Homemade Snow is a fun activity for kids, that uses only 2 ingredients!

We love the summer, but the kids have been really missing doing crafts and science experiments like we do during the winter.  We spend so much time outside, going places, and enjoying the sunshine, that we don’t spend too much time doing school work. 

My kids were so excited when I told them we were going to do a science activity the other night, and make homemade snow. 

When doing science experiments with the little ones, I try to start incorporating science vocabulary without making it seem boring.  So I told the kids we would be mixing together baking soda and shaving cream, and asked them if they had any hypotheses or guesses on what would happen. 

Not surprisingly, no one guessed that it would make snow.

I’m not going to go into why this experiment works, since we did it more as a fun activity than an actual science experiment.  At such a young age, just exposing them to science is enough, without digging too deep.

As the kids get older, we will look into more of the whys and hows of this as an experiment.  Things like what makes the homemade snow cold?  But for now it’s just a fun activity.

The homemade snow will feel cold (not freezing) to the touch, and is fun for the kids to play with.  This seriously got the most play time of recent experiments. 

It even got more play time than Peanut Butter Play Dough (since it mysteriously kept getting eaten!), which up until now was their favorite activity.

What you will need to make Homemade Snow:

• Baking Soda
• Shaving Cream
• Vinegar

Continue to Content

Yield: Enough snow for several kids

Homemade Snow

Print

Homemade Snow is a fun activity enjoyed by kids of all ages. Just 2 ingredients, or add a 3rd ingredient and make your snow erupt!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Materials

• Baking Soda
• Shaving Cream
• Vinegar (optional)

Tools

• Large bowl

Instructions

1. In a bowl, measure out some baking soda- we used 1 cup, but it can be any amount.  The first time, we made it in one bowl, but after that, I've given the kids their own bowls.
2. Begin adding shaving cream, stirring together.  I found it was easier to mix it using my hands- and the kids thought this was hilarious.  Add until it's a good consistency.
3.  Play with your snow! Make it into snowballs or snowmen, or whatever you'd like!
4. If desired, make your snow erupt. To make erupting snow, slowly add some vinegar to the snow.

Make hypotheses about what will happen when vinegar is added.  Mound up the homemade snow and add vinegar by the capful or dropper-full and see the reaction as the homemade snow turns to bubbles.

If your kids are anything like mine, you will need to repeat this experiment at least once.  My kids have been asking to make homemade snow every day since we first did it last week!

Why not join us on Pinterest: Coffee With Us 3  or hangout with us on Facebook:  

Don’t forget to pin!