Freezing & Melting - Ice Exploration

During the recent new year cold snap, children have been developing an understanding of freezing and melting.

At first staff froze trays of water which the children used their senses to explore: they touched, smelt and some children tasted! Vocabulary to describe the ice was introduced: cold, freezing, chilly, icy, frosty, hard, smooth.
Children also used tools to break it down. We observed changes to the ice during the session and noticed that was becoming slippery and turning to water. Children were introduced to the concept of melting. 

Over coming days, children developed an understanding of freezing by selecting their own small container and placing an object inside (maybe a small world animal or some glitter). They added water and placed in the freezer overnight. They were amazed the next day to discover their water had turned to ice. 

Do you have a freezer? Can you explore freezing some water with your child? 
Maybe when you have an ice lolly in the warmer weather you can talk about the changes that happen to the lolly as it gets warm. 
Look out for icy puddles in coming weeks before the days get warmer.