Have I mentioned we are getting super excited for our upcoming trip to Disneyland? Well we are. I am not sure who is more excited me or the kids but one thing is for sure is that we are using this excitement to drive our activities. This preschool science experiment was also driven by a fun day at school. I work upstairs in then 2-3 class while my daughter is downstairs in PreK and last week the older kids were melting ice to free objects under the ice. She had so much fun I decided to adopt the idea for even more fun at home the next day. Of course using our Anna Magiclip Doll just added to the fun. Fun isn’t all my daughter was working on either between squeezing the pipettes, and digging the beads out of the ice she managed to work on a bunch of fine motor skills too.
Gather your materials. You will need a plastic container, some fun beads ( these ended up being so important, you’ll see), some eye droppers or pipettes, an Anna doll ( or any big item you want to freeze), water, a container for the warm water, a tray, and some paper towel.
Start by pouring a little water into your container. Add most of the beads. Let freeze.
Add the Anna doll face down more water and the rest of the beads. The reason I did this in two stages is so her body wouldn’t all be at the very top. I wanted to make my daughter work to free her!
Let freeze ( this took hours).
Get some warm water, the pipettes, some paper towel, and an eager excavator ready.
Pop the ice out of the plastic, turn it over and place it on the paper towel so it doesn’t slide everywhere.
Start squirting it with warm water.
My daughter was determined to free Anna as Elsa and Olaf watched.
She got some beads first. Then part way through she stopped and looked at me seriously saying ” Mom this is the amazing part of life!” I took that to mean the activity was a major success.
There was a hold made by a air bubble under Anna so my 4 year old started shooting the hot water into it!
We refilled the water and kept going. She caught a bead on the end of a pipette!
Finally we freed Anna and Elsa gave her a hug but that wasn’t the end of the fun.
Jeanine says
eeeekk!! We have just started a week full of Gelatin Learning Fun! I am so re-creating this in frozen gelatin! I have said this many times, you are such a creative genius mom Allison! Thank you SOO very kindly for all of the wonderful activities and resources you share!!!!!! TY!
Marnie says
Love it! We did this activity but with freeing Hans Solo! 🙂
Aaron says
Wondering where pipettes can be purchased? This looks so fun!
Allison McDonald says
Amazon
Allison says
I can’t waitto try this with my little girl! Where did you get the pipettes?
Krystal says
LOVE this and I’m so making it tonight lol. Your Anna and Elsa magic clip dolls look oooler than ours! Were they part of a set or something? We just have the individual ones but I love those! My son and daughter both love the magic clip dolls 🙂
Allison McDonald says
It was a set with Anna and Elsa as well as Olaf!
Dee says
I really enjoyed the big reveal. What age do u think to start enjoying this?
Allison McDonald says
I think 3.5 !
kerry says
I love your ideas, they are so much fun. I work with 3 and 4 year old. you have given me so many ideas.
Allison McDonald says
Kerry,
I am so glad to hear that, it’s why I do it!
Tiffany says
How long did it take for the ice to melt?