hot weather science experiments

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

• FREE Experiments
• Kitchen Science
• Climate Change
• Egg Experiments
• Fairy Tale Science
• Edible Science
• Human Health
• Inspirational Women
• Forces and Motion
• Science Fair Projects
• STEM Challenges
• Science Sparks Books
• Contact Science Sparks
• Science Resources for Home and School

Summer Science for Hot Days

June 12, 2023 By Emma Vanstone 11 Comments

The UK is hot, hot, hot at the moment, so today, I’m sharing some fun and cooling summer science experiments that are great for kids of all ages on a sunny day!

Sometimes science experiments outside feel so much easier than making a mess inside, and they are a great way to keep kids entertained through the school holidays.

Make your own slushy drinks with ice and salt, track the movement of the sun with a DIY sundial , make a solar oven, and LOTS more easy summer science and STEM challenges!

Summer science for hot days

Science experiments with ice, summer 5-minute slushy drink.

One of our favourite summer activities is exploring the melting and mixing of colours by making slushy drinks with fruity ice.

You’ll need salt, ice, two sealable plastic food bags and various different fruit juices to make a colourful slushy drink in minutes!

Paint on ice

Can you make some summer-themed ice? Try adding flower petals or shells to your creations.

Painting on a sheet of ice is great fun too. The paint slips beautifully over the ice, making it a lovely sensory activity.

Melting ice cubes

How about making some ice cubes and investigating where they melt the fastest . Try them inside, in the fridge, outdoors in the sunshine and outdoors in the shade.

Or, try creating an ice excavation. You could go all out and make a huge one or lots of mini ones icy rescues.

Make ice cream in a bag

Find out why salt melts ice , and use your new knowledge to make ice cream in a bag or cool a drink down quickly.

Science in the paddling pool

If you have a paddling pool, I have 5 paddling pool science activities that make playing in the pool even more fun than usual!

Lolly stick races

Challenge your friends to a  lolly stick race . These are great fun and an unusual water table or paddling pool activity.

Once you’ve finished racing, use the soapy water to clean outdoor toys!

Sink or float experiments

Finally, testing objects to see whether they sink or float is always fun! Older children can try wrapping objects that sink in bubble wrap to find out if reducing their density helps them float or make mini boats for sinking objects.

Science in the kitchen

Do you love ice cream? How about making some ice cream soup like Rainy Day Mum.

Or make s’mores in an easy garden solar oven ?

Cool a drink quickly using the cooling power of ice and salt. This uses the same science concept as ice cream in a bag.

Adding salt to a mixture of ice and water lowers the freezing point of the ice. The melting ice draws heat from the drink, cooling it down!

Outdoor summer science activities

Diy sundial.

Track the movement of the sun with a sundial made with a stick .

Water Wall Ideas

Little ones love a water wall, we’ve got some easy homemade water wall ideas for you to try. Water walls are a great design challenge for older children and fun to play with for little ones.

Shadow frames

Shadow frames are brilliant fun. Another idea is to make an empty frame and draw a picture in the middle to cast a shadow!

You can also try drawing the shadow a toy creates. Does the shape of the shadow change throughout the day?

More summer science for kids

Our 50 fun summer science activities will keep you busy all summer long!

If you prefer a challenge, our summer science challenges could be just what you’re looking for! NOW with FREE printable challenges!

Last Updated on June 13, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

July 10, 2013 at 2:16 pm

I have to try and freeze water balloons too. I just posted about our water and ice experiment (weighing ice and water) at http://learningwithmouse.blogspot.com/2013/07/ice-and-watervolume-and-weight.html

July 15, 2013 at 1:31 pm

Some brilliant ideas, thanks for linking up to our Parenting Pin It Party.

July 19, 2013 at 8:25 pm

Thanks for hosting Cat x

July 15, 2013 at 5:23 pm

Great ideas i love them all particltaly the balloon ice

July 19, 2013 at 8:17 pm

Aww thanks Becky 🙂

July 16, 2013 at 1:01 pm

I can’t think of anything better for a hot day!

Thanks Helen. x

July 16, 2013 at 8:30 pm

These are great ideas for hot days. Pinning these on my August pinboard. Thanks!

Thank you. x

July 21, 2013 at 5:29 pm

Hi – great post, we’re going to feature this on the parenting pin i party tomorrow- hope that’s OK

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cool Science Experiments for Hot Summer Days

On hot summer days, everyone is looking for ways to cool off. These experiments are perfect to do outside where spills don’t matter, and a plastic wading pool makes a perfect laboratory. This is a great time to wade into some fun summer science.

How do heavy ships, made of metal, float in the water? Buoyancy is a word that describes the upward force of a fluid that pushes against the weight of an object immersed in it. Objects float because of this buoyant force.

What you will need:

• Large container of water (such as a plastic washtub or your wading pool)
• Paper towels
• Modeling clay
• Small objects (these should all be of about the same weight for example – coins of all the same denomination or perhaps fishing weights)

What to do:

• Take a small handful of clay and form it into a ball – about the size of a golf ball is good.
• Put the ball of clay into the water – does it float?
• Take the ball of clay out of the water and pat it dry with a paper towel
• Form the clay ball into a boat shape and put it into the water – experiment until your clay boat floats.

Experiment with different shapes using the same amount of clay. Add weights, one at a time to each of your clay boats. Which shapes will carry the most weight before sinking. Why are some shapes more buoyant than others?

Water displacement

Why did some clay boats float better than others? Why did the ball of clay sink while the same amount of clay formed into a boat shape was able to float? The secret is in the amount of water moved out of the way ( displaced ) by the different shapes.

• A small mixing bowl
• A larger mixing bowl or plastic washtub
• A measuring cup
• A pitcher of water

Put the smaller mixing bowl into the larger bowl or washtub and use the pitcher to fill the smaller bowl up to the brim with water. Be very careful to completely fill the smaller bowl but do not allow any water to spill over the sides.

Make another clay golf ball and gently place into the bowl of water. Do not touch the water with your fingers. Use the measuring cup to measure the amount of water that spilled out over the edges of the small bowl into the washtub.

Reset the experiment by drying the washtub and replacing the smaller bowl filled to the brim with water inside it. Using the exact same amount of clay, form it into your best clay boat shape and gently place it in the water. Use the measuring cup again to measure the amount of water that was displaced by the boat. Which clay shape displaced more water – the ball or the boat?

Backyard submarine

What you need:

• Large tub or pool of water
• 2 rubber bands
• Plastic soda bottle – 2 liter size
• Sharp knife or scissors
• 1 to 2 feet of aquarium tubing from the pet store, or a flexible straw

Caution!!! When using a sharp knife or scissors, please be very careful! Better yet, ask an adult to help with this part!

Carefully cut two holes in one side of the plastic soda bottle. Make the holes in a straight row spaced equally apart.

Use rubber bands to secure 2 coins near each of the holes.

Put one end of the aquarium tubing, or a flexible straw, into the bottle and use modeling clay to seal the top of the bottle around the tubing or straw.

Hold your submarine underneath the water. Allow water to fill the bottle through the holes until it rests on the bottom of the pool.

Take a deep breath and blow into the other end of the aquarium tubing. Observe what happens to the submarine when air from your lungs displaces the water in the bottle. Try to make the bottle neutrally buoyant – suspended below the surface of the water but above the bottom of the pool.

Don’t Keel Over

• Small foam tray, commonly used in meat packaging at many grocery stores
• 2 wood blocks – one about the same length as your tray, and one slightly shorter
• Small weights – such as coins, fishing weights or small pebbles
• Two long heavy rubber bands

Float your foam tray in your pool of water. Then place weights along one side of your foam raft. Observe the number of weights your raft can support on one edge before capsizing.

Next, use the rubber bands to strap the wood blocks underneath the raft. Place the longer block directly down the center of the raft and the shorter block centered under the longer one. Float the raft and repeat the experiment of adding weights to one side. Experiment with placing the wooden keel in different positions beneath the raft. Can you think of other ways to stabilize the raft?

• Oobleck Recipe: Dr. Seuss Science Project
• Cool Math Games
• Science Experiments for Kids

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024: See stunning photos of hungry whale, surfing seagull, freaky fish babies, land-loving eel and adorable toxic octopus

Earth from space: Ghostly figure emerges in Greenland ice after underground lake collapses

'Their capacity to emulate human language and thought is immensely powerful': Far from ending the world, AI systems might actually save it

Most Popular

• 2 The bubbling surface of a distant star was captured on video for the 1st time ever
• 3 Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024: See stunning photos of hungry whale, surfing seagull, freaky fish babies, land-loving eel and adorable toxic octopus
• 4 NASA's Voyager 1 probe swaps thrusters in tricky fix as it flies through interstellar space
• 5 Earth from space: Ghostly figure emerges in Greenland ice after underground lake collapses

Science Fun

Rain In A Jar Weather Science Experiment

In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate weather and the water cycle by making it rain in a jar.

Important: Adult supervision and assistance is required for this experiment. 

Instructions:

• Have an adult heat the water until it is steaming hot but not boiling. 
• Pour the heated water into a jar until the jar is about one third of the way full.
• Place the plate on top of the jar and wait several minutes before the next step.
• Now, put ice cubes on top of the plate and observe what begins to happen inside the jar.

EXPLORE AWESOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS!

How it Works:

In this experiment, the jar will allow us to view the entire water cycle in one compact area. The hot water represents water on the surface of our planet that is heated by the sun. The heated water turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere where it cools, condenses, and returns to the Earth’s surface as precipitation. This cycling of water has a significant impact and influence on Earth’s weather patterns. 

Make This A Science Project:

Add salt to the water and record any observable differences. 

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A NEW SCIENCE FUN VIDEO!

previous experiment

Next experiment.

• Homeschooling
• World Culture
• How to Work at Home With Kids
• Managing Screen Time
• Mindful Parenting
• The Secret of Joyful Parenting
• Crochet Doll Pattern
• DIY Cardboard Crafts
• Pour Painting
• Sewing Tutorials
• Calm Down Activities
• Picture Book Activities
• Outdoor Game Day Ideas
• Play Dough Recipe
• Family Road Trip
• Tips for Long Flights With Kids
• Packing for Trips With Children
• Why Go On a Family Road Trip
• Gift Guides

Heat Wave Science Magic for Kids: Make Crayons

Are you and the kids melting under a summer heat wave? Harness the power of the sun and make crayons with this creative hot weather science experiment for kids! Set-up is a breeze, and there is little-to-no clean-up.

Some links on this site are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!  Learn more .

This science experiment gets kids thinking about alternative energy sources. Make crayons in any shape you like – the options are endless! Silicone molds  are wonderful for making shaped crayons using this method. Note that the silicone is insulated, so you may need hotter weather for it to work. A car dashboard is an easy way to create more heat!

Sun Upcycled Crayons: Hot Weather Science Magic for Kids

I had this activity on our to-try list last year, but Massachusetts never got very hot. This summer has been plenty hot, so I thought we’d give it a try. We cut the tops off of some plastic cups, added pieces of crayons, put everything in some left over aluminum foil. We covered it with plastic wrap at the suggestion of my mechanical engineer brother, who happened to be visiting when I decided to try this.

I didn’t try it on the hottest day – temperatures were low nineties, and some of the crayons didn’t melt. I think they were from the cups that wound up partially in the shade, and I think they were also washable and twist-up crayon pieces, which may have affected our results.

We used Dixie cups for this experiment because that is what we had lying around, but there are many ways to get creative with this experiment! Silicone molds make it possible to create these crayons in virtually any shape imaginable. These LEGO molds are favorites with our kids! No heat wave? Follow these instructions for using silicone molds to make crayons in any weather !

We’ll probably try again on a hotter day, but these crayons work well, even in their imperfectly-melted state =)

Have you tried making sun upcycled crayons? How did it work for you?

Share comments and feedback below, on  my Facebook page , or by  tagging me on Instagram .  Sign up for my newsletter  to receive book recommendations, crafts, activities, and parenting tips in your inbox every week.

MaryAnne Kochenderfer

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

40 thoughts on “Heat Wave Science Magic for Kids: Make Crayons”

This is a brilliant idea for upcycling crayons into shapes! Thank you for sharing this eco friendly and creative craft with us!

I’m so glad you like it! It’s a favorite we repeat every year in our house :)

So clever! Like! Amalia xo

We just did this!!! Thank you for this fun little experimental crayon updo! I’m going to feature it/you on my blog, I’ll let you know when I do :) Michelle

Love the way your version turned out!

Sooo Cool!!! What a great way to show what our sun can do & make fun new shapes & colors love it! :) Michelle

A great idea but I don’t think it’ll ever get hot enough here in the UK! :-(

I think it was around 33C when we did this. Maybe you’ll get that warm one day? I was surprised we got it to work with it only being that hot.

Try it in your car or greenhouse on a really hot day. Probably wait till the 6 weeks holiday to try it though. Although I bet we will have a rubbish summer anyway!

Great suggestion!

Thinking it would work in the hot car out in the sun. Just don’t forget about them! Something to try out soon.

It’ll work much more quickly in the hot car!

That will be perfect here in Kansas this week… We’ll be in the triple digits again today. :/

Sounds like perfect weather for this activity! Good luck staying cool…

Wow! I’ve made these in the oven, but wouldn’t have thought to use the sun! I love it!

It’s definitely my favorite version! On the dashboard of a car is even faster :)

I absolutely LOVE this! I already shared with the moms at my parenting page Family Made Simple. http://www.facebook.com/familymadesimple . I’m in nearby Rhode Island and will have to wait for a hot day to do this with my 4 year old! thanks so much! Tessa

It’s so fun to see the power of the sun in action! I’m glad you love the idea, and thank you so much for sharing this post on your parenting page!

Greetings, all very nice idea…….interesting. Jack

I live in Alabama and it’s really hot here. I put mine in the car! They should be done in about 10 minutes…

You have the perfect climate for crayon melting! One of my brothers baked cookies on his car’s dashboard one summer in Texas…

what a great idea! Better than using a mold in the oven!

@Dee – I agree that an old muffin tin would work better. We didn’t have one and so substituted the cups.

This is such a great idea! I wonder if using an old muffin tin would help — the metal might store the heat more efficiently!

I’d love to post a link to this idea on my blog with your permission — I’ll send you an e-mail! .-= Dee´s last blog .. Making Friends Monday =-.

Cool process! .-= MamaRuck´s last blog .. Clayton Quotes =-.

I have never thought of trying this outside. We definitely have the heat here to try it out! Thanks for the great idea. .-= Diana´s last blog .. On Trying New Foods =-.

My kids really enjoyed being able to fully participate this way, and if it gets hot enough it isn’t even that much slower than the oven =)

very cool idea :) we’ve done them in the oven before but this would be so much fun w/ the kids! thanks for the awesome idea! .-= Jackie @ 3 Little Ones´s last blog ..Tommee Tippee Explora Feeding Products Review =-.

I’ve done this in the oven in a muffin tin but never outside in the sun. Thanks for a great idea.

I keep meaning to do this, but haven’t followed through yet. Now I know I can do it outside. .-= Ticia´s last blog .. Outstanding Blogger Award =-.

Looks fun. Also love the googly eyes idea x .-= twolittleseeds´s last blog .. 5 Things To Do With Blackcurrants In A Day =-.

This is such a great way to show the power of sun – I wonder if the crayons would melt outside here. Gotta try it when hotter days return, but I am really enjoying cooler days at the moment :) .-= Natalie´s last blog ..Drive =-.

I just saw a melted crayon in the parking lot at our local grocery store, and thought “Hmmm … fodder for a project?” and then forgot all about it! Thanks for the reminder! .-= Sadia´s last blog .. Pampering =-.

As hot as it’s been here, I do believe I’m going to try this. Have to get some dixie cups, but have everything else. Thanks for sharing, awesome!

These are beautiful! I would frame them as works of art. But I guess they’ll be more useful in creating even more works of art! .-= Elisa | blissfulE´s last blog ..the pen-scoop method =-.

That’s a great idea. We have tons of crayon pieces, so this would be a fun way to use them. .-= Quadmama´s last blog .. No Evil Stepmother in This Story =-.

Yeah, 113 degree heat index here yesterday and today–we are doing this today! Again, awesome idea from you:-). Thank you! .-= Susana´s last blog ..How To Eat An Ice Cream Coneby Jack =-.

Great idea! I’ve been thinking of doing some more sun-powered activities, too. .-= Jaimie´s last blog ..The Tomorrows Outfit Clothesline- My New Trick for Avoiding Morning Drama =-.

Comments are closed.

Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Making Science Fun, Easy to Teach and Exciting to Learn!

Science Experiments

Make a Cloud Form in a Jar Science Experiment

Ever wonder how clouds are made? This super fun and simple experiment will help teach your kids about the physical changes and reactions that happen as clouds form within the atmosphere. They will be amazed as they see their own cloud begin to take form while they learn new weather vocabulary.

In addition to creating your own cloud, you can use this chart to explore the different types of clouds and where they form in the sky.

Below you’ll find our demonstration video, helpful tips to make your experiment successful, printable materials list and instructions, as well as easy to understand explanation of how the experiment works.

Note: Because this experiment requires boiling water, adult supervision is required.

JUMP TO SECTION:   Instructions  |  Video Tutorial  |  How it Works

Supplies Needed

• Glass Jar with a Lid (we used a pint mason jar)
• 1 cup Hot Boiling Water
• Blue Food Coloring (optional)
• Aerosol Hairspray
• 3-5 cubes of Ice

Cloud in a Jar Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Cloud in a Jar Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Make a Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 – Pour 1 cup of hot boiling water into a glass jar. Helpful Tip: Use food coloring to dye the water blue before pouring it into the jar. This is not required, but does help distinguish the cloud from the water. Plus, it makes the water look like the sky.

Step 2 – Quickly spray hairspray into the jar.

Step 3 – Immediately put the lid onto the jar. Helpful Tip: This step must be performed quickly, so have the lid handy. It also helps to have multiple people doing the experiment. One to spray the hairspray and one to put on the lid.

Step 4 – Place 3-5 pieces of ice on top of the lid of the jar.

Step 5 – Now it’s time to observe what happens. Watch the top portion of the jar carefully and write down what happens. As time passes, you will see a cloud begin to form.

Step 6 – After observing the cloud form in the jar, remove the lid, and watch as it move out of the jar and into the air. Do you know the why the cloud formed? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.

Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work

Clouds form when water from Earth’s surface is heated and evaporates (physical change from liquid to gas), rises into the atmosphere, and then cools and condenses (physical change from gas to liquid) onto microscopic particles (ie. dust, dirt, ash) in the air.

In our experiment, the warm water in the jar caused the air inside the jar to heat up. When this happened some of the water evaporated into the air. This evaporation caused water vapor in the jar. Then the warm, moist air (water vapor) rose from the surface of the water to the top of the jar. Once it reached the top of the jar, the warm, moist air began to cool down. This is because of the ice that was on the lid of the jar. The water vapor in the cooling air then condensed onto the particles of hairspray, forming a cloud in the jar!

If you observe the cloud carefully, you’ll notice that it swirls around the jar. This swirling is caused by a convection current of warm air rising and cold air sinking. A convection current is a current caused the rising and sinking of a heated and cooled fluid.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Make a Cloud Science Experiment

• 1 cup Hot Boiling Water

Instructions

• Pour 1 cup of hot boiling water into a glass jar.Helpful Tip: Use food coloring to dye the water blue before pouring it into the jar. This is not required, but does help distinguish the cloud from the water. Plus, it makes the water look like the sky.
• Quickly spray hairspray into the jar.
• Immediately put the lid onto the jar. Helpful Tip: This step must be performed quickly, so have the lid handy. It also helps to have multiple people doing the experiment. One to spray the hairspray and one to put on the lid.
• Place a 3-5 pieces of ice on top of the lid of the jar.
• Watch the top of the jar carefully and you will see a cloud begin to form.
• After observing the cloud in the jar, remove the lid and watch the cloud escape out of the jar.

Reader Interactions

January 24, 2019 at 3:54 pm

January 26, 2020 at 6:43 pm

Thank you! Love this.

September 18, 2020 at 4:17 pm

I loved the experiment, I would have liked to do it but I did not have all the ingredients

October 5, 2021 at 3:35 pm

January 26, 2022 at 10:29 am

Hi Danielle. Our class enjoyed watching the experiment, and learning how clouds are formed.

March 11, 2022 at 10:02 am

Very helpful thanks

April 19, 2022 at 1:47 pm

April 28, 2022 at 3:17 pm

its awesome how the cloud forms, I love it!

July 31, 2023 at 2:14 pm

Love the experiment, will definetly try in my class. But I have a question. What is the hairspray for?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Privacy Policy
• Disclosure Policy

Copyright © 2024 · Cool Science Experiments HQ

• Arts and Crafts
• Printable Crafts
• Sensory Play
• Sensory Recipes
• All Learning
• Father’s Day
• Mothers Day
• Patriotic Holidays
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• All Parenting
• All Printables
• Science Printables
• Language Printables
• Math Printables
• History + Social Studies Printables
• Printables for Crafts
• All Resources
• Shopping Cart

Learn about Hot and Cold Temperature: Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Teach kids about temperature as they perform easy science experiments with hot and cold water and the our free printable.Thank you for visiting. This post…

Teach kids about temperature as they perform easy science experiments with hot and cold water and the our free printable.

Thank you for visiting. This post may contain affiliate links to recommended products at no extra cost to you. Read our Disclosures and Terms of Use . Don't miss out again, become a  Reader here <--it's FREE. 

We did 6 different science activities to learn about temperature and the difference between hot and cold. We have a free printable activity to go along with all the hands-on activities so your little scientists can have fun understanding temperature while learning more about the world around them. Each of the activities are super simple to set up, mainly because most of the supplies come straight from your kitchen faucet.

I loved watching my kids try out these science experiments. They were so eager to check everything out and best of all their understanding of temperature grew. I think that my favorite activity was watching the food coloring disperse in hot and cold water–such a simple activity and yet so pretty to watch! If you enjoy watching your kids do science as much as I do, check out this free homeschool science curriculum . 

More Science Experiments:

• Grow a Rainbow Science Experiment
• Snowflake Symmetry Activity
• How to Make Crystal Balls

Learn about Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiments

BECAUSE ALL ACTIVITIES ARE BETTER WITH A BOOK!

Click photos: Affiliate links to more information on these books we love!

(Purchases through affiliate links earn us a small commission with no extra cost to you. See our  Disclosure Policy here. )

Click links and photos: Affiliate links to more information on these suggested products.   (Purchases through affiliate links earn us a small commission with no extra cost to you. See our  Disclosure Policy here. )

• Voss Water bottle (or plastic bottle)
• Red and blue food coloring
• Thermometer (We used a candy thermometer)
• Water balloons
• Ice Cube tray
• Glass measuring cups

DIRECTIONS:

Frozen Water

Fill containers half full with water. Mark the water line with a marker or I used a rubber band because we use our water bottles a lot. Put them in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Have children look at the new water lever (ice level). The frozen line should be above the water line because when water freezes it expands because the hydrogen bonds in the water that form are more spread out then when it is in liquid state.

Red and Blue Food Coloring Race

Fill one tall container with ice cold water and another tall container with hot water (not boiling). Have child drop a few drops of red food coloring in the hot bottle and blue food coloring in the cold water and watch (this experiment is very fast so don’t look away). Technically you could use whatever color food coloring you have but since red and blue help to reinforce the difference in temperatures we used those colors. The blue food coloring should move slower through the water compared to the red food coloring because the water molecules in the hot water have more energy and move faster then the water molecules in the cold water.

Blue Ice Melt

Fill a pitcher with water and add drops of blue food coloring. Fill an ice tray with the blue water and put it in the freezer until the ice is solid. Fill a container with room temperature water and place the blue ice inside. The ice should float and the blue water that melts from the ice cube should sink. This is because cold water (and air) is more dense compared to regular temperature water and will sink in warmer water. They may have heard before that hot air rises and cold air sinks, now they can visualize it.

Hot & Cold Balloons

Fill small balloons with some air. We used water balloons. Make them relatively the same size. Place one in cold water and one in hot water. We used a pink balloon for the hot water and the blue balloon for the cold water. The hot water balloon should get larger as the air expands as it gets warm and the cold water balloon should shrink as the air inside condenses.

Thermometer Reading

After the balloon test we used our thermometer to measure the water temperatures and then we wrote the temperature on our Hot and Cold Molucule Craft (See below).

Hot and Cold Molecule Craft (Available to download for free below)

Have children glue molecules in the hot and cold cups showing their understanding of hot and cold. The hot molecules should be spread out and moving around while the cold molecules should be condensed and slow moving.

DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE HERE:

Print the directions here:.

Hot and Cold Temperature Science Experiments

• Thermometer

Instructions

• Frozen Water Fill containers half full with water. Mark the water line with a marker or I used a rubber band because we use our water bottles a lot. Put them in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Have children look at the new water lever (ice level). The frozen line should be above the water line because when water freezes it expands because the hydrogen bonds in the water that form are more spread out then when it is in liquid state. Red and Blue Food Coloring Race Fill one tall container with ice cold water and another tall container with hot water (not boiling). Have child drop a few drops of red food coloring in the hot bottle and blue food coloring in the cold water and watch (this experiment is very fast so don't look away). Technically you could use whatever color food coloring you have but since red and blue help to reinforce the difference in temperatures we used those colors. The blue food coloring should move slower through the water compared to the red food coloring because the water molecules in the hot water have more energy and move faster then the water molecules in the cold water. Blue Ice Melt Fill a pitcher with water and add drops of blue food coloring. Fill an ice tray with the blue water and put it in the freezer until the ice is solid. Fill a container with room temperature water and place the blue ice inside. The ice should float and the blue water that melts from the ice cube should sink. This is because cold water (and air) is more dense compared to regular temperature water and will sink in warmer water. They may have heard before that hot air rises and cold air sinks, now they can visualize it. Hot & Cold Balloons Fill small balloons with some air. We used water balloons. Make them relatively the same size. Place one in cold water and one in hot water. We used a pink balloon for the hot water and the blue balloon for the cold water. The hot water balloon should get larger as the air expands as it gets warm and the cold water balloon should shrink as the air inside condenses. Thermometer Reading After the balloon test we used our thermometer to measure the water temperatures and then we wrote the temperature on our Hot and Cold Molucule Craft Hot and Cold Molecule Craft Have children glue molecules in the hot and cold cups showing their understanding of hot and cold. The hot molecules should be spread out and moving around while the cold molecules should be condensed and slow moving. We used marshmallows. Available here: https://alittlepinchofperfect.com/learn-hot-cold-temperature-science-experiments-kids/

Don’t Miss These GREAT IDEAS!

Candy Science: Testing Solubility

Popcorn Science

Pop Rock Science

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Easy Cloud in a Jar Experiments

Growing up one of my favorite things to do was lay in the grass and stare up at the clouds. Cloud formation is a fundamental meteorological phenomenon that can seem quite mysterious, but it’s actually a really cool and accessible subject for students of all ages. Today, let’s dive into a simple classroom experiment that demystifies cloud formation: the Cloud in a Jar experiment. Not only is this experiment straightforward and easy to do, but it also teaches some fantastic weather science lessons that are sure to engage and educate your students.

Capturing a Cloud in a Jar: A Simple Experiment with Profound Science Lessons

What you will discover in this article!

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer I earn from qualifying purchases. Not seeing our videos? Turn off any adblockers to ensure our video feed can be seen. Or visit our YouTube channel to see if the video has been uploaded there. We are slowly uploading our archives. Thanks!

We love studying weather science. What is the number one small talk topic? The weather! We are always talking about the weather, which makes doing weather science experiments a fantastic way to bring real life into our science labs.

Today’s experiment is fast and easy. Making a cloud in a jar is one of those classic experiments that all students should do at least once.

SAFETY NOTE: This experiment is fun for all ages, however, use caution around matches. For younger students an adult should do this step. Always practice fire safety and have water, a fire extinguisher or wet cloths near by. For younger students you can do this experiment as a demonstration, while middle grade students can tackle this experiment under adult supervision.

Cloud in a Jar Video

Check out the video of this experiment to see how we did it. If you can’t see the video your adblockers or firewall are blocking our feed. You can also find this video, with closed captions, on the STEAM Powered Family YouTube Channel .

Making a Cloud in a Jar

We tried this experiment three different ways. By doing it three different ways we were able to compare the different techniques and learn different lessons.

Cloud in a Jar Experiment #1

A tall clear glass jar with a lid (It is best if it has smooth sides, it makes it easier to see the clouds form.) Hot water (tap hot is perfect, not boiling) Ice cubes Matches

Pro Tip! Set up the experiment against a dark background, it makes it easier to see the clouds form.

Prepare the Jar

Begin by pouring about two inches of hot water into the clear glass jar. The water should be hot but not boiling, ideally around 60°C (140°F) to create enough warm vapor.

Light It Up

After the hot water is in the jar, quickly strike a match, let it burn for a few seconds, and then drop it into the water. Immediately replace the lid. This step should be handled by the teacher or with close supervision if older students are conducting the experiment.

Place a few ice cubes on top of the jar lid. The contrast between the hot air inside the jar and the cold lid will intensify the experiment’s effects.

Watch the Cloud Form

Instruct your students to observe the jar closely. Within a few minutes, a small cloud will form in the upper part of the jar.

What we found really fascinating was that if you watch closely (look in our video and you can see it), you can see the cloud moving up and down in the jar. As it cools at the top it starts to fall down, then at the bottom it warms and goes back up. It was really neat to see this!

Release the Cloud

After observing the cloud, remove the lid and watch as the small cloud escapes into the air of the classroom. This is a fun way to finish the experiment.

Cloud in a Jar Science Notes

The Cloud in a Jar experiment is an excellent demonstration of the water cycle, specifically the process of condensation and cloud formation. So let’s dive into the science and some vocabulary for our students to really understand what they are seeing.

Evaporation

The hot water in the jar evaporates quickly, turning into water vapor, which is the gaseous state of water. This vapor rises due to the heat, filling the upper parts of the jar. You will see some condensation on the sides of the jar. If there is too much condensation it can be hard to see the cloud that forms. To fix this issue, use slightly cooler water. The higher the temperature of the water, the more water vapor it will produce.

Condensation Nuclei

When the match is struck it introduces smoke particles into the jar. These tiny particles act as condensation nuclei. In the real world, dust, pollen, and other pollutants serve this purpose, providing surfaces onto which water vapor can condense.

Fun Fact! In some countries they use a scientific process called Cloud Seeding, where condensation nuclei are introduced into the atmosphere as a way to try and control the weather and increase precipitation.

Condensation

As the warm, moist air rises and encounters the cold lid (chilled by the ice), the temperature of the vapor drops. When it cools below its dew point, the vapor condenses around the smoke particles, forming tiny droplets of liquid water. These droplets cluster together around each smoke particle, forming a visible cloud.

This experiment is a small-scale model of what happens in the atmosphere all over the world, every day. Clouds in the sky form when warm air rises, expands, and cools, leading to condensation on particles in the air.

Cloud in a Jar Experiment Alternative Technique

The above experiment is a classic way to make a cloud in a jar and in our experience the most effective, however there is another approach you can take that takes into consideration the role of air pressure and temperature on cloud formation. We have explored air pressure and the weather with our DIY Barometer project . This experiment is perfect for your middle school and high school students or for the science fair .

Instead of ice, we are going to use a balloon on the top of our jar this time.

First, trim the bottom off of a balloon and make sure it fits nicely over the top of your jar. Ensure you leave enough of the balloon that it stays on the jar securely when you press down on the top. I had to scale down to a smaller jar than the one I used for the first cloud in a jar experiment to find one that fit my balloon.

Now take your jar and fill it about a 1/4 full with warm water.

Light a match, blow it out, and drop it into the jar.

Now quickly place the balloon over the top of the jar.

Invite your students to get close. You will want to add some light so you can really see what is going on with this next step. Aiming a flashlight at the jar works great. Gently press down on the balloon, then release. Watch inside the jar. You will see clouds form in the jar as you change the air pressure by pressing down on the balloon and releasing it. The video we shared earlier in the article really shows this!

Science Behind Experiment #2

The second experiment is a fantastic demonstration of how air pressure, temperature, and volume are interrelated (as described by the Ideal Gas Law) and how these factors influence cloud formation.

Let’s explore the Ideal Gas Law. According to the ideal gas law (PV = nRT), as temperature (T) increases, the pressure (P) also tends to increase if the volume (V) is constant.

By using warm water, you increase the temperature of the air inside the jar.

When you press and then release the balloon, you first decrease the volume of the air (pushing the balloon in), which increases the pressure. Releasing the balloon suddenly increases the volume and drops the pressure.

The rapid expansion (when the balloon is released) causes the air inside the jar to cool quickly. The cooler air can hold less water vapor, and the excess vapor condenses into tiny water droplets around small particles in the air from the match smoke. This condensation forms a cloud in the jar.

You can also play with this science in our Crush a Bottle experiment . Plus Crash Course has a great video explaining Ideal Gas Law.

This experiment mirrors what happens in the atmosphere when we experience pressure changes. When warm air rises, it expands due to lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes, cools, and if conditions are right, the moisture it carries condenses into clouds.

Cloud in a Jar with Hairspray

Another way you can do this experiment is with hairspray or some other type of aerosol spray. If you watch our video, we tried this technique too. We didn’t have hairspray, so we used an aerosol air freshener. The science is the same as the first experiment, introducing condensation nuclei, but instead of match smoke we are using aerosol particles.

Have your students test the different cloud in a jar methods to see which ones they like the best.

Extension Activities

Discuss the roles of evaporation, condensation, and condensation nuclei in the water cycle. Check out our Water Cycle Activity .

Explore how cloud formation varies with different weather conditions. What do you think causes the different types of cloud formations?

Take what we learned today and talk about environmental science by discussing the impact of air pollution on cloud formation. Explore pollution even more, with this water pollution experiment .

Creating a cloud in a jar is one of those classic experiments that always creates a sense of awe in students. Kids absolutely love this science and it will make them look at the skies in a whole new way. If you want to explore more about rainfall and clouds, try this Rainbow Rain Experiment . It is another simple science experiment that demonstrates how rain falls from the clouds.

Who knew the weather could be so fascinating?! Check out more really exciting Weather Science Experiments in this resource .

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

Get started in STEM with easy, engaging activities.

Simple Weather Science Experiments for Kids

Categories Science Experiments

When spring showers arrive, it is the perfect time to harness kids’ natural curiosity about the weather with weather science experiments !

What makes thunder? Why does it rain? How are clouds formed? How do meteorologists determine if it’s going to be rainy or sunny?

These weather science experiments for kids will teach kids about weather, weather patterns, clouds, and more with these super-fun, hands-on weather activities!

These weather STEM activities are the perfect addition to any weather unit study!

What are Weather Experiments for Kids?

A weather experiment is simply a science experiment that teaches a concept about the weather. In most cases, these experiments are actual weather science demonstrations, as they demonstrate a wider scientific concept.

To be a true weather experiment, kids must solve a problem using a question, hypothesis, and by testing variables.

These are important and can be done with weather science themes, but often, teaching weather concepts through science demonstrations are also important!

So, go ahead and have fun with these weather experiments for kids!

You can find topics such as weather patterns, extreme weather, preparing for weather, and more!

Answer all these questions and more with weather experiments for kids!

And save these experiments in your box of science fair project ideas.

Try these fun weather science projects and learn more about how weather works! Who knows, you just might be teaching a future meteorologist!

If you’re in a rush, these are our favorite weather science kits.

Or, keep exploring the weather projects for kids outlined below! They are perfect for kids in elementary!

Extreme Weather Science Experiments

Tornado in a Jar 

Make a tornado in a jar and learn about vortexes, weather patterns, circular air, extreme weather, and more!

Snow Storm in a Jar

Make your very own snow storm in a jar! Learn about the science of blizzards and how snow storms are formed.

Frost in a Jar

Learn how freezes happens with this exciting frost in a jar science experimnet!

Borax Crystal Snowflakes

Find out how snowflakes form and the science of crystals in this fun science experiment!

Instant Ice Science Experiment

Learn how to make ice in just 5 seconds and learn all about snap freezing.

Cloud Science Experiments

Puff Paint Cloud Types

Learn about the different types of clouds.

Raining Rainbow Cloud

Make a rainbow cloud that is sometimes called fireworks in a jar!

How Clouds Make Rain

Learn how clouds make rain!

Rain Science Experiments

Water Cycle in a Bag

Use a bag to learn about the water cycle.

Water Cycle Discovery Bottle

If you don’t have a bag, you can also create your own water cycle inside of a bottle!

Temperature Science Experiments

Hot and Cold Temperature Experiment

Learn how hot and cold temperatures won’t mix, which influences air pressure, wind, and weather.

How to Make Frost

Ever wonder how frost forms? Now you can learn how to make frost in a can and learn about condensation and how frost forms.

Make a Science Weather Station

Build a weather station and use it to track weather patterns near your school or house.

Make a Rain Gauge

How much rain has fallen? You won’t know unless you make a rain gauge.

Make a Barometer

Follow these instructions to make your own barometer.

Wind Science Experiments

How Fronts Work

Have you ever wondered how fronts work? Now you can show kids how they work in a way that every kid can understand.

Make Lightening

Did you know you can make your own lighting? Right inside your house? Kids will love this one.

Make a Hurricane in a Bowl

You’ve made a blizzard in a jar , now make a hurricane in a bowl!

Air Pressure Experiment

Determine how air pressure works, and what that means for weather.

Weather Science Experiments for Preschoolers

If you need weather science experiments for preschoolers, check out our list of weather science experiments for preschoolers that are specially designed for younger learners.

Weather Science Experiments for Kindergarten

Need some weather science that kindergarten kids can do? Check out this list of weather science experiments for kindergarten that won’t overwhelm new learners.

Weather Science Experiments for Elementary

There are so many fun weather science experiments! These weather science experiments for elementary are designed with elementary students in mind!

Share this project with a friend!

• Earth Science
• Physics & Engineering
• Science Kits
• Microscopes
• Science Curriculum and Kits
• About Home Science Tools

Science Projects > Earth & Space Projects > Weather Experiments  

Weather Experiments

The science of weather affects all of us every day! Convection, high-pressure and low-pressure systems, evaporation—these things help determine if our game will be rained out or if we will have a sunny day for sledding. Learn more about the way weather works by doing these hands-on experiments.

Experiment 1: Convection Current

Have you ever heard that hot air rises? That’s true! As air heats up, its molecules expand and spread out, making the air less dense than it was before. It floats up through the denser cooler air. As the warm air rises it starts to cool off and its molecules move closer together, causing it to sink again. This circulation is called convection, and the rising and falling of the air are called currents. Convection currents are part of what causes different kinds of weather. (You’ll find out how in the next experiment.)

We can’t see convection in the air; do you think water might act the same way? Do this experiment to find out!

You should have an adult help you with the hot water and the knife.

What You Need:

• Large glass jar or beaker
• Small cup or beaker (it needs to fit inside the jar)
• Food coloring
• Plastic wrap
• Rubber band

What You Do:

1. Fill the small cup or beaker with very hot (almost boiling) water and add several drops of food coloring. Stretch the plastic wrap smoothly over the cup and seal it with the rubber band. (The plastic wrap will puff up—this is because the hot air above the water is expanding!)

2. Fill the jar almost full with cold water from the tap.

3. Use a pair of tongs to set the cup of hot water in the bottom of the jar.

4. Slice open the plastic wrap with the knife and watch what happens! (One long gash should do it.)

What happened? The hot water was less dense than the cold water surrounding it, so it rose to the top in a convection current. What happens as the colored water gets to the top? Does it stay there? Why or why not?

Experiment 2: Sea Breeze

Air seems like the lightest thing in the world, but it actually pushes down on you and the ground with a great deal of force. This force is called air pressure. Air pressure doesn’t always stay the same; meteorologists measure its changes with a barometer . In the last experiment we saw that when air heats up it begins to rise. When it rises, it doesn’t push on the ground with as much pressure. An area full of light, warm air is called a low-pressure zone. Areas with cool, denser air are called high-pressure zones. What happens when a low-pressure zone and a high-pressure zone are right next to each other? Do this experiment to find out! Have an adult help you with the oven and matches.

• Two metal pans
• Cardboard box (if necessary)

1. Set up the experiment in an area where it will be protected from drafts. If you need to, you can make a three-sided screen by cutting off one side of a cardboard box.

2. Pour some sand into one of the pans and put it in the oven to heat it up. (300 degrees for 5-8 minutes.)

3. While the sand is heating up, light a candle and then blow it out. Which direction does the smoke flow? If you have protected your area from drafts, it should flow straight up just like your convection current.

4. Fill the second pan full of ice. Put the pan of hot sand and the pan of ice side by side. (Set the hot pan on a pot holder!)

5. Light the candle again and blow it out, then hold it in between the two pans, right above the edge of the ice pan. Which direction does the smoke flow?

What happened? When you lit the candle the first time you did it in an area where the air pressure was constant, so the smoke flowed straight up. When you set the pans side by side, the ice cooled the air around it, creating a mini high-pressure zone, and the sand warmed the air around it to create a mini low-pressure zone. Air always flows from a high-pressure zone to a low-pressure zone to even up the pressure – this is what causes wind. You made a tiny breeze between the pan of ice and the pan of sand, and the smoke floated sideways in the breeze. The same thing happens between cold ocean water and hot beach sand, which is why there is almost always a breeze at the beach!

Air pressure changes cause wind, but they are responsible for other types of weather too. A low-pressure zone usually causes clouds and rain, because as the hot air rises it carries with it evaporated moisture that can condense into clouds. A high-pressure zone usually results in clear skies and sunny days because sinking currents prevent moisture from rising up and forming clouds.

Try tracking the air pressure for a few days in your area and see how it relates to the weather. You can use a barometer , or check the National Weather Service website.

Experiment 3: Evaporation Station

Low-pressure zones create clouds because the rising hot air carries moisture with it. The moisture is in the form of a gas called water vapor . When the water vapor cools, it forms water droplets that join together to form clouds. How does the water vapor get into the air in the first place? Most of it comes from evaporation. Evaporation happens when water molecules warm up – they gain enough energy to change from a liquid into a gas, and then they rise up into the air to be carried on rising convection currents.. You have seen this happen in your kitchen when steam rises from boiling water.

Are there factors that can change how fast water evaporates? You can find out by setting up an experiment to test the effect of wind, temperature and surface area on the rate of evaporation. The following procedure will give you the basics, but feel free to come up with your own methods of testing and measuring the results. This kind of experiment would make a great science fair project. (Be patient: some of these tests can take more than one day!)

• two kitchen sponges (they should be the same size)
• electric fan
• small glass or beaker
• pie pan or shallow dish

Question & Hypothesis: How do factors such as wind, temperature, and surface area affect the rate of evaporation? Will wind or heat cause water to evaporate faster? Will a greater surface area speed up or slow down evaporation? Write down your predictions.

1. Test the effect of temperature using an incandescent lamp to provide heat. Place two kitchen sponges on plates and pour 1/8 cup (C) water over each of them. (Depending on the size of the sponge, you may need to use a bit more water. Use enough to get the sponge wet all the way through.) Place one of the sponges directly under a lamp and the other at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Observe the sponges at regular intervals, and reduce the time between observation as they get nearer to drying. Record how long it took for each sponge to dry completely. Which sponge dried faster?

2. Test the effect of wind using an electric fan. Wet the sponges as you did in step 1. Set one sponge 12 inches away from an electric fan and turn the fan on. Set the other sponge some place out of the draft. Observe the sponges at regular intervals. Record how long it took for each sponge to dry completely. Which one dried faster? Did the sponge in the fan dry faster than the one under the lamp in step 1?

3. Finally, test the effect of more or less surface area . Pour 1/8 C water into a small glass. Find the surface area of the water in the cup using the equation π r 2 (π = 3.14, r = radius. Find this by measuring the diameter of the cup and dividing this by two). Pour 1/8 C of water into a pie pan or wide shallow dish. Measure the surface area of the water in this container. Set the cup and the pan on the counter and check them a few times a day. Which water evaporates faster – the water with the small surface area or the large surface area?

Conclusions: Were your predictions correct? Which speeds up evaporation more, wind or heat? Based on your results, do you think the temperature or speed of wind would affect the evaporation rate? Can you think of other factors to test or a more precise way to test these factors again?

Earth & Space Science

Welcome! Read other Earth & Space Science articles or explore the rest of the Resource Center, which consists of hundreds of free science articles!

Shop for Earth & Space Science Supplies!

Home Science Tools offers a wide variety of earth science products and kits. Find earth science products and space educational supplies for labs and classrooms.

Related Articles

Science Fair Projects for 8th Graders

Science Fair Projects for 8th Graders As kids reach the 8th grade, their exposure to science goes up a notch. Equipped with basic knowledge, they can begin to explore more complicated concepts and satisfy their curiosity for deeper answers to the 'whys' and 'hows' of...

Science Fair Projects for 7th Graders

Science Fair Projects for 7th Graders​​ Science fair projects for 7th graders are a step up in complexity. Because 7th graders have a better grasp of science concepts, they’re expected to practice the scientific method in the way they approach their experiments–which...

Home Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Home Science Experiments for Preschoolers Home science experiments for preschoolers are a great way to pique your child’s curiosity, teach them valuable knowledge, and allow them to have some fun in the comfort of their own home. There are plenty of activities your...

Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids

Easy Science Fair Projects for Kids Science fairs are a long-standing tradition that provide kids with the opportunity to better understand practical concepts in fun and innovative ways. The great thing about the experiments presented at these events is that they...

How to Make a Pollinator Hotel

Have you ever wondered how you can help provide habitat for pollinators like honey bees and butterflies in your back yard? Learn how to make a pollinator hotel with this step-by-step guide and lesson. Pollinators are animals that help move pollen. Most pollinators are...

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get project ideas and special offers delivered to your inbox.

6 Amazing Ways to Make Weather in a Jar

Weather is an amazing thing. From powerful tornadoes to puffy clouds on a sunny day, the weather has the power to awe the kid inside all of us. But did you ever think you could make weather yourself? We’ve gathered six fun science experiments that make weather in a jar to wow your kids. Start with the rain in a jar experiment, then make some snow, clouds, frost, tornadoes, even a rainbow in these weather jars. These engaging science experiments are perfect for a rainy day or school time fun. All of these amazing projects are a sneak peek into the Weather STEAM Explorers Ebook and Unit Study .

So many ways to experiment with weather!

This post is loaded with weather fun (6 easy to do projects!), so we’ve included a table of contents to help you navigate it. Pick one to do today and save some for a rainy day :) Or have an epic weather adventure and do all 6!

Rather have an easy-to-use printable set of instructions for these projects? Grab them and a sneak peek of the STEAM Explorers Weather Ebook by signing up with your email address below. They’ll be emailed to you shortly!

FREE! WEATHER IN A JAR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS

What is Weather?

We all know weather as what’s happening when we look outside. Sun, rain, snow, wind, hot, cold, etc. Weather is the state of our atmosphere, the envelope of gasses that surround the Earth. Weather is what is happening on a given day, like temperature, the amount of precipitation (water that falls from the clouds), and the air pressure around us. Climate on the other hand, is the long term average of weather in a given location.

Rain in a Jar

Making rain in a jar is the classic weather science experiment, so let’s kick things off with rain! For each project, we’ll list the supplies needed and the quick and easy steps to do the experiment. Plus, as always, we include a helpful description of the why behind the what, the science happening inside the jar.

Rain in a Jar Supplies

• 2 cups water
• Shaving cream
• Food coloring

How to Make Rain in a Jar

• Pour water into jar.
• Top water with a cloud of shaving cream.
• Drip a few drops of food coloring onto the top of the shaving cream. Do not mix.
• Watch the colorful rain fall!

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Rain

This experiment works just the way that rain happens! Clouds are made of tiny water droplets. When the humidity gets high, these tiny water droplets group together and become too heavy to be suspended in the cloud. And then it starts raining!

In this experiment, the shaving cream is a cloud and the food coloring are like the water droplets. When you drip enough color onto the shaving cream, it gets too heavy and breaks through and starts “raining” into the water.

Frost in a Jar

This weather in a jar science experiment gets frosty cold with just some common kitchen items.

Frost in a Jar Supplies

• 2 tablespoons salt

How to Make Frost in a Jar

• Fill jar with ice and sprinkle salt on top.
• Let sit for five minutes or until frost appears on glass.

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Frost

Ever walked outside to find your grass glistening or a thin sheet of soft ice on your car windshield? This is frost. It forms when water vapor in the air is above the freezing point and then touches a surface that is below the freezing point like the ground or your car.

In this experiment, the ice chills the surface of the glass jar to below the freezing point and the water vapor in the air freezes on the glass, forming frost.

Cloud in a Jar

Puffy white to stormy grey, clouds are an awe-inspiring weather activity. It’s fun to make them in a jar!

Cloud in a Jar Supplies

• Jar with lid
• 1 cup boiling water
• Food coloring (optional)
• Aerosol hair spray

How to Make a Cloud in a Jar

• Pour water into jar. Add food coloring if desired.
• Spray some hairspray into the jar and quickly close the lid.
• Place a few ice cubes on top of the lid.
• Watch the fog cloud form.

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Clouds

A cloud is a grouping of tiny ice crystals or water droplets in the sky. Clouds form when warm, humid air rises and then cools, causing the water vapor to condense into liquid droplets. If it’s cold enough, the liquid droplets will solidify into ice crystals, too.

In this experiment, the hair spray seeds the water vapor and encourages it to condense into water droplets faster. What’s the difference between fog and other types of clouds? Fog forms at ground level while other clouds form above the ground.

Tornado in a Jar

Luckily, many of us won’t see a real tornado in person during our lifetime. It’s a lot safer to make extreme weather in a jar!

Tornado in a Jar Supplies

• 1 teaspoon dish soap
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 drop of food coloring

How to Make a Tornado in a Jar

• Add water, vinegar, and food coloring to jar and mix until color is combined.
• Add dish soap and stir gently until combined.
• Close the jar tightly and swirl until you see the vortex.

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Tornadoes

A tornado is a rotating column of air that forms between a cumulonimbus cloud and the ground. Inside a giant super cell thunderstorm cloud is a rotating vortex of air that pulls warm. humid air from the ground and pushes cold, dry air towards the ground. This creates a spinning funnel cloud that eventually is forced down to the ground and a tornado is born. Wind speeds inside tornadoes can reach well over 300 mph for the most destructive, but rare F5 category tornadoes.

In this experiment, you’ll create a spinning vortex of water inside the jar that is shaped just like a tornado.

Snow in a Jar

This weather in a jar activity is totally fun and even feels cold! Fake snow is perfect for hot summer days with no snow in sight.

Snow in a Jar Supplies

• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup menthol shaving cream

How to Make Snow in a Jar

• Add baking soda and shaving cream to a jar.
• Cover tightly and shake until combined. You will start to be able to see through the jar again (the shaving cream coated it before mixing) when it’s combined.
• Make a snowball! The snow will feel cold from the menthol shaving cream.

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Snow

Ever wonder why snowballs stick together? Snow is simply a bunch of ice crystals. A lot of them! When you make a snowball, you push together the crystals with enough pressure, that some of the crystals melt. When you pull your hands away and release the pressure, the water refreezes and holds the ball together.

In this experiment, you’re not making actual ice crystal snow, but the shaving cream holds the baking soda together. And the menthol in the shaving cream gives you a cold sensation.

Rainbow in a Jar

Rainbows on a rainy day are a beautiful site but they’re even more fun when you can make them yourself! This weather in a jar experiment brings the ROYGBIV!

Rainbow in a Jar Supplies

• White paper
• Flashlight or bright sunny day

How to Make a Rainbow in a Jar

• Fill the jar with water.
• Place jar on white paper in a sunny spot or shine a flashlight on it.
• Adjust the angle of the light and jar until you can see the rainbow on the paper.

What’s Happening in the Jar? The Science of Rainbows

You may have the good fortune of seeing a rainbow when there’s both sun and rain in the forecast. When sunlight shines through droplets of rain, the light refracts (bends) back and then reflects inside the raindrop. Red is always on the top of a rainbow in the sky because red bends the least when refracted. Violet bends the most and creates the bottom of the arc. This is why you see the colors in an arc at different positions.

In this experiment, when you shine the flashlight on the glass of water (or the sun shines on it), the light refracts (bends) into the full spectrum of colors.

More Weather Activities for Kids

Love these weather in a jar experiments? They’re a sneak peek into the fun-filled STEAM Explorers Weather Ebook!

Kids will love creating weather in a jar, capturing the daily forecast in an art journal, and becoming a meteorologist with DIY tools. You'll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM exploration easy!

GET A FREE STEAM ACTIVITY PACK!

Get a FREE! rainbow-inspired STEAM activity ebook filled with hands-on projects, printables, and recipes. Enter your info to have it emailed to you. It's a $25 value!

Posted on Last updated: February 18, 2021 By: Author Kim

Categories STEM Activities

Easy Weather Science Experiments for Preschoolers and Toddlers

Has your child ever asked you where rain comes from? Or what is a tornado? When will it snow? Mine have. And that is awesome.

Weather is an amazing. It is just the sort of real world thing that gets kids excited about learning and STEM . They can see weather. They can feel it, hear it, and touch it.

That hands on learning will get your kids excited about science and wanting to learn more. And it can be very easy to learn about weather. (Bonus, you don’t even have to go outside to these weather activities!)

What's In This Post?

Supplies for a Water Cycle Bag

How to make a water cycle bag, supplies for shaving cream rain clouds, how to make shaving cream rain clouds, supplies for a tornado in a bottle, how to make a tornado in a bottle, supplies to make lightning, how to make lightning, supplies to make a rainbow, how to make a rainbow at home.

• Enjoy the Weather!

Water Cycle Bag

Shaving cream rain clouds, tornado in a bottle, lightning with a balloon, instant rainbow, make an instant rainbow, recommended products, weather science experiments for preschoolers and toddlers.

Help your little ones learn about the weather going on outside their front door with these easy weather experiments!

Water Cycle in a Bag

Rain is a part of the water cycle . What’s the water cycle? It’s the pattern of how water moves through our environment.

The sun heats water on Earth and causes it to evaporate into a gas. This gas collects in the sky as clouds. The water in the clouds then condenses, or turns back into a liquid, and falls back to the Earth as rain.

It can be hard to see the whole water cycle in action, but you can make a smaller model at home!

• Sealable baggie
• Blue Food Coloring (Optional)

Take your baggie and draw a cloud at the top. Add a sun up there too. Then draw some lines to represent water towards the bottom of the bag, about an inch high. (The picture shows what I mean.)

Fill your baggie with water up to the water line you drew. You can add a couple of drops of blue food coloring at this point. It just looks cool and makes the water easier to see.

Seal up the baggie well and tape it to a sunny window. Now you wait.

This is an activity you set up and leave for a bit. It takes a little time for the water to evaporate, but you can check back on it throughout the day and see the different parts of the cycle.

The sun will cause the water to evaporate. You can see it start to condense in the clouds you drew. As the condensation builds up it will slide down the sides of the bag back to the water at the bottom. You made rain!

More Must Do Activities

Our water cycle bag isn’t the only way to make rain happen. You can easily make a sensory rain cloud experience for your kids at home with just shaving cream.

• A Glass or Jar
• Shaving Cream
• Food Coloring
• Dropper or Straw

Fill your glass or jar 3/4 of the way full with water. Add shaving cream to the top. This is our fluffy cloud.

Mix a little blue food coloring with some water. Again, this is option, but it makes the rain much easier to see.

Have your child add drops of the blue water to the cloud. As the water gets heavier and heavier it will start to fall out of the cloud and make rain!

This is what happens with real clouds. The water droplets get heavier and heavier until they fall down as rain. Fun fact: The average cumulus cloud weighs 1.1 million pounds!)

This activity works fine motor skills as your child manipulates the dropper or straw to add the droplets. You can also enjoy the sensory fun of playing with the clouds too.

Looking for more fun? Try these weather tracking worksheets!

Tornadoes are fascinating. But it can be hard to show them to kids as they happen. (Not to mention incredibly unsafe.) But you can make a tornado in a bottle!

• Two 2-Liter Bottles.
• Glitter (optional)

Fill one empty two liter bottle 3/4 of the way full of water. Add a squirt of dish soap and a sprinkle of glitter. (The glitter is optional. I know that is a controversial craft supply ;). It is pretty and fun, but this activity works just as well without it.)

Take the empty water bottle and put it on top of the filled one, opening to opening. Tape the bottles together so no water can escape.

To make your tornado turn the bottles over and swirl the top bottle in a circle a few times. The water inside will form a tornado!

Now this isn’t exactly like the tornadoes that occur in nature. Most tornadoes happen during thunderstorms. They need warm moist air to meet up with cool dry air. These different air currants create a very unstable system. Increasing wind speeds and changing directions are what cause tornadoes.

This is an extremely simplified explanation. For a more complete understanding, you can read this explanation .

Make Lightning with a Balloon

Lightning is another fascinating weather phenomenon that is cool to watch, but you don’t really want your kids out in a thunderstorm. So you can make lightning at home!

• Metal Spoon
• Your Child’s Head

Blow up the balloon. Take your child into a room that you can make completely dark. (We used the bathroom.)

Rub the balloon over your child’s head. Then turn off the light and touch the spoon to the balloon. You should see a spark. You made lightning!

The spark won’t be very big which is good from a safety standpoint. But it is a decent representation of what happens in a lightning storm.

Charges build up in a cloud with negative charges being at the bottom of the cloud. This in turn causes positive charges to build up down on the surface of the earth. Eventually, these two opposite charges build up enough to attract and you get lightning!

Rainbows are beautiful, especially because they usually appear after the rain. But you don’t have to wait for a storm to make one at home!

• Glass of Water
• Piece of White Paper

This one is super simple. Take a glass of water, about 3/4 of the way full, and take it to a sunny spot in your home. Right by a window works best.

Hold your glass of water up over the piece of paper and move it into the sunbeam. You should see a rainbow on the paper!

You might need to move the glass around a bit, but you should get a nice rainbow. Try moving the glass around to see how it changes.

This rainbow is the result of refracted light. The water bends the light waves, separating it into the different wavelengths that make up white light. These wavelengths are the colors we see.

You can learn more about how we see colors (and get fun color STEM activities) here: Color STEM for Kids .

Enjoy the Weather !

There are lots of great resources to learn more about weather. Here is one of my favorites: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/ .

And just get out and talk about the weather with your kids! It is just the sort of real world thing that gets kids excited about learning and STEM. They can see weather. They can feel it, hear it, and touch it.

That realness makes STEM come alive.

Get More STEM Activities

5 Fun and easy weather science experiments for preschoolers and toddlers. Help your children explore their world with these simple learning activities you can do with at home items.

• Sealable Baggie
• Glass or Jar
• Glitter (Optional)
• White Piece of Paper

3 WEATHER IN A JAR SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

By: Author Agnes Hsu

Posted on Last updated: January 25, 2019

Categories Create , Latest , Learn

Follow us on  Instagram  for more fun ideas for kids!

Scroll all the way down to watch the video below for the step-by-step video in how to set up these 3 captivating Weather in a Jar Science Experiments For Kids. Make sure to subscribe to our  YouTube channel  for more fun videos!

If your kids like science experiments they will love these fun Weather In a Jar Science Experiments! 

Get the kids excited about learning different weather patterns with these fun and easy Weather In a Jar Science Experiments.

Each one is easy to set up with minimal materials. Best part is that kids can do it themselves! 

Watch my 7 year old son show you step-by-step how to create a  Raincloud, Snowstorm, and Tornado  in the fun video included down below. 

My son is really into science experiments lately and has been showcasing a number of easy classic science experiments kids can do right at home! You can also do these as classroom school science projects! 

In case you missed it, check out his Giant Skittles Rainbow Experiment , Bubble Science , and Elephant Toothpaste Experiment .

All these posts include step-by-step video instructions for you and your kids to watch alongside with you.

These classic science experiments are a great conversation starter on the science behind what happens and cause and effect. You can also form hypotheses and test them out!

Let’s get straight to our weather in a jar experiments. 

The first one is a Snowstorm In a Jar. This is so simple and visually mesmerizing. All you need for this are:

SNOWSTORM IN A JAR – MATERIALS: 

• White paint
• Glitter (optional, just pretty to watch swirl around)
• Alka-Seltzer tablets

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Step 1. Add your baby oil to the jar about 3/4 full.

Step 2. Mix white paint with a bit of water. To be honest we didn’t exactly measure this, it was a few squirts of white pain with about 1/4 – 1/2 cups of water. The exact measurements don’t matter much here as you just want to have a thin water/paint mixture. This is a great time to test out a hypothesis – what happens if you add equal parts paint/water or more paint to water ratio?

Step 3. Add your white paint to the baby oil. 

Step 4. Add glitter for some fun visual effects (optional).

Step 5. Drop your Alka-Seltzer tablet one at a time in the jar. Watch as the white paint/water mixture bubbles up from the effervescent effects of the Alka-Seltzer.

What’s the science behind the snowstorm in a jar?

As water doesn’t mix with oil, you can see the droplets of white paint that bubble up as “snow” appear. This science experiment is very similar to how we constructed our Glitter Lava Lamps !

The second science experiment is a Rain Cloud In a Jar. This one is is also visually appealing and smells good too!  All you need for this is are:

RAIN CLOUD IN A JAR – MATERIALS: 

• Shaving cream
• A jar (we recommend a wide mouth shallow one as shown) 
• Blue liquid watercolors (you can also use water with food coloring just as easily! You can also experiment with different colors and create a rainbow cloud and rain! How pretty would that be?)

Step 1. Add water to your jar leaving room at the top for shaving cream.

Step 2. Squirt a few big blobs of shaving cream to fill the top of the jar. 

Step 3. Add your liquid watercolor in a bowl and suck up a bit  with a pipette. Drop the liquid into the shaving cream. 

Step 4. Watch and observe the “rain” or liquid watercolor seep down the shaving cream cloud. 

What’s the science behind the rain cloud?

As your drop your liquid watercolors down the shaving cream raincloud it saturates the cloud, making it heavy, and rain starts falling down. Just like in a real raincloud! Pretty cool to see the visual effects!

The third experiment is a tornado in a jar . This one was the simplest to set up. All you need are: 

TORNADO IN A JAR – MATERIALS: 

• Glitter (optional)

Step 1. Pour water into your jar almost to the top.

Step 2. Add a small drop of dish soap. Not too much or else there will be too many bubbles and it will be hard to see the tornado.

Step 3. Add some glitter (optional but cool to see it swirl). 

Step 4. Cap your jar and make sure it’s tight! 

Step 4. Shake your jar vigorously. First we shook it up and down, then side to side. Set the jar down and watch closely for the tornado forming in the jar!

Although the tornado was the easiest to set up it was the hardest one to see a big visual effect, we had to shake the jar several times and look hard to see the tornado. The more you shake the more bubbles settle at the top, and the water does seem to cloud up!

So this is one we will have to try again. We did make sure to use a rounded jar to see the tornado fully, but maybe our jar was still not round enough! 

What’s the science behind the tornado in a jar?

Swirling or spinning what’s in the jar (glitter and dish soap) creates a vortex like a tornado and centripetal force ensues which pulls all the elements inwards towards the center of the jar. 

Check out the video below to see my son explain how to set up these 3 Weather in a Jar Science Experiment For Kids. 

Check out more science experiments for kids. .

SNOWSTORM IN A JAR

Rain cloud in a jar.

• A jar (we recommend a wide mouth shallow one as shown)

TORNADO IN A JAR

Instructions.

Step 2 . Squirt a few big blobs of shaving cream to fill the top of the jar. 

Step 3. Add your liquid watercolor in a bowl and suck up a bit with a pipette. Drop the liquid into the shaving cream. 

Step 5. Shake your jar vigorously. First we shook it up and down, then side to side. Set the jar down and watch closely for the tornado forming in the jar!

More Fun Science Experiment

Classic elephant tootphaste.

Bubble Science Experiment 

Giant Magic Milk Experiment 

Giant Rainbow Skittles Candy Experiment 

Disclosure:  Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive a small affiliate commission. Regardless, we give our promise that we only recommend products or services we would use personally and believe will add values to our readers.

Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.

• The Best Halloween Fluffy Slime
• DIY This Fall Leaf Bowl For a Crafty Fall Decor
• Create a Cute Painted Leaf Turtle
• Magical Toadstool Fairy House Craft