Hanging ice decorations

A simple winter activity for children making ice decorations to decorate those bare trees.

Introduction

A simple activity to do when you are expecting a frosty night - or use a freezer in the summer. Perfect for exploring changing materials and they look great too!

What you'll need

water
plastic or flexible vessels - cups, bowls, tubs, yoghurt pots etc.
string
natural materials

This activity has been provided by

Useful items from our shop

String - 8kg breaking load

Item available from our shop

Environmental Considerations

Consider the environmental impact of preparing, carrying out & completing this activity. Could this impact be reduced? Specific considerations for this activity could include:

source of natural materials
leave no trace

Health & Safety Considerations

Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate risk benefit assessments.
Some considerations particular to this activity include:

using natural materials

Step #1

Fill your pots and vessels with water and natural materials.

Place a loop of string or wool so both ends are in the water – make sure its well-dunked!

Step #2

Leave the pots outside to freeze or place them in a freezer.

Step #3

Push your decoration out of the pot.

Step #4

Use the loop to hang it in a tree or bush.

Take it further:

place natural materials in the water before freezing or pop in a small toy
try a few drops of food colouring in the water – what happens to the ice?
for flatter, round decorations use a saucer
use clay or similar malleable material to create different shaped moulds
you could do this activity in the summer by putting your pots on a tray in the freezer – hang them up and see how long they take to melt, or for your object to be released from the ice.

Disclaimer: Muddy Faces cannot take any responsibility for accidents or damage that occurs as a result of following this activity.You are responsible for making sure the activity is conducted safely.