How to Make A Snow Storm In A Jar

Learn how to make a snow storm in a jar, right at home! We are sharing this fun snow storm science experiment for you to try with your family, courtesy of Little Passports.

Make a snowstorm in a jar - A fun science project to try at home

Make your own snowstorm in a jar!

While the weather outside is creating snow flurries on the other side of your windows, you can make a winter snowstorm of your own — right at home. Gather all of the kids and interested adults, and generate a fizzy storm in a bottle using ingredients you may already have at home. Here is everything you need to know about this perfect snow storm science experiment.

Snowstorm project materials needed

To get started, you will need to gather all of the materials you need for your blizzard in a jar – most of these may already be stuff you have in your home. Follow this snowstorm in a jar recipe below to learn how it’s done!

Water (about 1 cup)
Baby oil
White paint
Glitter
Blue food coloring (optional, but a whole lot of fun)
Alka-Seltzer
Mason jar
Stir stick

Supplies to make a snow storm in a jar science experiment

How to make a snow storm in a jar

Fill your jar about half of the way full with baby oil. In a separate bowl, blend water and a few tablespoons of your white paint.
Add as much glitter and blue food coloring to the oil as you’d like, and then top off the jar with your water and paint mixture. Don’t fill the jar to the very top, make sure it is only about a maximum of three-fourths full.
Drop your Alka-Seltzer tablet into the jar and take a step back. The Alka-Seltzer tablet will activate and you can watch the storm whirl in the jar right before your eyes!

Fun science project - Make a snowstorm in a jar

The science behind the snowstorm

Here’s the science behind this storm science experiment. Because oil is less dense than water, the water will naturally sink to the bottom of the jar. When the Alka-Seltzer is dropped into the jar, its interaction with the water creates pressure in an upward direction, and the oil pushes it back down. The back and forth pressure is part of what creates the snowstorm.

The other element is the interaction between water and sodium bicarbonate in the Alka-Seltzer, which generates carbon dioxide gas. The combination of these factors creates a blizzard every time!

A fun blizzard in a jar

Whether the temperature is dropping outdoors or you just want to bring a bit of winter snow fun to a summer day, your snowstorm in a jar is a foolproof way to get kids interested in science. There’s no need to bundle up and brave the cold outside when you can make your own simulated storm indoors! Learn how to make a storm in a jar with under $10 in ingredients, a whimsical lesson plan awaits.

More science from Little Passports

Inspire your child with a monthly science expeditions subscription from Little Passports. Every month, your child will receive a package full of science experiments and STEM-related activities with themes like rockets, forensics, caves and crystals, slime and so much more! If your kids love all things science, technology, engineering, and math, this is a good kit to keep them engaged.