Outdoors · Science & STEM

Ice excavation

Freeze small toys in a block of ice and let the kids free them with warm water, salt and spoons.

Plan it

Good planning makes a good day. Tick things off as you go.

Freeze the toys in layers: fill a third, freeze 2 hours, add more water and toys, freeze overnight.
The toys end up spread through the block.

Pop the block onto a tray in the shade, fill jugs with warm (not hot) water, set out the tools.

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From home

To buy

🪄 Wizard's tip

Do it on a hot afternoon in the shade and it doubles as cooling off. Freezing in layers keeps them busy far longer.

Younger kids: Freeze in a shallow tray so the ice is thinner, and give them squeeze bottles of warm water.

Older kids: Make it a race: predict which tool melts fastest, time each one and record the results.

⚠ Safety Keep salt away from eyes and mouths. Only use toys big enough not to be a choking risk for little ones.

Builds Curiosity & science thinkingFine motor skillsFocus & patience

Clean-up 5 minutes: hose the tray and towels.

Make it a bigger day Finish with sprinkler limbo or water balloon games.

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