By Professor Bubbles — your frog scientist who loves icy discoveries! 🐸🔬
❄️ A Winter Mystery on the Playground
Have you ever noticed something strange in winter?
A puddle looks frozen on top…
but when you poke it with a stick — splash! — there’s water underneath!
Why does ice form on the top first?
Why doesn’t the whole puddle freeze all at once?
Let’s solve this chilly mystery with Professor Bubbles!
🌡️ Cold Air Comes From Above
In winter, the cold air touches the water from the top.
Air temperatures drop first, while the ground underneath stays warmer for longer.
This means the top layer of the puddle cools down faster than the bottom.
Cold always works from the outside in!
🧊 Step 1: Cooling the Surface
As the air gets colder:
- the top of the puddle loses heat
- water molecules slow down
- the surface reaches 0°C (32°F)
At this temperature, water begins to freeze.
Tiny ice crystals start forming on the surface — like a thin glass window.
❄️ Step 2: Ice Floats (Yes, Really!)
Here’s a super important science fact:
👉 Ice floats on water.
When water freezes, it becomes less dense, so the ice stays on top instead of sinking.
This floating ice forms a lid that:
- traps warmer water underneath
- slows down further freezing
- protects life below the surface
“Ice is like a cozy winter blanket for ponds and puddles!”
— Professor Bubbles 🐸🧣
🌊 Why the Bottom Freezes Last
The water at the bottom stays warmer because:
- heat rises slowly from the ground
- ice on top blocks cold air
- water moves heat around underneath
This is why:
- fish can survive under frozen lakes
- frogs hide safely in muddy bottoms
- puddles stay liquid underneath thin ice
Nature is very smart!
🧠 Why This Is Important for Animals
If ponds froze from the bottom up, winter would be dangerous for many animals.
Thanks to floating ice:
- fish keep swimming
- frogs rest safely
- insects survive until spring
Ice on top = life below 💙
🧪 Winter Science Experiment: Freeze a Mini Puddle
You’ll Need:
- A shallow bowl
- Water
- A freezer
- Small toy or coin
Steps:
- Put the toy in the bowl with water.
- Place it in the freezer.
- Check every 30 minutes.
What happens first?
You’ll see ice form on the top — just like a real puddle!
🧠 Fun Winter Facts
❄️ Ice is one of the only solids that floats on its liquid form.
❄️ Lakes freeze slower when they are deep.
❄️ Snow on ice makes ponds even warmer underneath.
❄️ Without floating ice, many animals could not survive winter.
📚 Science Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Freeze | When water turns into ice. |
| Density | How tightly packed matter is. |
| Surface | The top layer of something. |
| Insulation | Something that keeps heat in or out. |