Christmas Salt Crafts

Our local botanical gardens had a kids drop-in science and craft week.  The day we went the theme was "Ice".   Thought I would share the simple and cute activities that we did.

Salt Painting: 

This simple project only takes a few supplies that you might even have in the house right now.

What You Need:

*Black or dark colored paper
* Epsom salt
*Hot Water
*Measuring cup
*Paint Brush
*Crayons

Instructions:

1.  Use crayons to draw a winter scene.  Be sure to fill your picture in with color.  We did trees.
2.  Have an adult mix equal parts hot water and Epsom salt.  Mix well until salt is completely dissolved.
3.  Paint the salt solution over your picture, being careful not to go back over your strokes (which would remove the salt crystals).
4. Mix the salt solution and dip your brush before each new stroke.
5.  Allow your picture to dry and watch crystals form.

Salt Icicles:

What You Need:

*Small twigs

*Glue

*Paint brush

*Glitter- larger glitter works best

*Rock Salt, Kosher Salt, Sea Salt or Epsom Salt

Instructions:

1.  Mix glitter and salt in a shallow bowl or container big enough to roll your twig in.
2.  Paint twig with glue

3. Roll twig in glitter mixture.
4. Tie twig with yarn. Tie on one end to look like an icicle or tie on both ends to be a twig perch for a bird.

Daddy isn't a big fan of glitter so decorated the trees in our front yard with our glitter icicles.  We think the birds and other critters will like our decorations.

Melting Ice Experiment:

This is a pretty basic experiment but one that most small children will like to do.  Discuss ice and snow and what they think would be the best way to melt it if it were on their sidewalk or driveway.  Make predictions.  Which item do they think will melt the ice faster.  Then allow them to experiment with warm water, salt and sugar to see which one melts the snow faster.

What You Need:

1. 3 small clear cups
2. ice
3. warm water
4. salt
5. sugar
6. 2 spoons
7. Optional- plastic container or tray (as seen below) to do experiment in for easy clean up.

Instructions:

1.  Fill 3 cups with ice.
2.  Place in plastic container or on a tray.
3.  Spoon sugar on top of one cup of ice. Observe and discuss.
4. Spoon Salt on top of one cup of ice.  Observe and discuss.
5. Spoon warm water on top of once cup of ice.  Observe and discuss.
6. Observe all 3 cups and determine what melted the ice fastest.  Discuss what people might use on their sidewalks or driveways to melt ice.