December marks the end of a school year, and also the start of winter in some countries. While Singapore’s climate is warm all year round, here are some ice-cold experiments to spend the holidays with your children! 

1. Make Apple Slushie

Beat the perennial heat with some icy slushie. As the slushie forms, your child will be able to observe its freezing process and learn about changes in states of matter. Click here for video instructions.

What You Will Need

How to do it

1. Pour the apple juice into the small zipper bag. Push out any excess air and seal the bag.
2. Place the bag of apple juice, ice cubes and salt into the large zipper bag. Push out any excess air and seal the bag. 
3. Wrap the zipper bag with a towel and shake it for about five minutes.
4. Remove the bag of apple juice. It should have turned into apple slushie.
5. Enjoy the slushie with a spoon, or scoop it into a cup.

Explore with your child

Repeat the activity without salt. Is there a difference when making the slushie?

Experiment with different amounts of apple juice, ice cubes and salt to find out the best proportions for making apple slushie.

Try turning different drinks into slushie too. What are some drinks that you can think of?

2. Paint with Ice

Besides making a frozen dessert, you can make art simply by using ice cubes. Learn about the process of melting and colour mixing through this fun and sensorial activity! You can also click here for video instructions.

What you will need

How to do it

1. Add a few drops of food colouring in each ice cube mould.
2. Fill the ice cube tray with water.
3. Place ice cream sticks into each cavity of the ice cube tray
4. Once the ice cubes are frozen, remove them from the tray and start painting!

Explore with your child

• Invite your child to observe what happens when the ice is put against the paper. 
• Explore colour mixing with your children by painting with differently-coloured ice cubes.
• Engage your children’s senses by encouraging them to play with the ice cubes.

3. Visit A Snow Field

Nothing beats experiencing things first-hand; being in a winter wonderland is no exception. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has obliterated many of our travel plans, did you know that you can find a snow field right here in Singapore? Stretching across a 17-metre snow field, Snow City’s latest attraction boasts five thematic ice and snow art installation zones that have been carefully crafted by Singapore’s well-renowned ice sculptor veteran, Jeffrey Ng. Certified as “Singapore’s First Ice Hotel Experience” by Singapore Book of Records, you will get to enjoy craft beers at the Ice Bar, while your children can immerse themselves in a climate that they have not been to before. Find out more details here.

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Illustrations by Lim Daphne