Fake Snow Experiment

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How to Make Fake Snow 

Snow is fun to play with but not all kids have access to snow during winter. Try this fun experiment to make fake snow at home.

You will need

  • Paper towels
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda

Rip up the paper towels into small pieces.  Add baking soda (about half the amount of paper).  Add vinegar bit by bit until you get the consistency of snow so you can form it into a ball but it can crumble too. The vinegar makes the baking soda fizz, giving it a slightly fluffy appearance.    

The Science of Snow

Real snow is more than just frozen water. Snow forms when the atmosphere is at or below freezing (0 degrees Celcius), but snow doesn’t always form every time it’s freezing outside. There must be a certain amount of moisture in the air to make snow.

Snow crystals form when ice particles cling together combined with air. This makes a sort of “puffed ice” that turns into snowflakes. The more wind is in the air, the smaller the snowflakes will be as the air breaks apart the delicate structures. Snowflakes can be as large as 5 centimetres across, but usually are no larger than 1.5 centimetres across.

Snow itself has unique characteristics. It is wet (although it can feel dry), makes a crunching sound when stepped on, and can usually be packed into a ball.

For more snowflake science go to: