When it snows we make Rainbow Snow Castles which are a STEM or STEAM kids project. All you need for this fun outdoor project is snow, food coloring, squeeze bottles, and cups.
Kids love to play outside in the snow. Snowball fights and snow angels can get boring. Let’s mix things up, get their creativeness going, and give them some STEM or STEAM friendly snow activities to do like building rainbow snow castles.
Rainbow Snow Castles
With just a few items you probably have laying around your house already you and your little ones can easily build some snow castles.
What are Snow Castles
Snow Castles are similar to sandcastles, but made with snow. You’ll use food coloring, cups, squeeze bottles, and whatever other castle building tools you have on hand to build some castles out of snow.
What Food Coloring to Use
For this project, you are going to need food coloring. Liquid food coloring works best for this activity and you can find food coloring at almost any store. Since you will be adding water to your squeeze bottles you could use powder or gel food coloring, but liquid food coloring is best since you don’t have to worry about it dissolving properly.
Snow Castle Toys
You can’t have a snow castle without some fun decorations. You can make your snow castles with cups you already have on hand or sandcastle building toys. Don’t forget the knights in shining armor. Let your kids decorate their own snow castle flags for their towers.
How to Make Snow Castles
To make rainbow snow castles you are going to need a few supplies.
- Water
- Food coloring
- Plastic squeeze bottles (condiment bottles)
- Plastic cups
- Tray
- Scoop
- Fresh snow
Here’s how you’ll make your snow castles.
Add water to the squeeze bottles.
Drop a few drops of desired food coloring into each bottle. Close the bottle and shake well.
Scoop fresh snow into a tray.
Add fresh snow to each cup. Pack the snow down with your hands (while wearing waterproof gloves) or a scoop.
Squeeze colored water into the cup. Use one color for each cup of snow, or use multiple colors. For this project, we used at least two colors for each cup of snow. You’ll want to add enough for the color to seep through the ice. You can insert the tip of the bottle into the snow to help it squirt down towards the bottom if desired.
Turn the cup of colored snow over onto the snow covered ground and lift the cup up carefully, creating a snow castle!
Rainbow Snow Castles
Make rainbow snow castles with just a few items/ingredients you have around your home.
Materials
- Water
- Food coloring
- Fresh snow
Tools
- Plastic squeeze bottles (condiment bottles)
- Plastic cups
- Tray
- Scoop
Instructions
- Add water to the squeeze bottles.
Drop a few drops of desired food coloring into each bottle. Close the bottle and shake well.
Scoop fresh snow into a tray.
Add fresh snow to each cup. Pack the snow down with your hands (while wearing waterproof gloves) or a scoop.
Squeeze colored water into the cup. Use one color for each cup of snow, or use multiple colors. For this project, we used at least two colors for each cup of snow. You’ll want to add enough for the color to seep through the ice. You can insert the tip of the bottle into the snow to help it squirt down towards the bottom if desired.
Turn the cup of colored snow over onto the snow-covered ground and lift the cup up carefully, creating a snow castle!
