Looking for an easy winter STEAM activity for kids? Whether snowflakes are drifting past your window or your little ones have never seen real snow, this simple science and art project brings winter magic straight into your home or classroom. In this interactive snowflake experiment, kids will explore chemistry and creativity as they grow their own salt snowflakes and create shimmering salt snowflake art!
The Science: Growing Crystal Snowflakes
Materials:
Directions:
- Cut one pipe cleaner into three equal pieces. Make sure each piece is short enough to fit inside your jar with room to spare—your snowflake will need space to grow.
- Twist the three pieces together at their centers, then gently fan out the arms until you have a six‑pointed star.
- Cut another pipe cleaner into six small pieces. Twist one onto the end of each snowflake branch creating a ‘V’ shape. Your snowflake now has the branching structure crystals love to cling to!
- To prepare your hanging line, cut a piece of string roughly the height of your jar. Tie one end to the center of your snowflake and the other end to a pencil.
- Rest the pencil across the top of the jar and let the snowflake dangle inside. Rotate the pencil to adjust the height of the string until the snowflake hangs freely and does not touch the sides or the bottom of the jar.
- Assist children as you pour 1 cup of very hot water into a heat-safe measuring cup. Add half the salt to the hot water. Stir until the salt has completely dissolved.
- Slowly add the rest of the salt, stirring as you go. When the water can’t hold any more and a few crystals have settled at the bottom of your cup, stop adding salt. You’ve reached the perfect crystal-growing point.
- Carefully pour the salt solution into your jar. Make sure your snowflake is fully submerged.
- Find a quiet resting place, somewhere safe where it will be close enough to peek at each day, but out of the way so it won’t be bumped or jostled.
- Let the magic happen. It can take up to four days for the crystals to slowly form along each pipe-cleaner branch. Observe the changes but resist the urge to move the jar or shake it like a snow globe – stillness helps the crystals grow strong.
- After four days, gently remove your snowflake from the jar to reveal your winter treasure. Hang it somewhere safe to dry. Then, display your creation. Hang your sparkling snowflake in a window and let it catch the winter light!
The crystals on your handmade snowflake are actually clusters of many tiny salt crystals. Real snowflakes form in a similar way: warm water vapor in a cloud cools, transforms into liquid droplets, and then clings to a solid surface – just like the salt molecules attached to your pipe cleaner. From there, the crystal grows outward in beautiful, repeating patterns.
Tip:
If you want faster results, you can use Borax instead of salt. Just remember, Borax requires careful handling. Keep it away from little mouths and eyes, supervise closely, and protect your skin!
Note from Mz Applebee
“Winter creativity starts with a single crystal. Let your kids experiment, observe, and enjoy the magic!”
The Art: Raised Salt Snowflake Painting Activity
A simple way to turn leftover salt into shimmery winter magic!
Materials:
Directions:
- On your paper, lightly sketch a few snowflake shapes with a pencil – simple lines branching outward like winter stars.
- Use a bottle of white glue to follow each pencil mark, tracing every arm and tiny branch of your snowflakes.
- Add the “snow.” Gently sprinkle salt over the glue until every line is coated. Lift the paper and softly shake the extra salt off over a trash can or bowl.
- Set your salt snowflakes aside to dry. This pause helps the salt crystals settle into place.
- For the next step, prepare your painting station by placing your paper on a baking sheet or tray.
- Next, mix your winter colors. Stir a few tablespoons of water with blue food coloring or prepare your watercolor paints.
- Using a pipette, eyedropper, or paintbrush, drip color slowly onto the salted glue lines. Watch as each droplet blooms and travels along the salt – like frost spreading across a windowpane. Avoid soaking the lines, a little goes a long way.
- Leave your artwork to dry completely. By morning, your snowflakes will be sparkling and set.
Salt painting is a beautiful blending of creativity and chemistry. Salt attracts and absorbs water molecules, meaning when you drop liquid watercolor onto the salt, the water (and color) is pulled along the salted lines of glue. This absorption creates soft, spreading bursts of color!
Tip:
The more food coloring you use, the darker your “paint” will appear, while watercolors will give you a brighter hue.
