Fun Rainbow Ice Activity

We’re obsessed with this super Fun Rainbow Ice Activity! Anytime we can find new and unique ways to get out and play in the cold and snow, we’re excited to make it happen!

If you’re ready to add a bit of color to your front yard or snowy landscape, you’re going to have a blast with this fun and colorful activity. The kids will love the bright colors and you’ll love being able to watch them be creative with ice and be as messy as they want, outside!

This is also a fun way to talk about rainbows and the various colors of rainbows, too. There are always ways to incorporate more learning and fun! Since the rainbow offers so many different colors to talk about, we could literally spend hours talking about the different colors and have they’re made.

If you love this activity, see more colorful Rainbow Activities for Kids.

fun rainbow ice activity

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

Recommended Rainbow Books for Kids

It can be hard to study rainbows in the winter but grab one of these fun rainbow books that will delight your kids imagination.

Planting a RainbowPlanting a RainbowA Rainbow of My OwnA Rainbow of My OwnHow the Crayons Saved the Rainbow (1)How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow (1)All the Colors of the Rainbow (Rookie Read-About Science: Physical Science: Previous Editions)All the Colors of the Rainbow (Rookie Read-About Science: Physical Science: Previous Editions)The World Made a RainbowThe World Made a RainbowRain Before RainbowsRain Before Rainbows

 

Fun Rainbow Ice Activity

This is such a fun snow activity for the colder winter months. The kids will be amazed at how bright the colored ice shows up against the beauty of the white snow. (and you’ll love that they’ll be playing with it outside so that it’s less mess for you to clean up!)

Let the kids have a messy play activity and see their art and creativity come to life! Your yard is certain to be the most colorful yard on the block!

Be certain to check out our Rainbow Slime Recipe as well.

Supplies needed for this fun rainbow ice activity

You don’t need a ton of supplies for this fun rainbow activity but there are ones that you’re going to be able to reuse for other types of crafts and activities!

  • Ice tray
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • Straw/spoon
  • Container
  • Medicine/Eye Dropper
  • Snow

fun rainbow ice activity

The steps to this activity are so simple! Just start by letting the kids add a drop of food coloring in each compartment of the ice cube holder.

This step will give them the freedom to make choices and be creative at the same time. It’s super fun to see them focus in on adding the food coloring and watch their eyes light up once they see the water change color.

There really isn’t something magical about science! And when you can see it through a kids eyes, it’s so much better.

Different colored water in ice cube tray for fun rainbow ice activity

Once it freezers up with the water, it makes some really bright and beautiful colors! As you can see, some colors are going to be brighter than others so that is something just to be aware of.

You and your child can have fun with the colors and see if there is a way to vary up how light or dark the ice cubes turn out.

More food coloring in the tray SHOULD mean a more bright ice cube overall. But will that really be the case? You and your child could easily do some investigative work and see if that is a possible scenario.

colored ice cubes outside on the snow for fun rainbow ice activity

Then all you have to do is take them outside and let the kids start coloring in the snow! This is such a fun way to do art outside and do something new and fun!

The bright colors of the ice will make so many fun and bright colors in the snow! You can also use your dropper and drip warm water on the colored ice to watch it melt and bleed into the snow as well!

fun rainbow ice activity outside in the snow

Can you use this fun rainbow ice activity without snow?

For sure! While snow makes it super fun, it’s not the only way to use this activity!

This activity can be done during the warmer months of the year, too. You’re just going to have to improvise a bit. (but where there is a will, there’s a way!)

Making up the colored ice is going to be the same process but you’ll just want to put a piece of white poster board or cardboard underneath it to see the colors runoff. Or, if you’re fine with it on your driveway or sidewalk, go for it as well!

You can even use this in a tub or container in the house if you want to. Just be certain to use nothing that is going to be permanently damaged and make certain that you understand that it’s probably going to get stained (so don’t let the kids use anything valuable or anything that you’re worried about having to toss out.

If you love this ice activity, try these Ice Sculptures.

Will the dye stain hands?

It might. It just depends on the top of the food coloring that you’re going to use. There are options out there that are washable so do your research before purchasing a specific one.

Food coloring and dye tend to literally stain anything and everything that it comes in contact with so if you’re not okay with that, you might want to have your child wear gloves. That way they can still be a part of the experiment but they’re not going to have to stain up their clothes or body.

What age group is this ice activity for?

While this might be geared more towards early learners, all ages can easily join in on the fun. The older kids actually might want to hop right in when they see how much fun the younger kids are having!

Take the time to talk to the kids about what they think will happen to the ice when it’s colored and how fast they think it’s going to mix. You can even try to melt two ice cubes together and see if they make a fun new color!

I think that this activity is just a great way to get everyone talking and having fun. There’s just something about a little bit of messy play that can really bring the whole family together for some true family fun.

Fun Rainbow Ice Activity

Fun Rainbow Ice Activity

This rainbow ice activity is so much fun for the kids!

Materials

  • Ice tray
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • Straw/spoon
  • Container
  • Medicine/Eye Dropper
  • Snow

Instructions

Put a drop of food coloring in each of the ice cube tray compartments.


Pour water into the tray but don't overfill.


Stir with a straw to make the bright colors.


Pop in the freezer to freeze.


Once done, put the ice in the snow to create colored snow!

Put drops of warm water on the ice cubes to see them melt!

If you’re looking for fun spring activities that elementary students will love, this Spring Activities for Elementary Students is the perfect list.

More Fun Rainbow Activities

If you’re a fan of everything rainbow, don’t miss out on these other rainbow activities that are certain to bring a smile to your face.

Rainbow STEM Activities

Do you want to try some colorful STEM activities? You need to try everything in this list of rainbow STEM activities! They’re so cool!

Rainbow Foam Dough

Fizzy Rainbow Science

Rainbow Pop and Mentos Experiment

Perler Bead Rainbow Engineering Challenge by STEAMsational

Leave a Reply

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