It is our second snow day this week in St. Louis, so I thought it would be fun to share some low-effort snow activities! These were relatively easy to set up and we had all the items on hand at home. I hope these can offer some fun ideas to enjoy the snow as a family.
Snow Volcano
We filled a Mason jar with 2 cups of vinegar. Then, we added red food coloring to the vinegar to make some red lava! My kids created a “snow volcano” by burying the Mason jar with snow , while still leaving the top visible. After there was enough snow around the jar, we added in one cup of baking sosa to the top of the jar. Shortly after, it bubbled up and we had red lava!
Maple Syrup Candy
This was a new one for us this year! We heated up maple syrup (or honey with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar). After about 5 minutes (when it was very hot and bubbly), we quick walked outside and poured it on a pile of snow! My girls then took a popsicle stick and touched the mixture. They rolled it around in the snow to make their own candy pop!
Decorate a Snow Castle
We make different jars of food coloring and water. Then, we poured the different colors into silicone molds. After the hearts froze, we then took them outside to decorate a snow castle in the yard!
Snow Paint
With the “paint mixtures” (food coloring and water), we went out into our yard. We dipped paint brushes into the jars and then splattered the paint on the snow! This was a fun way to add some color on the snow.
Snow Ice Cream
Here is the recipe that we have used over the years:
1.) 1 cup of milk (we used whole milk, but you can use any kind).
2.) 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
3.) 1.5 teaspoons of vanilla extract
4.) 6-8 cups of clean and fresh snow
5.) Any sprinkles, whipped cream or toppings!
This warms up very quickly when we start mixing things together, so I usually end up refreezing it in our freezer to firm it up before eating. It is not my favorite tasting, ha! But, my girls just love it, so that makes it all worth it!
Look for Animal Tracks
This is a favorite of ours! We love to look for animal tracks on fresh fallen snow. We back up to woods, so taking a binoculars or magnifying glass and watching for animals and their tracks is a favorite past time.
Happy exploring the snow! The warmer weather will be here before we know it, so here’s to having fun in the snow.
