40 of the Coolest Winter Science Experiments and Activities

The weather outside may be frightful, but these projects are so delightful.

Examples of winter science experiments

Winter means shorter days, colder temperatures, and lots of ice and snow. While you could stay inside by the fire with a good book, you could also head outside for some fun winter science experiments and activities! Whether you are a teacher or a parent, you are likely in need of some ideas to keep your kids busy during those long winter months. We have ideas that are suitable for all ages and interests. No snow where you live? No worries! You can still do most of these with a freezer or some fake snow instead.

1. Study the science of snowflakes

Microscopic closeup of a single snowflake

Did you know that every snowflake has six sides? Or that they form from water vapor, not raindrops? There’s lots to learn about the science of snowflakes. Hit the link below for more.

Learn more: Snowflake Science/The Homeschool Scientist

2. Grow the Grinch’s heart

Hands are shown holding a green balloon that has a heart drawn on it. The balloon is partially filled.

To begin, grab a green balloon and use a red sharpie to make a heart on it, then fill the balloon with a few teaspoons of baking soda. Then, fill a water bottle with vinegar. Finally, put the end of your balloon over the water bottle and watch the Grinch’s heart grow!

Learn more: Grow the Grinch’s Heart/Creative Family Fun

3. Weigh and compare snow

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Child using a toy scale to compare two cups of snow (Winter Science)

This is a simple but effective way to get kids thinking. Scoop up two cups of snow and weigh them. Are they the same? If not, why? Allow the snow to melt. Does it weigh the same? So many questions from such a simple experiment!

Learn more: Weighing Snow/Inspiration Laboratories

4. Determine how weather affects snow textures

Dewpoint and temperature plot (Winter Science Experiments)

Anyone that sees a lot of snow each winter knows there are many different kinds—heavy wet snow, dry powdery snow, and so on. Older students will enjoy this winter science project that tracks atmospheric conditions to find out how we get different types of snow.

Learn more: Snow Science/Science Buddies

5. Make candy cane slime!

A swirl of white and red slime is shown.

A little bit of everything, including glue and shaving cream, goes into this fun, candy cane–colored slime. We especially love the idea of adding a little bit of peppermint extract or candy cane fragrance oil for a pleasant scent!

Learn more: Candy Cane Slime/Kimspired DIY

6. Discover the beauty of frozen bubbles

Frozen soap bubble sitting on snowy branches

Bubble experiments are always fun, but frozen bubbles add a whole new dimension of beauty. Take your class outside to blow bubbles when the temps are below freezing, and watch the magic happen! (No freezing temperatures where you live? The link below offers tips for trying this with dry ice.)

Learn more: ThoughtCo.

7. Find out how penguins stay dry

Paper penguin with drops of blue water beading on top

It seems like penguins should freeze solid when they get out of the water, right? So what protects their feathers and keeps them dry? Find out with this fun experiment using wax crayons.

Learn more: ABCs of Literacy

8. Make a beautiful watercolor ice painting

An image says Magnetic Ice Painting. It shows heart shaped ice cube trays with little metal bells in them. A magnet is seen rolling ice over water color paper that has paint being smeared across it.

This is a fairly simple experiment that yields really big results! Grab some watercolor paint and paper, an ice tray, and some small metal objects, then get started.

Learn more: Magnetic Ice Painting/Sparkling Buds

9. Waterproof a boot

Drawing of a boot with several types of waterproofing material taped on top (Winter Science)

Now that you know how penguins stay dry, can you apply that knowledge to a boot? Ask kids to select various materials and tape them over the free boot printable. Then, test their hypotheses and see which ones work best.

Learn more: Waterproof a Boot/Science Sparks

10. Learn about condensation and frost

Two frosty metal cans with condensation on the outsides (Winter Science Experiments)

Use snow or ice cubes for this winter science experiment that explores condensation and the formation of frost. All you need are some metal cans and salt.

Learn more: Steamsational

11. Crush a can with air

Two empty ginger ale cans, one crushed

Scoop up some snow and bring it inside to use for this air-pressure experiment. (Use caution, because you’ll need boiling water too.)

Learn more: Crushing Cans/Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

12. Erupt a snow volcano

Baking soda volcano with red lava erupting out of a pile of snow

Take the classic baking soda volcano experiment and add snow! Kids learn about acids and bases with this popular winter science project.

Learn more: Snow Volcano/Science Sparks

13. Grow your own polar bear

4 different colored gummy bears are shown in pairs. One says water, one says salt water, one says vinegar, and one says baking soda.

This is such a fun and easy winter science experiment that will certainly be a hit in your classroom. All you need is a cup of water, a cup of salt water, a cup of vinegar, a cup of baking soda, and some gummy bears! Be sure to have extra gummy bears on hand in case your little scientists get hungry.

Learn more: Grow Your Own Polar Bear/The Sprinkle Topped Teacher

14. Explore how mittens keep you warm

A thermometer is shown on the left, a thermometer in a mitten in the middle, and a thermometer and a hand inside a mitten on the right.

Ask little ones if mittens are warm, and they’ll likely answer “yes!” But when they measure the temperature inside an empty mitten, they’ll be surprised by what they find. Learn about body heat and insulation with this easy experiment.

Learn more: Classroom Magic

15. Don’t melt the ice

Colorful ice cubes sitting in a bowl with bubble wrap (Winter Science)

We spend a lot of time in winter trying to get rid of ice, but what about when you don’t want the ice to melt? Experiment with different forms of insulation to see which keeps ice frozen the longest.

Learn more: Ice Insulation/Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

16. String up some sticky ice

Piece of string with an ice cube stuck to it (Winter Science Experiments)

Can you lift an ice cube using just a piece of string? This experiment teaches you how, using a little salt to melt and then refreeze the ice with the string attached. Bonus project: Use this process to make a garland of colored ice stars (or other shapes) and hang them outside for decoration.

Learn more: Playdough to Plato

17. Construct an igloo

Igloo built from blocks of ice and lighted from the inside

Calling all future engineers! Freeze blocks of ice (milk cartons work well) and create a life-size igloo with your class. If this seems too ambitious, try a smaller version with ice cubes instead.

Learn more: Build an Igloo/Science Buddies

18. Light up some snowmen with a simple circuit

Two little play doh snowmen are attached by some simple wiring.

Create a simple parallel circuit using a couple of play-dough snowmen, a few LEDs, and a battery pack. Kids will definitely get a thrill out of seeing their snowmen light up!

Learn more: Light Up Snowman/Science Sparks

19. Measure the water content of snow

Pink ruler next to a jar of snow and a jar of water, showing the difference in volume

Two inches of snow is not the same as two inches of rain. This easy winter science experiment measures the amount of water actually found in an inch of snow.

Learn more: Edventures With Kids

20. Experiment with candy canes

Small candy canes are shown inside clear glasses filled with water.

Experiment with how quickly candy canes dissolve in different temperatures of water. Keep some extras on hand since the temptation will likely be too much for your favorite scientists.

Learn more: Candy Cane Science Experiment/Inspirational Laboratories

21. Have fun with hockey science

A cookie tray has frozen water on it and bottle caps are seen on it. Text reads Hockey Science.

A hockey puck slides effortlessly across the ice, but what about other objects? Gather up some classroom items and take them out to a frozen puddle to see which slide best.

Learn more: Hockey Science/Creative Family Fun

22. Determine the best way to melt ice

Muffin tin filled with frozen ice, each labeled with a different melting agent

Conventional wisdom says we sprinkle salt on ice to melt it faster. But why? Is that really the best method? Try this winter science experiment and find out.

Learn more: The Chaos and the Clutter

23. Freeze your Oobleck

Blocks of blue oobleck frozen into heart and star shapes (Winter Science Experiments)

Kids love to play with the mysterious Oobleck, a non-Newtonian liquid that becomes firm under pressure. Try freezing it to increase the fun factor and see how it reacts as it melts.

Learn more: Frozen Oobleck/Inspiration Laboratories

24. Make an ice lantern

A small ice candle holder has a tea light in it.

We love that this STEM project also combines art and creativity since kids can freeze almost anything into their lanterns, from sequins to dried flowers.

Learn more: Ice Lantern/What I Have Learned

25. Watch the wintertime birds

Songbirds perched on a bird feeder in winter

Winter is a great time to set up a bird feeder and observe our feathered friends. Learn to identify common backyard birds in your area and discover which foods they prefer. Take this winter science activity even further by signing up your class for Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project all about winter bird-watching.

Learn more: The Lead Learner Mom

26. Play around with pine cones

Jars of water with a pine cone in each, labeled cold water, air, and hot water

Head out to the snowy woods and gather up some pine cones, then bring them inside and experiment to see what makes them open and release their seeds.

Learn more: Lemon Lime Adventures

27. Conduct a winter nature study

Calendar pages marking the dates of first and last snow in a season

There are so many natural wonders to study during the winter months! Measure temperatures, track the snowfall, look for animal prints—and that’s just a few ideas. Make winter nature study even easier with free printables at the link below.

Learn more: Jimmie’s Collage

28. Find out how arctic animals stay warm

Child holding their hand wrapped in a plastic bag in a bowl of ice and water

Grab some rubber gloves, zipper bags, and a can of shortening to learn how layers of fat help to insulate animals and keep them warm. Do this winter science experiment outside in the snow or inside with a bowl of cold water and ice cubes.

Learn more: Forgetful Momma

29. Add color to melting ice

Melting ice blocks with food coloring dropped on top (Winter Science Activities)

In this colorful winter science activity, you’ll use salt to start the ice melting (it lowers the freezing point of water). Then, add pretty watercolors to see the ravines and crevices that form as the ice melts.

Learn more: Artful Parent

30. Melt ice with pressure

Piece of wire laid over an ice cube, weighed down by two heavy bottles

There are plenty of experiments that melt ice with salt, but this one is a little different. Instead, it uses the heat produced by pressure to move a piece of wire through a block of ice.

Learn more: Kiwi Co.

31. Melt a Snowman

A small fake snow snowman is on a plate and the text reads How to Make a Fizzy Snowman.

First, make a snowman out of baking soda and shaving cream. Then, fill droppers with vinegar. Finally, let your scientists take turns squirting the snowman and watching them fizz and melt.

Learn more: Fizzy Snowman/7 Days of Play

32. Make instant ice

A water bottle is shown being poured over a pile of ice. Text reads Instant Ice Tower Science Experiment.

Here’s a winter science experiment that seems more like a magic trick. Place a bottle of water in a bowl of ice (or snow) and rock salt. When you take it out, the water is still liquid—until you slam it against the counter and it freezes instantly! Find out how it works at the link below.

Learn more: Steamsational

33. Create rainbow ice towers

Once you master the instant ice trick, add some food coloring and see if you can create instant rainbow ice towers! The video above walks you through the process.

34. Paint salt snowflakes to learn about absorption

Blue liquid being dropped onto a snowflake shape made of salt

Salt painting is a cool way to learn about the process of absorption as well as color mixing. Simply mix salt with glue and make your snowflakes. Then drop colored water onto the salt and see it spread, drop by drop.

Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands

35. Experiment with fake snow recipes

3 jars filled with white artificial snow, with paper reading Testing Fake Snow Recipes

No snow where you live? You’ll just have to make your own! Try a variety of fake snow recipes and determine which makes the best batch.

Learn more: Fake Snow/The Homeschool Scientist

36. Build a crystal snowman

Snowman made of cotton balls covered in crystals (Winter Science Experiments)

It wouldn’t be a winter science list without at least one crystal project, right? This adorable snowman version is a unique twist on the popular supersaturated solutions experiment. Get the how-to at the link below.

Learn more: The Science Kiddo

37. Cook up some hot ice

Young boy watching an older boy pour "hot ice" from a jar onto a plate

Tired of frozen toes in the name of science? This experiment has ice in the name but will keep you warm and toasty. It’s essentially another kind of crystal project, but this one forms the crystals instantly, due to the way you cook up the solution.

Learn more: Hot Ice/Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

38. Savor the sweetness of hot cocoa science

A hand is shown recording notes in a notebook on the left and a mug with hot chocolate in it and a spoon containing some of the hot chocolate is shown on the right.

After all these ice-and-snow winter science projects, you deserve a reward. This hot cocoa experiment aims to find the optimal temperature for dissolving hot cocoa mix. Once you’ve found the answer, you get to sip on the delicious results!

Learn more: Hot Chocolate Science/Creative Family Fun

39. Excavate some LEGOs from blocks of ice

A Lego man is shown hanging partly out of a block of ice that it has been frozen into.

Tell your students to imagine they are archaeologists, then have them freeze a favorite LEGO figure, or “fossil,” into a block of ice. Finally, ask them to carefully excavate the fossil from the glacier while keeping in mind the fragility of the fossil.

Learn more: LEGO Ice Excavations/Lemon Lime Adventures

40. Explode a snowman!

A ziplock bag has a snowman's face drawn on it. It is filled with snow.

This is such a fun introduction to chemistry for preschoolers or early elementary–aged students. Have your students decorate a ziplock bag to resemble a snowman’s face and then put 3 teaspoons of baking soda in a paper towel inside the bag. Finally, put 1 to 2 cups of distilled vinegar into the bag and have fun watching the reaction!

Learn more: Exploding Snowman Experiment/123 Homeschool 4 Me

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Don't let the bad weather get you down! Embrace winter science by freezing bubbles, building an igloo, looking for winter wildlife, and more.