DIY: Snowman Blowing Smoke Rings

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Snowman Blowing Smoke Rings

Stem Activities

Ages: 9-12

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Want to see smoke transform into perfect rings? This simple and entertaining experiment not only brings a touch of magic into your home but also introduces you to the fascinating world of physics.

Materials Needed

Paper cup
Incense stick
Googly eyes
Pencil
Matches
Marker pen
Scissors
Double-sided tape
Pipe cleaners
Ruler

An assortment of craft supplies lies on a light wooden table, arranged for a crafting project. From left to right, the items include a white paper cup, a rectangular eraser labeled GOOD DAY, a roll of double-sided tape, a clear plastic ruler, a small brown cone shape (possibly a nose for a craft figure), two googly eyes, a blue pencil, two white markers with orange and red caps, a pair of scissors with blue handles, three light blue pipe cleaners, and a clear plastic ruler. The image displays the materials needed for a children's craft activity.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Place the paper cup upside down and draw a scarf on it using the marker pen.

Against a light wood background, two hands are decorating a white paper cup. One hand holds the cup, which has an orange scarf design drawn around the base. Short, vertical lines extend downwards from the scarf, adding a fringe effect. The other hand holds an orange marker and is actively coloring in a section of the scarf. The image captures the process of creating a simple craft.

Step 2

Stick the googly eyes onto the cup.

A white paper cup craft sits on a light wood table, decorated to resemble a simple snowman. Two large googly eyes are glued to the upper part of the cup. An orange scarf is drawn around the lower section, with small vertical lines indicating fringe. In the background, blurred slightly, are colorful star and circle shapes on a white wall. A small, colorful ball sits on a white pedestal, next to a light green box.

Step 3

Using the pencil, draw a circle between the eyes and scarf for the snowman's mouth. Cut out this circle with scissors.

A white paper cup snowman craft rests on a light wood surface. It has two googly eyes near the top, a lightly drawn circle for a mouth, and a painted orange scarf with fringed edges around the bottom. The background features a white wall decorated with out-of-focus colorful stars and circles. A blurred colorful ball on a small white stand and a light green box are also visible in the background.

Step 4

Now let's make headphones for the snowman. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and cut it at the bent part.

Two hands are shown against a light wooden background. One hand holds a light blue pipe cleaner, while the other hand holds a pair of scissors with blue handles, positioned to cut the pipe cleaner. The image captures the moment just before the pipe cleaner is cut, during a crafting activity.

Step 5

Take another pipe cleaner, fold it in half and twist it together as shown.

Two hands manipulate light blue pipe cleaners against a plain gray background. One hand holds two pipe cleaners together, while the other hand holds a single, slightly longer pipe cleaner. The image appears to depict a stage in a crafting process, likely preparing the pipe cleaners for assembly.

Step 6

Wrap the pipe cleaner pieces from step 4 around your finger to form circles, as shown. Thread the end through the middle gap to secure. Make two circles this way.

Two hands are working with a light blue pipe cleaner against a solid gray background. The fingers are folding or bending the pipe cleaner near the top. The fingernails have nail art designs.

Step 7

Take the twisted pipe cleaner from step 5 and fold 1cm at each end. Attach the circles to each end to complete the headphones.

Two hands hold a light blue pipe cleaner against a gray background. The hands are pinching and twisting the pipe cleaner. Two small, fuzzy light blue pom-poms are visible in the lower left corner, suggesting they are part of the craft project. The fingernails have nail art.

Step 8

Use double-sided tape to secure the headphones to the paper cup.

A snowman craft made from a white paper cup sits on a light wooden table. The snowman has googly eyes, a round orange cutout for a nose, and a painted orange scarf with fringed ends. Light blue pipe cleaners form earmuffs on the cup. The background is a white wall with blurred colorful stars and circles. A colorful ball on a small white stand and part of a light green box are also visible, out of focus, in the background.

Step 9

Now, light the incense stick using matches.

A hand holding a lit match is lighting the tip of a small, cone-shaped incense burner. The incense cone is light brown and sits on a small, round, off-white base. The background is a textured gray surface, possibly concrete or stone.

Step 10

Place the snowman cup over the lit incense and wait 30 seconds. Tap the top of the cup, and smoke rings will emerge from the snowman's mouth.

A hand interacts with a snowman craft made from a white paper cup. The snowman has googly eyes, an orange painted scarf, and blue pipe cleaner earmuffs. A small stream of smoke or vapor is being gently blown or emitted from the top of the cup, suggesting a hidden element inside. The background is blurred and includes various craft supplies.

The Science Behind It:

When you tap the top of the cup, the air inside moves faster, causing a momentary change in air pressure. Since smoke has a lower density and is easily affected by air currents, the airflow guides the smoke to exit through the opening in an orderly fashion, forming clear ring structures.

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