Written by Winter is a great time of year to try some science at home. Many ice and snow-themed experiments don’t require special materials and are visually appealing, exciting and educational too!
I’ve pulled together a collection of what we think are the best winter science experiments for kids, including a free checklist you can download at the bottom of the post.
I also have lots of Winter STEM Challenges you might like to try.
My FREE winter science eBook is a great place to start with easy-to-follow instructions for five winter science investigations.
The Best Winter Science Experiments
Snow Volcano
First up is a snow volcano. Volcanos are always great fun; if you can manage one outside, they are almost mess-free. Try making different colours of lava using food colouring and experiment to find the best fizzy recipe!
Ice and Salt Investigation
Melting ice is always fun and super easy to set up.
Younger children usually enjoy ice excavations, and ice and salt experiments are great for older kids.
Frozen Bubble
It needs to be extremely cold to make a frozen bubble, but it’s worth a try if you get a cold snap. Fireflies and Mudpies show you how it’s done.
Frost on a Can
This ice and salt investigation using a tin can is wonderfully visual. It’s even more fun if you turn the can into a frosty snowman! Frost quickly appears outside the can, so this is an excellent classroom science demonstration.
Polar Animals
Find out how polar bears and penguins stay warm in extreme temperatures using lard! Take care with this activity as the icy water can get very cold.
Snowman Catapult
Lolly stick catapults are easy to make and lead to many investigative opportunities. Make different size catapults and investigate to see how far different objects fly. We made a snowman themed catapult, but you can change the theme for any topic or time of year.
Ice Decorations
Ice decorations are lovely to hang off a tree in winter. Fill them with nature items or even small plastic toys.
Children can then observe how the decoration changes during the day or when the outside temperature increases.
Pretend Snow
Fake snow is excellent for all kinds of sensory play and activities. I made three different types, so have a go and choose your favourite.
Lift ice with a String
Freeze some water, put the ice into a bowl and pour a little water over the top. Place the string on the surface of the ice and sprinkle it with salt. Leave for a few minutes, and then gently try to lift the string. How many ice cubes can you lift?
Winter print and play science pack
Download my winter themed print and play science experiment pack for 5 super simple paper-based science activities.
The best winter science experiment checklist!
Download my winter science experiment checklist and try them all!
Last Updated on January 2, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
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