Are you looking for an outdoor activity that entertains kids while also strengthening hands to improve fine motor skills? This colourful fizzing ice cubes experiment is perfect for kids of all ages!
This summer we love to spend a lot of time outside. I’m always on the hunt for activities my kiddos will enjoy while I garden or so some work outside around the yard.
This colouring fizzing ice cube activity is perfect to keep little kids and big kids alike busy.
This activity combines baking soda, paint and water to make frozen ice cubes. Adding a squirt bottle of vinegar makes for tons of fun outdoors or in!
This is the perfect activity to do outside to the mess is minimal. I also love that the smell of the vinegar dissipates outside! However, if the weather is not great, it would be easy to do this inside as well. Just use a bin, or even do it in the sink! It will be just as fun, and not too messy.
This fun and colourful activity will strengthen little hands by squeezing the squirt bottle. Meanwhile older kids can learn about acids, bases and chemical reactions. And every kid will love the colouring fizzing fun!
So without further ado, here’s the instructions for how to prepare these magical ice cubes!
Materials for Ice Cubes
Here’s what you’ll need for the Fizzing Ice Cube Experiment
- baking soda
- water
- food colouring or paint
- ice cube tray
- squirt bottle
- vinegar
Instructions for Ice Cubes
- Mix baking soda and water together (about 50/50) in a measuring pitcher.
- Pour in ice cube tray, making sure baking soda hasn’t settled to the bottom of your pitcher.
- Add drops of food colouring or paint into each ice cube section.
- Stir gently
- Freeze.
- Pour vinegar into squirt bottle. You can cut it 50/50 with water if you wish.
- Pop coloured ice cubes out of the tray and lay them out for your child (on your deck, driveway or in a bin).
- Provide child with squirt bottle and encourage them to squeeze. Voila! Fun for kids of all ages!
I hope you and your kiddos enjoy this fun and colouring fizzing ice cube activity as much as we did!
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Would the paint or food coloring stain my driveway/sidewalk if I do this outside?
I had no trouble with this experiment, but it would depend what kind of driveway/sidewalk you have. If you’re concerned, I would stick with washable paint and spray the area down with a hose after the activity. In my experience, the sun does a great job of bleaching out any residue very quickly. You could always test a small corner to be sure. 🙂
This unique craft is amazing and works really well my brother loved the fun and easy experiment.