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Indoor activity

Enchanted Snow Globe

Create a magical snow globe from a jar, water, and glitter — shake it up and watch a swirling winter wonderland come to life in your hands!

Ages 3-10 0-1 hours Education 5/10

Materials

  • Glass Jar
  • Glitter
  • PVA Glue
  • Small Plastic Figurine
  • Stickers optional
  • Water

Illustrated Steps

1

Choose Your Snow Globe Scene

Pick a small figurine that fits inside the jar. Glue it to the inside of the jar lid with PVA glue and let it dry for 30 minutes.

2

Mix Your Magic Potion

Fill the jar almost to the top with water. Add a tablespoon of PVA glue and stir gently to thicken the water.

3

Add the Enchanted Snow

Sprinkle 2-3 pinches of glitter into the water. Silver and white look like real snow but any colour works!

4

Seal and Shake!

Screw the lid on tightly, flip the jar upside down so the figurine stands up, and shake to watch the enchanted snow swirl!

What You’ll Create

Step into a winter fairy tale! ❄️✨ Your little enchanters will craft their very own magical snow globe — a jar filled with swirling, sparkling “snow” that drifts gently around a tiny scene. Shake it up and watch the glitter cascade like a real blizzard! It makes a stunning bedroom decoration or a heartfelt handmade gift.

Have fun!

  • 🌊 Shake it gently for a soft snowfall, or vigorously for a full blizzard!
  • 🦕 Create a whole collection with different figurines — a dinosaur world, an underwater scene, a fairy garden!
  • ⏱️ Time how long the glitter takes to settle — experiment with more or less glue!
  • 🎁 Make one as a gift — wrap it in tissue paper for a magical surprise!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Liquid Science: Children learn about viscosity — how the glue changes how quickly objects sink through water. Thicker liquid = slower, more magical snowfall! 🔬

  • Creative Expression: Choosing the figurine and decorations lets children design their own miniature world inside a jar. 🎨

  • Patience & Planning: Waiting for glue to dry and carefully assembling the globe teaches patience and sequential thinking. ⏰

  • Gift-Making Skills: Creating something beautiful to give someone else builds empathy and generosity. 🎁

Pro Tips

For ages 3–5: Help them with the gluing and sealing. Let them choose the figurine and add the glitter — those are the most magical parts!

For ages 5–8: They can do most steps independently. Encourage them to experiment with different amounts of glue to see how it affects the snow speed.

For ages 8–12: Challenge them to create a themed scene — a coral reef with blue glitter, a haunted house with orange glitter for Halloween, or a spring garden with green sparkles.

Secret Pro Move: Add a tiny drop of food colouring to the water for a tinted globe — pale blue looks like an arctic scene, pale green creates an enchanted forest! 💎