Fabric Freeze

Try this cool, artsy activity to learn about physical science.

Ages

3-5

Coloring is FUN

What you need:

  • drawing paper 
  • fabric 
  • newspaper 
  • aluminum foil 
  • container for water 
  • medium-sized paintbrush 
  • plastic tablecloth (to protect the work surface) 
  • colored chalk 
  • watercolor paints 
  • crayons

What to do:

  1. Invite your child to place the drawing paper on top of the aluminum foil and to paint it with water or watercolor paints until it is wet. Once the paper is saturated, place another sheet of foil on top, covered by some fabric. Ask him to paint the fabric with water or paint until that, too, is saturated. Cover with foil. Do the same with the sheet of newspaper. Place the layers in your freezer overnight.
  2. The next day, invite your child to help remove the materials from the freezer. Ask him to separate the layers to reveal the frozen sheets, and encourage him to describe how each one looks and feels. (Keep the aluminum foil as a base under each frozen sheet.)
  3. Invite your child to try the chalk and crayons on the frozen materials. What happens when they are first applied? Ask him to describe how the different materials react on the frozen surfaces, and encourage him to notice how the colors and sheets change as they thaw. 

Learning benefits:

  • Teaches cause and effect 
  • Encourages observational skills
Science & Nature Activities
Observation
Experimentation
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