In this activity, you and your child will explore ice and water and their sensory properties.
Learning Area(s): Science; Physical Development
MATERIALS
- Tray of ice cubes (colored with food dye or Kool-Aid)
- Small tub of water
- Plastic Arctic animals or sea life (optional)
- Small net or strainer with handle (optional)
- Mat or towel (if indoors)
LET'S PLAY
This activity is best done outside where water can spill, but if inside, place a towel or waterproof mat on the floor.
Your baby or toddler can sit next to the tub and watch as you put two or three ice cubes in the water. You can identify their colors as you show your child the ice cubes. Your child will most likely try to grab the ice and will feel its slippery texture and cold temperature. Encourage your child to explore the ice with her hands, and talk about how the ice feels—slippery, cold, and smooth.
As the ice begins to melt, draw your child’s attention to what is happening—that the ice is melting and getting smaller and the water is changing color.
TIPS
- Be sure to carefully supervise this activity to prevent your child from putting the ice into her mouth.
- Toddlers may like trying to scoop the ice with a handled net or strainer.
- For older children, sea-life toys can be added to the tub, and children can use their imaginations to create an Arctic scene.
- In addition to using ice cubes, you can freeze water in containers of different sizes and shapes to create larger ice blocks.