Mad Science Monday: Frosty the Snow Can

It's Mad Science Monday! Do you remember the fun of doodling and writing messages in a frosty window? When you were little did you ever wonder what caused frost and how it formed? Here's another adorable winter-themed experiment for your collection--and you probably have the very few items required to conduct it already in your kitchen. 

Frosty the Snow Can

You Will Need:

• an empty tin can
• ice cubes
• kosher salt/sea salt

Science teaches us so much about our environment and any time an experiment we do can also help the environment--even in a small way, I love to point that out. Recycling is one small way even little children can feel part of protecting their environment. If we had infinite space here, I'd probably have the world's largest collection of recycled containers, cardboard tubes, brown bags, empty bottles and cans. We merely don't have that space and so I aim to keep around the house only what I have an immediate use for. I do keep a small canvas crate full of recyclables and I always kept a recyclables bin in my classrooms as well. One of my (and my students') favorite activities to do were recycled process art days. I'd let them "empty the recycling bin," add in a few additional art and craft materials and have at it! So here's a great way to use that empty can--and if you want to give it one more go-around when you're through, it will make an adorable container for pens and pencils or markers.

Directions:

If you'd like before beginning, you or your little artists can draw a snowman or snowy scene on the outside of your tin can with permanent markers. You may wish to supervise younger artists with this and advise them to be extra careful since the ink will not wash off hands and clothes easily. To begin the experiment, put ice cubes in your can and then pour some salt in. The salt will speed up the experiment (much in the way that it speeds up ice melting outdoors--and you can explain that your junior scientists as well). After a few minutes you should see some frost forming on the outside of the can!

Your junior scientists will enjoy touching the frost on the outside of the can to see how cold and wet it is! Happy Mad Science Monday and, as always, happy playing!