13 Winter Science Experiments for Kids That Don’t Need Snow

This Post Contains Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure for Full Information.

No snow outside? No problem! ❄️ These 13 winter science experiments for kids that don’t need snow bring exciting STEM learning indoors using simple household supplies. From growing crystals to exploring melting ice, these hands-on activities help children discover science concepts while enjoying winter-themed fun, even in warmer climates.

1. Make a Melting Ice Science Experiment

Explore how ice changes from a solid into liquid water with this simple winter science activity.

Materials Needed:

• Ice cubes
• Two small bowls
• Warm water
• Cold water
• A timer

How to Do It:

1. Place one ice cube in each bowl.
2. Pour a little warm water into one bowl and cold water into the other.
3. Ask your child to predict which ice cube will melt first.
4. Observe the changes and compare the melting times.

What Kids Learn: Warmer water generally transfers heat to the ice faster, causing it to melt more quickly.

✨ Science Tip: Let children draw pictures of the ice cubes before and after melting to practice observation skills.

Shop kids science experiment trays on Amazon.

2. Create a Snowstorm in a Jar

Create a swirling winter storm inside a clear jar without needing real snow.

Materials Needed:

• Clear jar
• Water
• Baby oil
• White washable paint
• Effervescent tablet, handled by an adult

How to Do It:

1. Fill the jar about two-thirds full with baby oil.
2. Mix a small amount of white paint into water in a separate cup.
3. Pour the white mixture into the jar.
4. Have an adult add a small piece of an effervescent tablet.
5. Watch the white droplets move through the oil.

What Kids Learn: Oil and water separate because they don’t mix easily. Gas bubbles produced by the tablet carry water droplets upward before they sink again.

✨ Science Tip: Keep the jar open during the reaction, never seal it while bubbling, and keep the tablet and mixture away from mouths.

Shop clear plastic science experiment jars on Amazon.

3. Grow Salt Crystals for a Winter Science Project

Make sparkling salt crystals that resemble tiny winter ice formations.

Materials Needed:

• Table salt
• Warm water
• Clear shallow dish
• Spoon
• Optional food coloring

How to Do It:

1. Have an adult prepare a small amount of warm water.
2. Stir in salt until no more readily dissolves.
3. Pour a shallow layer into a dish.
4. Place the dish somewhere safe and undisturbed.
5. Observe it over several days as water evaporates.

What Kids Learn: As water evaporates, dissolved salt can form solid crystals.

✨ Science Tip: Use a magnifying glass to examine the crystal shapes once they form. Results depend on humidity and evaporation conditions.

Shop kids magnifying glasses on Amazon.

4. Explore How Salt Melts Ice

Discover why salt is commonly used on icy roads during winter.

Materials Needed:

• Two ice cubes
• Table salt
• Two plates
• Timer

How to Do It:

1. Place one ice cube on each plate.
2. Sprinkle salt over one cube.
3. Leave the other cube untreated.
4. Observe both cubes over several minutes.
5. Compare the surface changes and melting.

What Kids Learn: Salt lowers the freezing point of water, allowing liquid water to exist at temperatures where pure water would freeze.

✨ Science Tip: Use equal-sized ice cubes and identical plates for a fairer comparison. The results can vary with room temperature.

Shop kids STEM observation kits on Amazon.

5. Make a Frozen Bubble Experiment

Explore what happens to soap bubbles when exposed to freezing temperatures.

You don’t need snow, but you will need a freezer or a sufficiently cold outdoor environment.

Materials Needed:

• Bubble solution
• Bubble wand
• Freezer-safe shallow tray
• Freezer

How to Do It:

1. Chill a freezer-safe tray in the freezer.
2. Remove it and place it on a stable surface.
3. Blow a bubble gently onto the cold tray.
4. Observe whether the bubble film changes or develops icy patterns.
5. Repeat and compare results.

What Kids Learn: Thin soap films contain water that may freeze under suitable conditions, although bubbles often pop before freezing.

✨ Science Tip: This experiment is less predictable than ordinary ice activities. Try it as an observation challenge rather than expecting a perfectly frozen bubble.

Shop kids bubble science kits on Amazon.

6. Create a Winter Ice Excavation Activity

Turn frozen water into an exciting science discovery activity.

Materials Needed:

• Large freezer-safe container
• Water
• Large washable plastic toys
• Warm water
• Plastic droppers or squeeze bottles

How to Do It:

1. Place several large toys inside a freezer-safe container.
2. Add water and freeze until solid.
3. Remove the ice block and place it in a large tray.
4. Give children warm water and droppers.
5. Let them slowly melt the ice to uncover the toys.

What Kids Learn: Warm water transfers heat to ice, causing it to melt and release the objects trapped inside.

✨ Science Tip: Use large, age-appropriate toys rather than tiny objects, and avoid sharp tools for breaking the ice.

Shop kids plastic science droppers on Amazon.

7. Make a Winter Cloud in a Jar

Use a simple model to explore how water droplets can build up in clouds and fall as precipitation.

Materials Needed:

• Clear jar
• Water
• Shaving foam
• Blue food coloring
• Small cup
• Dropper

How to Do It:

1. Fill a clear jar about three-quarters full with water.
2. Add a layer of shaving foam on top.
3. Mix blue food coloring with a little water.
4. Use a dropper to add colored water onto the foam.
5. Watch colored droplets eventually move through the foam into the water.

What Kids Learn: This activity models the idea of droplets accumulating and falling. Real clouds form through condensation, and precipitation involves more complex atmospheric processes.

✨ Science Tip: Explain that shaving foam is a visual model, not a real cloud. Keep foam away from eyes and mouths.

Shop kids science droppers and pipettes on Amazon.

8. Explore Hot and Cold Water Density

Discover how temperature can influence the movement of water.

Materials Needed:

• Two clear cups
• Cold water
• Lukewarm water
• Food coloring
• Transparent container
• Dropper

How to Do It:

1. Fill a clear container with cool water.
2. Color a small cup of lukewarm water red.
3. Color a small cup of colder water blue.
4. Gently release a little of each colored water near the bottom and top of the container using a dropper.
5. Observe how the colored water moves and mixes.

What Kids Learn: Water density changes with temperature. Warmer water is generally less dense than cooler water, creating movement that can contribute to convection.

✨ Science Tip: Use only lukewarm water, not hot water, and add the colors slowly to make the movement easier to observe.

Shop kids science measuring cups on Amazon.

9. Create a Frost-Inspired Crystal Window

Make a winter-inspired crystal decoration without needing freezing outdoor temperatures.

Materials Needed:

• Epsom salt
• Warm water
• Clear plastic sheet or shallow transparent dish
• Paintbrush
• Tray

How to Do It:

1. Have an adult dissolve Epsom salt in warm water until the solution is concentrated.
2. Use a paintbrush to spread a thin layer onto a clear plastic sheet.
3. Place the sheet flat on a tray.
4. Allow the water to evaporate.
5. Observe the crystal patterns that develop.

What Kids Learn: Dissolved minerals can form visible crystals as water evaporates or the solution becomes supersaturated.

✨ Science Tip: Keep the crystals on the plastic sheet rather than applying the solution directly to household windows. Results may vary with the solution and drying conditions.

Shop Epsom salt for science experiments on Amazon.

10. Make a Polar Bear Blubber Experiment

Explore how insulating layers help reduce heat transfer in cold environments.

Materials Needed:

• Two resealable plastic bags
• Vegetable shortening
• Bowl of cold water
• Ice cubes
• Towel

How to Do It:

1. Spread vegetable shortening inside one resealable bag.
2. Place a second bag inside it, creating a protective pocket for a hand.
3. Seal the bags around the opening so the shortening stays between the layers.
4. Have your child place one hand inside the insulated pocket.
5. Briefly compare how the insulated hand and an unprotected hand feel when placed near or in cool water.

What Kids Learn: Fatty insulating layers help slow heat transfer. Marine mammals such as seals and whales have blubber, while polar bears rely on fur and a layer of body fat for insulation.

✨ Science Tip: Use comfortably cool water rather than extremely cold water, and stop immediately if your child feels uncomfortable.

Shop resealable plastic storage bags on Amazon.

11. Experiment with Frozen Color Mixing

Combine winter science with a colorful art activity.

Materials Needed:

• Ice cube tray
• Water
• Washable liquid watercolor or food coloring
• White tray
• Dropper
• Warm water

How to Do It:

1. Freeze water tinted with red, yellow, and blue coloring in separate ice cube compartments.
2. Place the colored ice cubes on a white tray.
3. Ask children to predict what colors will appear when different cubes melt together.
4. Add a few drops of warm water.
5. Watch the colors mix as the ice melts.

What Kids Learn: Children observe melting, liquid movement, and basic color mixing.

✨ Science Tip: Use a white tray to make the color changes easier to see, and protect nearby surfaces from stains.

Shop silicone ice cube trays on Amazon.

12. Test Which Materials Keep Ice from Melting

Turn everyday household materials into a simple winter STEM challenge.

Materials Needed:

• Equal-sized ice cubes
• Cotton fabric
• Aluminum foil
• Bubble wrap
• Small containers
• Timer

How to Do It:

1. Place equal-sized ice cubes in identical containers.
2. Wrap each container with a different insulating material.
3. Leave one container unwrapped as a control.
4. Place all containers in the same room.
5. Compare how much ice remains after a set amount of time.

What Kids Learn: Different materials slow heat transfer at different rates. Children also practice making predictions and conducting a fair test.

✨ Science Tip: Keep the container size, starting ice amount, and experiment duration the same for every test.

Shop kids STEM experiment supplies on Amazon.

13. Make a DIY Snowflake Crystal Experiment

Create sparkling snowflake-shaped decorations while exploring crystal growth.

Materials Needed:

• Pipe cleaners
• String
• Pencil
• Borax
• Hot water
• Heat-safe jar

How to Do It:

1. Have an adult bend pipe cleaners into a snowflake shape.
2. Tie the snowflake to a string suspended from a pencil.
3. An adult prepares a concentrated borax solution using hot water.
4. Suspend the snowflake in the solution without touching the jar’s sides.
5. Leave it undisturbed overnight.
6. Have an adult remove the crystal-covered snowflake and let it dry.

What Kids Learn: As the solution cools, dissolved borax can crystallize onto the pipe cleaners.

✨ Science Tip: This is an adult-led demonstration because borax can irritate skin and eyes and is harmful if swallowed. Children should observe rather than handle the powder or solution. For younger children, choose the table salt crystal activity instead.

Shop snowflake pipe cleaner craft supplies on Amazon.

Best Winter Science Experiments by Age and Learning Goal

Experiment	Suggested Age	Science Concept	Snow Required?
Melting Ice Experiment	3+	Temperature and melting	No
Snowstorm in a Jar	4+	Density and gas bubbles	No
Salt Crystal Growing	6+	Evaporation and crystals	No
Salt and Ice Experiment	4+	Freezing point	No
Frozen Bubbles	5+	Freezing and thin films	No
Ice Excavation	4+	Heat transfer	No
Cloud in a Jar	5+	Precipitation model	No
Hot and Cold Water Density	6+	Density and convection	No
Frost-Inspired Crystals	6+	Crystallization	No
Insulation Experiment	5+	Heat transfer	No
Frozen Color Mixing	3+	Melting and colors	No
Ice Insulation Challenge	5+	Insulation and fair testing	No
Snowflake Crystal Experiment	6+	Crystal growth	No

Suggested ages are approximate. Choose activities based on each child’s abilities and supervise closely.

5 Tips for Making Winter Science Experiments More Fun

1. Ask children to make predictions. Before starting each experiment, encourage them to guess what might happen and explain their reasoning.
2. Use everyday household supplies. Ice cubes, water, salt, cups, and food coloring can provide plenty of opportunities for scientific discovery.
3. Keep a simple science journal. Let children draw observations, record results, and compare what happened with their original predictions.
4. Adapt experiments for different ages. Younger children can focus on observing and describing changes, while older kids can measure, time, and compare results.
5. Encourage questions and repeat testing. Ask “What would happen if we changed one thing?” to introduce scientific thinking and experimentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some easy winter science experiments for kids without snow?

Melting ice experiments, salt and ice activities, frozen color mixing, cloud-in-a-jar demonstrations, and insulation challenges are simple winter science activities that don’t require snow.

Can preschoolers do winter science experiments?

Yes! Preschoolers can enjoy supervised activities such as melting ice, frozen color mixing, and ice excavation. Use large, child-safe materials and avoid experiments involving hot water or irritating chemicals.

What supplies do I need for indoor winter science experiments?

Many experiments use basic supplies such as ice cubes, water, salt, bowls, food coloring, droppers, and plastic containers. Some crystal-growing activities require additional materials.

How do winter science experiments help children learn?

Hands-on experiments encourage observation, prediction, comparison, problem-solving, and curiosity. They also introduce concepts such as temperature, melting, freezing, density, and insulation.

Can kids enjoy winter STEM activities in warm climates?

Absolutely! Most winter-themed science activities can be completed indoors using a freezer and ordinary household supplies. Children can explore winter science even if they’ve never experienced snowfall.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need snowy weather to make winter science exciting! ❄️🔬

These 13 winter science experiments for kids that don’t need snow offer fun opportunities to explore melting, freezing, crystals, insulation, and other fascinating STEM concepts.

Whether you’re planning preschool activities, homeschool lessons, or a weekend family project, these experiments make science accessible and engaging.

Save these 13 winter science experiments to your Pinterest winter activities for kids or kids STEM activities board for easy inspiration throughout the season! 💙