Beat the Winter Blahs with These Dry Ice Science Experiments

A person, battling the winter blahs, lays upside down on a red couch, donning a red shirt, blue pants, and yellow socks. Their head dangles over the edge while one arm rests on the floor. A black-and-white pillow complements this scene of cozy defiance against chilly days.

January is the month of the blahs- dreary weather, a long month, difficulty getting back into the swing of things after the holidays, and kids going stir-crazy because they can’t easily play outside like they do in warmer months. What is a mom/teacher to do? Here is a fun, exciting way to incorporate science topics indoors during this cold winter month.

Important Note: Adult supervision is essential for safety when working with dry ice.

Understanding the Science Behind Dry Ice

If you’ve studied states of matter, you know it exists in solid, liquid, and gas forms. Solids typically melt into liquids; add more heat and the result is a gas. However, dry ice is different! Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It’s a fascinating substance to watch because it sublimates, which means it skips the liquid phase when it changes states, transforming directly from a solid to a gas. It’s easy to find at local grocery or party stores. Since it freezes at -109.3°F, you’ll need to take certain precautions. Additionally, it can’t be stored for more than a couple of hours, or it will disappear.

Blackboard with "SAFETY FIRST" in white chalk, accented by the letters "S" and "F" on two yellow sticky notes—a nod to science experiments. Below, a decorative row of white arrow patterns evokes focus, perfect for combating winter blahs with creative exploration.

Safety First: Tips for Handling Dry Ice Safely

Transport dry ice in a cooler right before use. Since it’s extremely cold, leaving it in the cooler for too long could cause your cooler to crack.
Don’t put dry ice in your freezer to store. Because its temperature is far below a freezer’s, you could damage it if you leave dry ice inside. At the very least, storing it in the freezer will cause it to sublimate—meaning when you reach for it, it will have disappeared!
Do not touch or handle dry ice with exposed skin. Use mittens or gloves on your hands or tongs. Never eat dry ice.
Do not put dry ice into a closed container, as the gas formed will cause your container to burst.

A round-bottom flask filled with bubbling blue liquid and dry ice emits thick white smoke, set against a dark background. The swirling smoke creates a mysterious and scientific atmosphere, perfect for shaking off the winter blahs with exciting science experiments.

Five Exciting Dry Ice Activities for All Ages

Watch Sublimation in Action

Add dry ice to water and watch it sublimate!

Using a test tube or drinking glass filled with water, add a small piece of dry ice and see what happens.
Use colored water (with a couple of drops of food coloring) for an even greater “mad scientist” vibe!

Bubble Overload

Soak a washcloth with some dish detergent or bubble solution and run it over the rim of the glass above.
You should be able to see a large, dry ice bubble form.
Add dish detergent or bubble solution directly to your glass and watch numerous bubbles form and overflow.

Listen to Sublimination

Hold a metal spoon against a piece of dry ice. You will be able to hear the sublimation as it squeaks and sputters.

Close-up image of fresh strawberries, some whole and others cut in half, revealing their juicy red flesh and small seeds. Amid winter blahs, their vibrant hues offer a burst of color and energy to any dreary day, capturing an appetizing and lively appearance in every glossy detail.

Make Fizzy Fruit

Freeze strawberries or other fruit by slicing them into thin pieces and placing them on top of a couple of pieces of dry ice for about 15 minutes.
Remove the fruit and taste it or use it in a drink; the carbon dioxide bubbles will become trapped in the fruit, making it taste fizzy.

Turn January “Blahs” Into Science Excitement

Don’t let January give you the science blahs! Try incorporating some dry ice into your day for an extraordinary way to see changes in states of matter…a fascinating way to see a substance that completely skips the liquid state of matter!