Salt Snowflake

STREAM Activity: Salt Snowflake

Sprinkle Some Snow!

Activity best for children ages four and up

Winter is full of tiny wonders, especially snowflakes! No two snowflakes are exactly the same, and this salt snowflake painting activity lets kids explore that idea through art and science. As paint touches the salt, something magical happens: salt absorbs the colors causing them to spread and travel. This simple activity invites friends to slow down, observe closely, and create their very own one-of-a-kind snowflake while learning how materials can interact in unexpected ways.

VOCABULARY

  • Snowflake: A tiny piece of frozen water that falls from the sky, each with its own unique shape.

  • Absorb: When something soaks up a liquid, like salt soaking up paint.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What do you notice happening when the paint touches the salt?

  • How is your snowflake the same as or different from others you’ve made or seen before?

MATERIALS

  • Liquid Paint

  • White glue

  • Salt

  • White cardstock

  • Pencil

  • Thin paintbrush

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Use a pencil to draw your snowflakes on white cardstock.

Draw a snowflake

STEP 2

Outline your snowflakes with white glue.

Outline snowflake with glue

STEP 3

Pour salt over your snowflakes to create that powdery effect.

Pour salt on snowflakes

STEP 4

Remove the excess salt and begin painting your snowflakes with blue liquid paint and a thin brush.

Paint snowflakes