4 Easy Winter Science Experiments for Kids
When the winter blues hit the classroom, it is nice to mix it up and get creative! Being stuck inside during the long, cold months can make kids a little restless sometimes. So finding fun, hands-on activities are key to keeping their little minds working. These winter science experiments are a perfect way to bring the fun into the classroom when you are staying warm inside. They are super easy, interactive, and always a hit with students! Check out these 4 easy winter science experiments with adorable themes that you can utilize all season long!
Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Science Lesson
This is a fun and easy science experiment that will warm up your classroom with a nice hot cup of cocoa, because hot chocolate is always a wintertime staple, right? This winter science experiment focuses on melting and is a great, hands-on way for teaching the scientific method! It is simple too, which is always a bonus! All you need is hot chocolate, cups, spoons, markers, water for mixing, and some yummy marshmallows.
Once all the supplies are gathered, your students are ready to test out the scientific method and see how melting works! Simply mix 3 cups of cocoa……one cold, one warm, and one nice and hot. Then add your marshmallows to each cup. Students will then wait, watch and identify which cup of cocoa melts the marshmallow first. You can do this experiment as a whole class or in small groups, but I highly recommend everyone enjoys a hot cup of cocoa once the experiment is done!
Grow Your Own Polar Bear Experiment
There is truly nothing better than a winter science experiment that doubles as a tasty treat! This experiment is a favorite because it uses the crowd-pleasing gummy bear! This science activity uses the scientific method and touches on osmosis as well. It is the perfect winter experiment when studying all about polar bears!
All you need for this experiment is water, baking soda, vinegar, and salt, super simple and you probably already have the supplies on hand! Then just grab a big bag of gummy bears, some for the experiment, and maybe a few extras to snack on! The gummy bears are then placed in different solutions to see which one grows the largest. You can have students break up into small groups to complete this project. They can write down and record all the data they find on their growing gummy bears! Plus it’s great for teaching the scientific method!
Snowflake Science Experiment
It is no surprise, all kids just LOVE snow! It is one of the most fun and magical parts of winter and who doesn’t love a good snow day here and there too? Incorporating snow-themed activities into the classroom during the winter is just always a good idea! Students love it and there are so many ways to teach with snow, especially when it comes to science!
This is another easy winter science lesson that teaches about the scientific method. Have your students draw snowflakes on a ceramic plate with whiteboard markers. Then add water and watch the snowflakes float off the plate and all around the water! It is really neat and super simple. All you need are whiteboard markers, ceramic plates, water, and straws. This is the perfect winter experiment and great for a classroom unit on snow!
Exploding Snowman Science Experiment
An exploding snowman just sounds cool, right? This is a wintery twist on a classic experiment using baking soda and vinegar to create a volcano effect. The easy-to-use science notebook can be printed out for students, or you can use it as a digital science experiment as well!
Grab some Ziplock bags, water, vinegar, baking soda, and markers. Then have your students create their own unique snowman by drawing on the bag. Add some water, vinegar, and baking soda to the bag. Then the fun really begins… the snowman will explode! This is a favorite with students of all ages and perfect for a winter science experiment to liven up the class in the chilly months!
Fun Winter Science Experiments
As you can see, there is no shortage of fun to be had in the winter when it comes to science! These are super simple experiments that your students will love and that use everyday items you can easily find…or maybe you already have laying around your classroom! Bring some excitement into the classroom during those gloomy, cold winter days with experiments that everyone will enjoy!