How to Make Fake Snow
Whether you live in a place that doesn’t get snow or a place that gets a lot of snow (like me), making fake snow is a fun STEM experiment and interesting chemical reaction. Making fake snow is surprisingly easy so here is a quick and easy recipe.
Ingredients
1 cup of foam shaving cream
1 cup of baking soda
Water
Steps
Step 1: In a medium sized bowl, mix together one cup of shaving cream and one cup of baking soda.
Step 2: Add a few drops of water and knead the mixture until it starts to form a snow-like substance.
Step 3: Add more water if the snow-like substance doesn’t begin to form.
Step 4: Have fun forming snowballs or sprinkling it around.
Step 5: When you are done playing with your snow, store it in a sealed container.
If you prefer to buy a kit to work from, check out this option on Amazon. The snow consistency in this kit will be slightly different from the recipe above: link
Want to learn more about how artificial snow is made at ski resorts? Take a look at this YouTube video that explains the science behind it. link
Witches’ Brew Weird Science
Halloween is fun holiday to use your creativity and imagination. A favorite drink for many trick- or-treaters and party goers is bubbling witches brew with root beer flavoring. Here is a simple recipe, for your Halloween celebrations. REMEMBER, this should be made with adult supervision!
Ingredients
8 cups of water 2 cups of sugar
1 TBSP of root beer extract
A witches’ cauldron (you can find these at most party stores and on Amazon) Dry ice (approximately 10 pounds)
Oven mitts or thick gloves for handling the dry ice
A metal or ceramic bowl that can fit inside the witches’ cauldron
Instructions
In a pitcher, mix 1 cup of water, 2 cups of sugar, and the root beer extract.
Stir the mixture thoroughly, until the sugar is dissolved.
Stir in the remaining 7 cups of water.
Put the metal or ceramic bowl inside the cauldron.
Put the dry ice inside the metal or ceramic bowl. It is best if you can put a large amount of the dry ice in the center and smaller pieces around the edges.
When it is time to have it brew, add the root beer mixture to the cauldron. Keep in mind that the billowing of “smoke” lasts for about 10 minutes.
Add more mixture as needed.
Did you know that the “smoke” that billows from your witches’ brew is actually water fog? Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine, a chemistry expert, explains the chemistry behind what happens with the dry ice in her article for thoughtco.com: “Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide has to be cooled to at least -109.3 °F to become a solid. When a chunk of dry ice is exposed to room temperature air it…changes from a solid directly into a gas, without melting into a liquid first. Initially, the gas is much colder than the surrounding air. The sudden drop in temperature causes water vapor in the air to condense into tiny droplets, forming fog.” Isn’t chemistry neat?! Happy Halloween!
Clark Planetarium Activities
With summer approaching, there will be more time to get creative and explore your STEM interests. Click on this link for fun and easy STEAM activities for all ages, made available by Clark Planetarium.
Valentine’s Day Science Experiment and Activities
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there are some awesome STEM activities that will help you celebrate this holiday in a creative way. One of my favorite activities that I will be doing with my friends is a Valentine Crystal heart made from Borax. For the chemistry enthusiasts out there, you will “love” this one. The cool thing is that it is very simple and something you can do with friends, with your STEM club, or as part of your “day activity” or “after dance activity” for a Sweethearts dance.
Here is what you’ll need:
- 1 pipe clear for every heart you want to make
- You can get these at any craft store and you’ll want to get red or pink if you can
- 1 Popsicle stick or pencil for every heart you want to make
- String
- Wide jar or vase
- Wide enough that your heart can easily pass through it
- Borax (approximately 6 tablespoons per heart)
- Available on Amazon and most stores like Walmart (fun fact: borax is a laundry cleaning agent that brightens your clothes. Because it is a supersaturated solution, it will crystallize on uneven surfaces)
- Boiling water (about two cups per heart)
- Tape
Here is what you need to do:
- Take the pipe clear and bend it into the shape of a heart. You can use a heart shaped cookie cutter if that is easier for you.
- Mix the crystal forming solution in your jar or vase by stirring about six tablespoons of Borax into about two cups of boiling water until you see that it has stopped dissolving (be sure you keep adding as much Borax as will dissolve in the water).
- Tie the piece of string to your Popsicle stick or pencil and to your pipe cleaner. You will use this to suspend your heart shape in the Borax mixture by having it lay across the top of your jar or vase.
- Leave it for a few hours or overnight. After about an hour you will start observe the crystals forming!
- Leave it overnight. Keep an eye on it, you’ll see the crystals start forming after about an hour or so!
If you want to try some other Valentine STEM activities, check out the websites below for some other ideas. They aren’t just for younger kids. Kids and teenagers will find some exciting things to do. Have fun and be sure to comment below on the things you have tried or if you know of other Valentine experiments.
Holiday STEM Gift Ideas
The Holiday Season is here! Check out these fun STEM toys and activities that you can add to your “nice” list! They will expand your creativity and imagination. Lego’s and similar toys are always a great way to build curiosity but here, are some other unique STEM toys you may not have thought of.
Barbie loves STEM! Check out the careers that Barbie represents and the amazing career opportunities that could be in your future!
I have a subscription to Kiwi Club and can’t wait to get my new project every month. These subscription boxes come with new and exciting STEM projects for every age and interest.
Who doesn’t like to experiment? This Color Chemistry kit is a great way to have fun with chemistry.
Magna Tiles are ideal for kids of all ages and builds creative thinking. Magna Tiles are ideal for kids of all ages and builds creative thinking.
This is a hands-on activity that will surprise you with the results.
Bright Futures Begin With STEM 