Melting Snowman Winter Science Experiment

Kids will have fun with this simple, but engaging melting snowman experiment for winter!  This melting snowman activity is perfect for toddler, preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten to sneak in some science and learning to December and January. This simple chemistry project is such a creative winter science experiments for kids!

melting snowman experiment

Get ready for some winter fun with the melting snowman experiment! This simple but engaging activity is perfect for kids from toddlers to kindergarteners and a fantastic way to incorporate science into your winter months. With just a few basic materials, you can create a playful and educational experience that will keep young minds engaged.

Here’s how it works: start with a snowman made of ice, using small pieces of ice or frozen water. Place that snowman on a plate and watch as it gradually melts. As it does, you can introduce concepts like temperature, states of matter, and even simple chemistry. Encourage children to observe how the snowman changes and discuss why it’s melting. This hands-on experience helps them understand scientific concepts in a fun, relatable way.

Research shows that children learn best through play and exploration. Engaging them in activities like this one helps develop their critical thinking and observational skills. In fact, experiments like the melting snowman encourage curiosity and interaction, paving the way for a love of science as they grow.

We have lots more winter activities and science experiments for kids to choose from! Plus don’t miss exploding snowman experiment, erupting snowman science, free winter science activities pdf, and frost in a can project.

melting snowman activity

To try this fun snowman activities, you will need a few simple materials you probably already have on hand:

• 1-2 boxes baking soda (depending on the size of snowman you want to melt)
• vinegar
• water
• glitter (optional, but magical as the snowman melts)
• food coloring (we used blue, but this is optional)
• bowl and spoon to mix it up
• container to put in the freezer
• squirt bottle, eyedropper, or baster
• snowman decorations (optional)

winter science experiments for kids

To try this winter activity for kids you need to make a snowman by mixing baking soda, glitter, and as much water as you need to make it form into a ball.

melting snowman science experiment

Now shape the baking soda mixture into 3 balls with each ball being just a little bigger than the one before it. Now freeze the mixture a few hours or overnight. This part is optional, but will make the melting extra fun and allow the dough to feel like a cold, snowman you make out of snow!

snowman science experiment

Now take your balls and build a snowman. To make it extra fun add snowman accessories like buttons, top hat, eyes, button carrot nose, twigs for arms, etc.

experiment winter

Now it’s time to melt the snowman with this snow experiments. Have them make a hypotheses (educated guess) on what will happen. You can do this lowly and methodically by having children try just doing a drop at a time or just half of the snowman.

winter experiment

Now slowly pour the blue tinted vinegar over the snowman for a bigger WOW effect. Ask your kids what happened?

winter science experiments

So what happened? In this winter science experiments for toddlers we combined two baking soda and vinegar to make a chemical reaction. The baking soda is a base and the vinegar is an acid. When you combine the two, you produce a gas called carbon dioxide. You can see, hear, feel, and smell the chemical reaction!

Kids won’t even realize they are learning because they will be having so much fun with this winter activity for kids!

easy winter science experiments

FUN melting snowman experiment where they will use winter science with a SIMPLE snowman activities for preschoolers!