Stuck inside during your snow day or need a fun winter activity? We got you covered with two at-home science experiments using common household materials.

Snowstorm in a Jar

Create a mini snowstorm demonstrating density and chemical reactions!

Materials Needed:

• Glass Jar
• Baby Oil (or vegetable oil, though it might tint yellow)
• Water
• White Acrylic Paint (or light blue food coloring)
• Glitter
• Alka-Seltzer Tablets

Instructions:

1. Add Oil: fill your jar 2/3 full of baby oil
2. Prepare Water Mixture: in a separate cup, mix ¼ cup of water and a small squirt of white paint or food coloring
3. Combine Liquids: slowly pour the white-water mixture into your jar; it will sink to the bottom of the oil. Tip: make sure to leave a gap at the top of the jar, so liquid doesn’t spill over.
4. Add Sparkle: sprinkle a little bit of glitter into your jar
5. Start the Storm: break up an Alka-Seltzer tablet into small pieces, then drop 2 or 3 pieces into your jar, then watch what happens! Once your snowstorm is over (about 45 seconds), feel free to add more broken tablets into your jar to repeat your storm.

The Science Behind the Storm:

It’s all about the density! Water is denser than oil, so the water sinks to the bottom, while the oil floats on top. Alka-Seltzer has citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. When it encounters the water, it creates carbon dioxide gas bubbles. The gas bubbles are lighter than the oil and water, so they rise to the top, creating the snowstorm effect!

Winter Volcano

Learn about chemical reactions all while playing outside in the snow!

Materials Needed:

• Snow
• Small Plastic Container
• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Dish Soap (optional, for foamier lava)
• Food Coloring (optional)

Instructions

• Build the Volcano: pack snow into a volcano shape, leaving a hole in the top to place your small container.
• Prepare the “Lava”: add 1 cup of baking soda, a few drops of dish soap, and food coloring into your small container. Gently mix your mixture to create a paste, then place container into the hole in the top of your volcano.
• Eruption Time: pour vinegar into the container and watch the “lava” foam up and flow down your volcano. Feel free to repeat the eruption again and again using more baking soda and vinegar.

The Science Behind the Winter Volcano:

Your winter volcano erupts due to a chemical reaction between the acidic vinegar and the basic baking soda. When mixed, they create carbon dioxide gas that pushes your soapy mixture out, mimicking a winter volcanic eruption!