Easy Sticky Ice Experiment for Kids

Why Should I Do Science Experiments with Preschoolers and Kindergarteners? 🤔

You already know that little kids are basically tiny scientists. They ask a million questions, test every rule you give them, and seem to have a never-ending curiosity about the world. Check out this fun article for how to know if your child is a STEM genius. 😉

Science experiments, like this sticky ice experiment, tap into that natural wonder and help them learn some pretty important skills along the way. Explore even more science experiment for kids here.

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: This sticky ice experiment turns into a fun mystery! Why does the ice stick to the string? What happens when we add salt? Cue the adorable lightbulb moments.
• Building Language and Communication Skills: You’ll hear a lot of “WHOA!” and “Did you see that?!” but also, kids will practice explaining what they see and making predictions.

• Fine Motor Skill Development: Sprinkling salt, lifting the string, and handling ice cubes all give those little fingers a workout.

• Encouraging Patience and Observation: The sticky ice experiment only takes a minute or two, but even that’s a lesson in waiting and watching changes happen.
• Making Learning Fun! Let’s be real—kids learn best when they’re having fun, and what’s more fun than making ice do weird, unexpected things? You can also try our fizzing ice experiment for more ‘weird’ ice exploration
• Understanding Cause and Effect: Kids start connecting their actions with outcomes, like how adding salt makes the ice stick to the string.
• Inspiring a Love for Science Early On: When kids feel like science is fun and engaging, they’re more likely to keep that enthusiasm as they grow.

Let’s Talk About the Experiment: What’s Happening Here? 🔍

How the Ice Behaves with Salt and String 🧊

When salt is sprinkled onto ice, it causes the ice to melt slightly. This creates a thin layer of water around the string.

Since the surrounding temperature is still very cold, the water refreezes quickly, trapping the string inside the ice. This is why the ice sticks when you lift the string!

It’s like a little frozen magic trick, but with science. And kids LOVE magic!

Why This Sticky Ice Experiment Works So Well with Kids 👧👦

This salt and ice science experiment is fantastic for young children because it’s quick, visually engaging, and has an exciting “reveal” moment. The kids sprinkle salt, wait, and then—whoa!—the ice sticks to the string.

The sticky ice experiment easy enough for preschoolers to do independently with a little guidance and doesn’t require waiting around for too long (because let’s be honest, patience is still a work in progress at this age).

What’s the Best Way to Set Up the Sticky Ice Experiment? 🏗️

For the best results with this salt and ice science experiment, use very cold water and let the ice sit for a minute before placing the string on top. This helps the ice cubes stabilize and allows the salt to work more effectively. You can also try different types of salt to see if that changes the outcome!

What You’ll Need for the Sticky Ice Experiment: 🛍️

In this easy Sticky Ice Experiment, children can learn about the properties of salt and ice while having fun.

You don’t need any special science lab gear for this—just grab these from the kitchen:

• A small bowl
• Cold water
• Ice cubes 🧊
• String (about 6 inches long)
• Scissors ✂️
• Salt (plain ol’ table salt is perfect!)

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Salt and Ice Science Experiment

Step One:

Fill a bowl halfway with cold water.

Step Two:

Toss in several ice cubes. (Enough to mostly cover the surface of the water.)

Step Three:

Cut a piece of string, about 6 inches long.

Step Four:

Lay the string gently across the top of the ice cubes.

Step Five:

Sprinkle salt generously over the ice and string.

Step Six:

Wait for about 1-2 minutes. (Use this time to ask your kids what they think will happen!) ⏳

Step Seven:

Lift the string carefully… and BAM! The ice sticks to it like magic! ✨

What’s the ‘Science’ of the Salt and Ice Experiment? 🤓

This is where we sneak in the science for the sticky ice experiment:

• Salt Lowers the Freezing Point of Water: When you sprinkle salt on ice, it makes it melt a little. But because the water is super cold, it refreezes quickly. If you need a more scientific answer for your budding scientists, check out this article about salt and ice.
• The String Gets Trapped: As the melted water refreezes, it locks the string in place, making the ice “stick” to it.
• Hands-On Learning at Its Best: Kids get to see and feel how salt changes the ice, which is way more effective than just hearing about it.
• Observing Temperature Changes: Watching ice melt and refreeze helps kids grasp basic concepts of temperature and states of matter.

Want to Take this Sticky Ice Experiment Further? 🧪

Got a curious kid who wants to keep going? Try these variations of the sticky ice experiment:

• Experiment with Different Salts: Table salt vs. rock salt vs. sea salt—does one work faster?
• Try Different Liquids: What happens if you do this in juice or soda instead of water?
• Make Ice Melt Faster: Challenge kids to think of other ways to speed up the melting process. (Warm water? The sun? Their own warm little hands?)
• Freeze Different Objects in Ice: Put small toys, beads, or even leaves in ice cubes and see how the melting process works differently with objects inside.

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Ways to Adapt the Sticky Ice Science Experiment

Every kid learns differently, so here are some ways to tweak this simple science experiment with ice and salt:

For group activities: Have kids compete to see who can lift the most ice cubes with their string!

For younger kids or kids working on fine motor skills: Use bigger ice cubes or freeze small toys inside ice for extra motivation. Check out our ocean animal excavation ice activity for kids!

For sensory-sensitive kids: Let them pick up ice with tongs or spoons instead of touching the ice directly.

For an extra challenge: Ask kids to predict what would happen if they used a lot of salt vs. just a pinch. You can also pivot to this when one of your adorable preschoolers dumps the entire container of salt in the bowl…. don’t ask how I know. 🤪

More Fun Ice Experiments! 🧊

If your kids loved this science experiment with salt and ice, here are some other frozen fun ideas. You can use them to bring a winter theme indoors or stay cool on hot summer days!

• Frozen Dinosaur Rescue – Freeze small toys in ice and use warm water or salt to rescue them! 🦖
• Ice Painting – Use watercolors to paint on a tray filled with ice cubes. 🎨
• Melted Snowman Activity – Your preschoolers can explore what really happens to snowmen in summer. ☃️🤣
• Fizzy Ice Reactions – Combine baking soda ice cubes with vinegar and watch the fizzy reaction as the ice melts! 🧪💥
• Ice Cube Races – See which surfaces make ice cubes slide the fastest. (Spoiler: carpet is not a good race track!) 🏁
• Salt vs. Sugar Melting Challenge – Sprinkle different substances on ice cubes and observe which one melts the ice faster!
• Glowing Ice Cubes – Freeze tonic water and use a black light to make glowing ice!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the salt and ice, aka sticky ice experiment.

And there you have it! A simple, fun, and science-packed activity that your kids will love. So grab some ice, sprinkle some salt, and get ready for some cool discoveries! ❄️✨

More Ice Experiments for Kids

• Rainbow Ice and Snow Sensory Bin
• Color Mixing with Ice
• Word Building Ice Cubes

Three Fun Ways to Paint with Ice:

‘Icy” Printable Activities for Kids

• Slippery Name Game
• Ice Skating Pretend Play Set
• Winter I Spy “Flip” Board Game
• Winter Brain Break Cube