On a cold, crisp day, the Preschoolers observed Educator Tina preparing an experiment that piqued their curiosity. She filled some paper cups with water, adding a few drops of blue food coloring to make it look like icy, frigid water. As Educator Tina placed small arctic animal figurines inside the cups—polar bears, walruses, penguins, and seals—the children were filled with wonder.
“Why are you putting them in cups, Tina?” asked Landon, watching closely as she continued to fill up more cups. Tina responded, “What do you think will happen if we leave these cups outside in the cold air? Do you think the water will freeze?”
The question sparked their interest more. Eugene immediately responded, “No, it will melt because it’s sunny out there!” Some of the other children guessed that it would take a very long time to freeze, while others were uncertain. As the Preschoolers offered their ideas, Tina encouraged them to observe closely and keep an eye on the cups over the next couple of days.
That afternoon, the cups were left outside and exposed to the cold temperature. The next day, the children noticed if the cups would have frozen yet. They tapped gently on the cups to see if the ice had formed, and to their surprise, the water had only partially frozen, with some parts still liquid and others slightly solidified.
“What do we think is happening?” Tina asked, looking at their puzzled faces. Some children wondered if the sunlight had affected the freezing process, while others suggested the temperature may not have been cold enough.
The next day, during our outside time, the preschoolers went to check on the cups again and to their surprise the cups were now completely frozen! The children’s eyes widened as they realized the waiting had paid off. The colored ice had solidified, and inside each cup, a tiny frozen world was revealed—arctic animals encased in the ice like little icy treasures waiting to be discovered.
During an indoor day, we were able to explore our frozen experiment! Tina introduced water droppers to the children. “Let’s use these to melt the ice and see which animals are hiding inside.” she said. Each child took a turn gently squeezing the water onto the ice, watching in awe as the ice began to melt away and reveal the animals trapped within. The children worked together, sharing droppers, and excitedly speculating which animal they would uncover next.
As they observed the process, the Preschoolers noticed how the ice slowly began to crack and dissolve under the pressure of the water. They experimented with different amounts of water from the droppers and explored how fast the ice melted depending on where they applied it. Some parts melted quicker, while others required more time.
As the children continued to explore, Tina encouraged them to share their observations and ideas. “What do you notice about how the ice melts? Is there anything surprising to you?” she asked. The children began to notice the difference in how the ice changed based on where the water touched and how the warmer areas seemed to melt faster. They were fascinated by the way the animals slowly emerged, like explorers discovering frozen treasures from the arctic.
By the end of the experience, the Preschoolers had not only learned about the freezing and melting process, but they had also gained a deeper understanding of the Arctic environment and its creatures. Through this simple exploration, the children developed a strong sense of curiosity, observation skills, and critical thinking. They had learned through hands-on experimentation that science is everywhere, even in something as simple as freezing water and ice.
