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How to make fake snow

December 13, 2009 Ticia 12 Comments

You guys are going to laugh at this one.  I wanted to do a Christmas-related science lesson, and with their recent obsession with snow, this seemed perfect.  I did a google search and came up with this website: Fake Snow Instructions (it’s a fun read if you want more information)

Create fake snow for a fun preschool activity #kidsactivity #winterplay #fakesnow

(there are affiliate links in here)

What’s needed to make fake snow

disposable diapers* (I used those random outgrown ones we have laying around), big bowl, water

Let’s get started with making fake snow

getting the gel for fake snow

1.  Get your diapers and cut them open, you can just tear them open, but cutting makes it sound neater.  And this is not a neat experiment.  Pull out all of the cotton-like gel stuff that goes in the middle.  Put it in the big bowl.

It’ll look like the picture below when you’ve added it all in.

making the fake snow with the inside of a diaper

2.  Add the water.  It’s going to take several cups.  The kids had a blast getting to add more and more water and watching the gel grow bigger.

mixing the water into the diaper gel to make fake snow

3.  Mix it up.  You could probably do this with your hands just fine, but my kids like stirring with spoons.

describing what the fake snow feels like

4.  Touch it and see what it feels like.  They all described it as a cold and weird feeling.  Then they were all set to be done with this and start on our next round of wrapping paper.

fake snow play

Then I told them they could fill their own bowls with this and play as much as they wanted and bury things and they were OFF!  Much like racehorses.

how to make fake snow preschool kinder science

They buried them in the “snow,” and had their poor Santa toy covered in it, and the dog…….  The toy dog, no pets here yet…….  This was one of our most popular experiments.  I’ve noticed the messier the experiment the more popular it is.  It took some creativity to figure out how to clean it all up.

Edited to add:  For all of you asking does it feel like real snow?  I’ve never lived somewhere that has real snow, but from my limited exposure to real snow, I think it does feel like real snow (or my memories of it).  According to the article, I linked it feels similar to it.  But, no guarantees I’m correct.  As far as my kids are concerned this was the perfect exposure to snow because they got to play in it and it wasn’t too cold.  Hopefully, that helps explain for everyone.

So, how about you, what have you done this week for fun science activities?

More early learning fun, and maybe a bit of science

  • Using art and role play to teach science
  • How to clean water, an earth science lesson
  • Turtle picture books
  • Why do people float in saltwater?
  • Yertle the Turtle Preschool Craft

* When my boys were little I bought Pampers, and only Pampers because those were the diapers that did not leak. I went through so many diapers trying to find ones that didn’t leak, so lots of leftovers. Then my daughter had no problems with pretty much any brand, but it’s funny how different babies need different diapers.

science chemistry, earth science, kindergarten, preschool, winter

Comments

  1. Christy says

    December 13, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    This is so interesting. Does it really feel like snow? If I had any diapers, I would definitely try this.

    Reply
  2. An Almost Unschooling Mom says

    December 13, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    We did the diaper snow last spring, when we were working with polymers – but we didn't make as much as you did 🙂

    I totally flubbed my link too – are you able to fix it from you end? Sorry, I tripple checked it too, but I must have missed something.

    Reply
  3. Raising a Happy Child says

    December 14, 2009 at 12:58 am

    I am also curious as to how it feels. I have never heard of diaper snow before. Wow.

    Reply
  4. An Almost Unschooling Mom says

    December 14, 2009 at 1:46 am

    Wow – I just realized I spelled triple wrong in my previous comment 🙁 – I must be having a day! I think I'll go reread my post, and see what I missed there :).

    Reply
  5. Julie says

    December 14, 2009 at 2:26 am

    Put me on the list of people wanting to know more about this! We don't get much snow here, so it would be great to give the kids something like snow to play with.

    Reply
  6. Orange Juice says

    December 14, 2009 at 6:45 am

    AWESOME!!! I was so hoping u would post about this. I was pretty anti but I think we'll try it now. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Raising a Happy Child says

    December 14, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Oopsie – I messed up my link! The right link is https://learningwithmouse.blogspot.com/2009/12/science-sunday-lifting-power.html

    Reply
  8. Adriana says

    December 15, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    I love this post but it brings back bad memories. When Diego was a baby I came in to get him from his nap and he had taken off his diaper and ripped it open. He was covered with the little gel balls and I freaked out since they were in his mouth too. I called the company and apparently they are not toxic. Cool experiment.

    Reply
  9. My Boaz's Ruth says

    December 15, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    So… how does it clean up?

    Reply
  10. Debbie says

    January 27, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    Neat idea! I missed your linky this week.

    https://whisperswhispering.blogspot.com/2010/01/science-sundaywhy-does-snowflake-float.html

    I will try harder next week!

    Reply
  11. MoziEsmé says

    January 28, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    I've got you bookmarked! We're starting a weekly science series, and I'll come back and link up once we get going. Looking forward to ideas from here, too…

    Reply

Trackbacks

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    February 15, 2019 at 11:39 am

    […] and Noise ExperimentsPlaydough brain modelLearn about the brain activitiesHow to Make an Egg FloatFake snow activityLayers of the Earth lessonVolcano activitiesExtreme Winds activityEarthquake activityAtmosphere Unit […]

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Ticia Adventures in Mommydom Hi, I'm Ticia! This is the adventures of my family in life and learning. Follow along with us as we share our adventures. We're having a lot of fun and learning as we go.

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