Frozen toy rescue: a 25-minute preschool science activity about melting
What it is: a hands-on science activity where students rescue toys frozen inside blocks of ice. They test what melts ice faster, such as warm water, salt or their hands, and talk about solid and liquid.
Time: about 25 minutes. Grade: Pre-K (ages 4 to 5).
Materials: large plastic toys (bigger than a fist) frozen the night before in plastic tubs of water, trays, droppers or spoons, cups of warm tap water an adult has checked, a little salt in a cup, and towels.
- Show a frozen block. Ask: "How can we get the toy out without breaking it?" Collect ideas.
- Give each small group a block on a tray. Students touch the ice and describe it: cold, hard, slippery.
- Groups try one method at a time: holding it with hands, dripping warm water, sprinkling a pinch of salt.
- Ask: "Which way is working best? How can you tell?"
- When a toy comes out, the group looks at the water on the tray and says what the ice turned into.
- Close by drawing the block before and after.
Safety: an adult prepares and tests the water so it is warm, never hot. Keep salt away from eyes and mouths, and wipe up water so no one slips.
Differentiation: students who need support can do one method with you. Students who are ready can time each method with a sand timer. English learners can use the words ice, water, cold and melt with pictures.
Quick check: show a cup of ice and a cup of water and ask: "Which one was the toy stuck in? What happened to it?"
Save this activity to your library so it is ready when you need it.
Found this helpful? Get the week's best posts like it.
About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Science
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.