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Home » Early Years Science » Easy Ice Excavations for Kids

Easy Ice Excavations for Kids

Modified: Jan 21, 2025 · Published: Aug 11, 2020 by Emma Vanstone · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Ice excavations are great for warm summer days, and we’re pretty sure you already have everything you need around the house.

What is an ice excavation?

An ice excavation is basically a block of ice with small toys inside that children try to rescue. We usually just use warm and cold water to melt the ice, but older children can also add a little salt ( be careful as this makes the ice and water extra cold ).

Block of ice containing LEGO

More Ice Excavation Ideas

These are some of the excavations we’ve set up recently.

I used small plastic insects and dinosaurs with bits of grass and flowers in a small muffin tray to create these colourful ice blocks.

bugs and leaves in ice for a kids science experiment
dinosaur ice
Bugs and leaves in ice
Everything you need to make flowery ice
Flowery ice potions
Flower petals and ice
colourful autumn leaves frozen in a large block of ice for a kids science activity
Autumn leaf ice
plastic toy frogs frozen in ice for a kids science activity
Frog ice

Make it a challenge

Create an ice excavation and investigate the fastest way to melt the ice. This could be pouring warm water over the ice, adding salt or using a toy hammer to break it down a little. You could make a glittery, sparkly creation ( use edible glitter ), trap a superhero or princess in an icy chamber, or make a spooky spider-filled ice block for Halloween. The creative opportunities are endless!

More Ice Excavation Ideas

Our LEGO ice excavation is always popular.

Find out why salt melts ice with an easy investigation using a large block of ice and sprinkling salt over the top.

why does salt melt ice

How about making some frozen dinosaur eggs like Imagination Tree or a wonderful ice castle like School Time Snippets?

We love these ice ornaments from Red Ted Art, too.

ice decorations

More experiments using ice

Try some ice fishing! This is one of my favourite ice experiments for little ones. The idea is to freeze plastic fish encased in ice cubes onto the end of a piece of string and ‘fish’ in cold and warm water. After a period of time the ice melts and the fish is released!

Learn about melting polar ice caps with an easy activity using blocks of ice in water.

Find out why ice feels sticky when you first pull it out of the freezer.

easy ice excavations for kids - science for kids #iceexperiments #scienceforkids

Last Updated on January 21, 2025 by Emma Vanstone

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Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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