DIY Project

Science · Winter · Preschoolers

Frozen toy rescue

Freeze small toys in a block of ice and let your preschooler free them with warm water, salt and droppers.

Frozen toy rescue
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 3 to 5
Time45 minutes plus overnight freezing
Cost$0 to $5

What you'll need

Materials

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Tools

How to make it

Safety

Keep toys larger than a toilet paper tube opening if younger siblings will be nearby, and use warm tap water only.

  1. Step 1: Freeze the toys
    1

    Freeze the toys

    Drop the toys into the container, fill with water and freeze overnight.

  2. Step 2: Pop out the ice
    2

    Pop out the ice

    Run warm water over the bottom of the container. Slide the block onto a tray.

  3. Step 3: Sprinkle salt
    3

    Sprinkle salt

    Let your child sprinkle salt on top. Watch for little cracks and tunnels.

  4. Step 4: Squirt warm water
    4

    Squirt warm water

    Have them use droppers of warm water to melt their way to a toy.

  5. Step 5: Add color
    5

    Add color

    Drip colored water on the salty spots to see the cracks light up.

  6. Step 6: Rescue every toy
    6

    Rescue every toy

    Keep going until every toy is free. Talk about what melted ice the fastest.

Edie's tip

Freeze in layers over 2 nights so toys end up in the middle instead of floating at the top.

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