This started off as an icicle craft inspired by Inner Child Fun that we extended in to a science lesson as well.
On day 1, I prepared the following materials:
- Two half-sheets of blue paper
- Glue
- Salt (that I had put into an old spice container so the kids could shake it on to their crafts)
The kids started by putting a thick line of glue at the top of their papers. Then they held the papers up, watching the glue run down the paper to form icicles.
Next, they sprinkled the salt on the glue to form salt icicles. They LOVED this part, and of course just had to go overboard with the salt. Having a tray under their projects helped tremendously with clean up.
Once the salt was on, we let the icicles dry and the craft part of the project was done.
Then I decided to add a science component to the project.
On day 2, I prepared the following materials:
- The kids’ finished crafts
- A small cup with Colorations Liquid Watercolor Paints in blue
- A plastic pipette
I invited the kids to use the pipettes to suction up the blue liquid watercolor and drip it on to their icicles.
Then we watched as the color slowly spread along the icicles, almost like magic.
The kids were hooked, and continued to color their icicles.
Just a note: to really get the full effect of the spreading liquid, it is better to use less than more. My kids, being the preschoolers they are, don’t know the meaning of the word “moderation” and preferred to flood their icicles with as much color as possible. 🙂
More winter resources
More winter posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- Winter printables pack
- Crystallized snowflakes
- Indoor snowball fight
- Winter sensory fun with snow dough
- Puffy paint snowman craft
- Winter-themed learning and fun in preschool
- Snowflake crafts for kids
- Plastic bottle snowman craft
- Snowman do-a-dot printables
For more wintertime fun, see my Winter Activities for Kids page and my Winter Activities Pinterest Board.
Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Winter Activities on Pinterest.
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My girls would do the same thing and squirt the blue color all over the icicles. What a great idea for a craft and then science experiment. Thanks for sharing on We Made That!
I think it looks like an art project too. It would be great if you linked up with Hobbies and Handicrafts. My kids would love adding that color.
This is perfect for homeschooling on the cheap!
That is really cute!! I’ve seen salt watercolors before, but this is a unique idea!! Thanks for sharing, I will be doing this with my daughter!!
What a great way to work on transferring! It looks like a lot of fun. Did you read a book and then explore icicles?
What a truly creative way to incorporate science into an art project. It’s a great way to teach some unique properties. Visiting from Family Fun Friday over at http://happyandblessedhome.com Thanks for sharing!
Monica
Love the salt used to make icicles, that’s really clever! Pinning if that’s ok?
Popping over from the Fun Sparks linky.
Yes, definitely okay to pin. 🙂 Thanks!
Neat icicles! The salt makes them look really cool.
Thanks for sharing this on Eco Kids! I’m pinning it to the Eco Kids board too!
How fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
love this! featured this this week on The Sunday Showcase!
I love how you added in the science component at the end. That would have been a big hit with my kids.
Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!
What a great learing craft!! Pinning this! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! Please come link up with us again today! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/02/fairy-finders-eco-kids-tuesday.html