Snow Lab Winter Science Challenge

Supplies Needed for Winter Science Lab 

  • Water
  • Oil
  • Effervescing antacid tablet 
  • Food Coloring 
  • Snowflakes 
  • Lab Beaker Shaped Glass or Plastic Test Tubes  or clear vase
  • Measuring Cup 
Adding%2BOil%2Bto%2BWinter%2BScience%2BLab%2B.png

Directions for Snowflake Science Lab

1. Set up your Blizzard Science Station by placing all of your supplies within easy reach.

2. To begin the first snowflake experiment, have your child fill one the science beaker with water 1/2 full leaving space for the oil, snowflakes and tablet.

Be sure to tell your child to not shake the bottle during this experiment to see the full effect.

3. Fill up a measuring cup with oil.

Water%2Bset%2Bup%2Bfor%2BSnow%2BScience%2BFun%2Bfor%2BKids%2B.png

4. Add a few drops of food coloring of your choice to the science beaker with water.

5. Fill the remainder of the science container with the oil. Be sure to leave enough space at the top to allow for snowy bubbling effects.

6. Now add your snowflakes to the combination of oil and water…. What happens?

Talk about your observations.

7. Snowy Science Challenge Ask your child if they can make their snowflake fly in the container without shaking it.

Snowflake Science Challenge

8. Encourage them to add some winter magic to the experiment. Add 1/2 of the antacid tablet to your test tube and WATCH.

Did your snowflake fly? Why or Why Not? Repeat the winter science and add the rest of the tablet and make the snowflakes fly again.

NOTE: Leave the lid off of your container to allow for the winter magic (air bubbles) to escape.

Blizzard%2BAction%2Bin%2BSnowy%2BScience%2Blab%2Bfor%2BWinter%2B.png

9. Try the experiment again in another container with a different ratio of oil and water and see the wintery results. I recommend a few containers so that you can experiment a bit more and compare side by side.

10. After you’ve completed the experiment the winter mix of water and oil is fun to observe inside of a Plastic Test Tube too once the lid is placed and you can shake it up.

Keep the snowy fun going throughout Winter! What other Winter items can you add to the Blizzard?

Winter Science Lab Idea

What is the Snowy Winter Science?

This experiment demonstrates for a child that oil will not mix with water. This is a science term called a hydrophobic molecule. The word hydrophobic literally means water fearing which comes from the Greek language hydros “water” and phobos “fear”. Food coloring is a hydrophilic molecule. This term hydrophilic literally means water loving from the Greek language hydros “water” and philic “friendship”.

Because of this, the food coloring has the ability to mix with the water (H2O) through hydrogen bonding. When you place the effervescing antacid tablet into the bottle it will dissolve in the water and form bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

The gas rises and takes some of the colored water along with it to the surface of the oil. When all of the gas has escaped out of the top of the bottle the water droplet falls back to the bottom of the bottle.

Hope you have lots of fun with your Snowflake Science Experiments this Winter!

Winter Books for Kids

Be sure to grab a few winter Books to add to your child’s imagination this season! Here are some of our favorite winter books in our house and classroom.

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

I Am Snow by Jean Marzollo 

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert 

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel

Ten on the Sled by Kim Norman

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Child throwing snow to feature January themes and books for preschoolers and toddlers

For More Winter Fun with Kids

  • Winter Activities for School Ages 
  • How to Host a Winter Themed Playdate 
  • Winter Printables 
  • Winter Science Activities with Snow and Ice
  • January Activities for Kids
Winter Science Activities for Kids with Snow and Ice
Winter scenes of snow covered mountain, sledding, ice castles and evergreen trees for winter virtual field trip for Kids
january activities for school ages

Want more activities for Winter? Sign up for our free January Activity Calendar!

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Science, STEM Tagged With: grade school, Preschool, Snow, STEM, Winter

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

« January Books for Your Preschooler
Planning January Activities and Games for After School »

Comments

  1. karan says

    January 1, 2020 at 6:19 am

    nice post thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities and even recipes for kids!
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