Exciting Snow Volcano Science Experiment

The volcano science project is one that is a classic for a reason. It’s simple, requires only common ingredients, but it’s eye-catching enough to delight any kid. In this activity, kids learn about endothermic reactions (because the reaction is cooler than the original materials), chemical reactions, acids and bases, and the basics of the scientific method. How does the amount of snow you use or the kind of snow you use affect the reaction? These questions can start as the jumping off point for your snow volcano science experiment. This snow activity for kids goes way beyond building a snowman!

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool

Kindergarten

1st Grade

Supply List
Coordinating Activities

Snow Volcano Supplies:

Baking Soda
Vinegar
Dish Soap
Food Coloring
Real Snow
DIY Snow (optional)

Learning With Easy Winter Science Experiments

WINTER SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL

FUN SNOW ACTIVITIES CAN GO BEYOND SLEDDING! DIG INTO SOME REAL SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS WITH THIS PRESCHOOL SNOW ACTIVITY.

This activity does not require real snow! You can make your own and still do the snow volcano experiment.

Winter themed activities get kids engaged during a season that come sometimes drag on and on. Keep the excitement going by building a snowman, dressing for winter in the dramatic play center, or making letters in shaving cream snow.

Winter science experiments for kids are just one more way to engage with the season while learning important science concepts.

The science behind a classic baking soda and vinegar STEM activity is simple: the baking soda (solid) and vinegar (liquid) mixture creates a gas and a liquid, which in turn results in a foam (a mixture of gas and liquid) also called a colloid.

The carbon dioxide created from the mixture is an interesting observation for kids. Keep the conversation scientific by jotting a few key questions in your lesson plan:

What happened when you poured the vinegar on the baking soda?
Would it be different if you use more/less baking soda/vinegar?
Why do you think the bubbles form?
How does the snow affect the chemical reaction?

SCIENCE CRAFTS FOR KIDS

Little science lovers will have a blast making this snow volcano science experiment. Do it outdoors in the snow, or make your own snow!

You can do this experiment outside in the snow, bring snow inside for the activity, or make your own snow. If you make your own snow, use this recipe:

Baking soda
Cornstarch
Water

Mix one part baking soda with one part cornstarch. Mix.

Add just enough water so that when you squeeze the snow, it crumbles in your hand and holds a shape.

Once this texture is reached, your snow is ready!

Why Is It Important For Kids To Complete Science Experiments?

Children are naturally curious about everything around them. Completing basic scientific experiments helps them understand what science is and how it’s used.

Background Knowledge

Performing basic cause/effect or exploration experiments is the first step toward more complex science concepts, like the scientific process.

Piques Curiosity

Whether snow activities in preschool or making play dough in kindergarten, these types of experiments, mixtures, and tests make children curious, which is an important skill to carry over to all other learning.

Vocabulary

Children learn and understand a lot of basic science vocabulary when they do a variety of experiments. Words like mixture, combine, reaction, or dissolve. This background knowledge will just continue to expand as they grow.

Hands-On

Science experiments are hands-on learning at its best! Kids get to see, touch, smell, taste (sometimes), and hear the project from start to finish. It also is a great way to practice following directions!

How to Make the Snow Volcano Science Experiment

Step One:

If you don’t have real snow, follow the steps above to make your own!

the ingredients for the snow volcano winter science activity.

Step Two:

Form the snow into a volcano shape with your hands. Fill the cavity with baking soda, red food coloring, and a squirt of dish soap.

Step Three:

Use a dropper to squeeze vinegar into the cavity a little at a time. Watch as the volcano erupts and red liquid spills over the side of the snow. Your snow will also start to melt once the reaction occurs, but that’s all part of the fun! Keep adding vinegar until the mixture no longer reacts or until your snow is completely melted.

Extend the Activity:

Math Activity

Tie in math with the volcano experiment by recording how many drops of food coloring and vinegar. Use tally marks or numbers, then add them up at the end.

Sequence

Use pictures, words, or just oral language to name the steps of the experiment after you have completed it as a review.

Sensory

Bring the idea of a volcano to the sensory bin with cotton balls for snow and red/orange pom poms for lava. Kids can explore and continue to talk about how the volcano erupted.