Red, White, and Cool! Easy Ice Cube Activity Kids Will Love
Looking for a simple and exciting way to celebrate the red, white, and blue with your little ones? This easy Patriotic Ice Cube Activity for kids is the perfect mix of hands-on fun and a simple way to beat the summer heat, all while having a blast!
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Whether you’re planning a 4th of July party or just want to add a festive twist to your summer afternoon, this activity is a breeze to set up and so much fun to explore. Get ready to see those little faces light up with discovery and delight!
You can also celebrate with our 4th of July Patriotic Candy Dice Game (Free Printables) and this Free Printable 4th of July Kids Scavenger Hunt (2 Versions)
🌟Don’t Leave Before You Check Out These Fun Ideas!🌟
📌What You’ll Need
- Ice cube trays
- Water
- Red and blue gel food coloring
- Glitter (optional)
- Stars
- Salt (optional, for experimenting)
- Plastic droppers or pipettes
- Tray, sensory bin, or shallow container
- Small cups of warm water
✨How to Make the Patriotic Ice Cube
Step 1: Divide water into three cups.
- One with red gel food coloring
- One with blue gel food coloring
- One with plain water (no color)
Step 2: Carefully pour the colored and plain water into the ice cube trays.
Step 3: Sprinkle in glitter and stars for a festive touch!
Step 4: Freeze overnight or until completely solid.
Activity Time!
Pop the frozen patriotic cubes out of the trays.
Place them in a tray or shallow bin.
Give your child a dropper and small cups of warm water.
Invite them to drop warm water onto the ice cubes and watch the magic happen!
The glitter and stars will float and swirl. The red and blue colors will melt and mix.
Optional: Add a sprinkle of salt to some ice cubes to speed up melting and create cracking textures.
💡Helpful Tips
- Talk about what’s happening: “What happens when you add warm water?” or “What colors do you see mixing?”
- Make predictions: “Which cube will melt first?”
There you have it—an easy, hands-on way to keep little ones cool, curious, and full of patriotic spirit! Whether you’re prepping for the Fourth of July or just want a playful red, white, and blue twist to your day, this ice cube activity is sure to bring smiles.
👍You May Also Like These Free Printables + Ideas
Red, White, and Blue Ice Activity
Supplies & Materials
- ce cube trays
- Water
- Red and blue gel food coloring
- Glitter totally optional but extra festive!
- Confetti stars or sequins
- Salt optional for melting fun
- Plastic droppers or pipettes
- A shallow bin or tray
- Small cups filled with warm water
Instructions
- Fill three small cups with water.
- Add red coloring to one, blue to the second, and leave the third plain.
- Carefully pour each color into different sections of your ice tray.
- Drop in glitter and stars for some patriotic sparkle!
- Freeze overnight or until fully solid.
Notes
Pop out your colorful ice cubes and place them in a sensory bin or shallow tray. Hand your child a dropper or pipette and cups of warm water. Let the melting fun begin! As they drop warm water onto the cubes: Watch colors swirl and glitter float. See red and blue mix into purple. Want to experiment? Sprinkle a bit of salt on some cubes and observe how fast they melt or how they crack! Extend the Learning:
Ask fun questions like:
“What do you think will happen next?”
“Can you guess which cube will melt the fastest?” Talk about what they see, feel, and hear as the cubes melt away.
