Frozen Excavation
Freeze them in a block overnight. Spend the morning digging them out.
- Ages
- 2–10 yrs
- Play
- 20–60 min
- Prep
- 10 min
- Mess
- messy
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- at the table
You’ll need
Mostly things you probably have at home.
- small figures or carsGet it on Amazon
- water
- a container to freeze inGet it on Amazon
Optional
- salt
- a dropper or spray bottleGet it on Amazon
- food coloringGet it on Amazon
- spoons or toy toolsGet it on Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Put the small figures or cars in a container and half-fill it with water. Freeze for two hours.
Before you start: Add more water to cover and freeze again overnight — the two stages stop everything floating to the top.
Turn the block out onto a rimmed tray and set it on a towel.
Tell them the small figures or cars are trapped and it is their job to get them out.
Hand over a small bowl of warm water and a spoon.
Introduce salt once they slow down — sprinkled on, it tunnels straight through the ice.
A spray bottle of warm water buys another twenty minutes.
Line up each rescued small figures or cars as it comes free and count them at the end.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Never hand a child a sharp tool for this — warm water and salt do the work.
- Small figures are a choking hazard for under-3s.
- Ice blocks are cold enough to sting: keep sessions short or use gloves.
Make it different next time
- Freeze in layers with a different color in each.
- Use a balloon as the mold for a dramatic ice sphere.
Cleanup: Tip the meltwater down the sink. The towel catches most of the mess.
Three more like this
- Good for siblings
Learn something
Animal Footprint Fossils
10–30 min 2–7 yrs Some mess- play doughto buy
- toy animals or dinosaursto buy
- Good for siblings
