Skip to Content

How to Do the Salt Crystal Leaves Science Experiment

These salt crystal leaves are the perfect fall science experiment, and cleverly mimic the appearance of frost on a fall leaf. Kids will love this fall twist on your crystal experiments.

Once the newness of school wears off, kids and teachers alike start to feel the drudgery of the day-to-day grind of school.

Where at first school was all new clothes and freshly sharpened pencils, now, it’s just early mornings and homework.

These salt crystal leaves are the perfect fall science experiment, and cleverly mimic the appearance of frost on a fall leaf. Kids will love this salt crystal leaves science experiment!

One of my favorite ways to keep school fresh throughout the year is to throw in hands-on activities related to the current season, which is why we love activities like this one!

These salt crystal leaves are the perfect fall science experiment, and cleverly mimic the appearance of frost on a fall leaf.

This salt crystal leaves science experiment will make you a science wizard!

Fall science activities are all about leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. Learn about ionic bonds in this fun salt crystal leaves science experiment.

Combine colors and shapes of fall with science in this clever fall STEAM activity that shows kids how to make salt crystal leaves.

I love how these leaves become crusted with sparkly, perfect salt crystals. It’s such a pretty way to learn about ionic bonds!

This is definitely one of the prettiest salt crystal experiments we’ve ever done, and rivals the beauty of our borax crystal snowflakes!

The Salt Crystal Leaves Experiment

Combine colors and shapes of fall with science in this clever fall STEAM activity by making salt crystal leaves.

This activity is one of our favorite technology activities for kids!

Learn how to make your own pretty salt crystal leaves below:

More Fall Activities for Kids

Super Fun and Easy Crystal Science Fair Projects

10 Hands-On Fall STEM Activities for Middle School

13 Fall Chemistry Experiments for Kids

Fall Sensory Bottle

Salt Crystals Information

Salt crystals form when a solution of water becomes over-saturated with salt.

This mixture is known as a super-saturated solution, and it occurs when there is too much salt in the water to bond fully with the water molecules.

crystal stem worksheet

You can tell that you’ve made a supersaturated solution when the salt will no longer dissolve into the boiling water.

making salt crystals

The temperature of the water also allows more of the salt to bond with the water, which means that the solution becomes even more supersaturated.

As the water evaporates, the salt crystals cling to one another, forming large squares of salt, just like are found in nature.

Kids will be fascinated by the ionic bonds that salt makes, creating perfect squares and rectangles every time.

We like to examine our results with a magnifying glass.

On the leaves, the salt crsyatls look like frost or dew in the crisp fall air!

What you’ll need for your salt crystals science project:

Gather your supplies before starting to make your salt crystal leaves!

salt crystal leaves science experiment

This post contains affiliate links.

This is what you will need:

crystal science worksheet

How to do the salt crystal leaves science experiment

Fill your jars with water (we put 2 leaves in each jar) and fill a saucepan with that water. Boil the water on high heat.

While the water is boiling, poke a hole in the center of each leaf and thread a pipe cleaner through to make a long leaf stem. 

Fall science activities are all about leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. Learn about ionic bonds in this fun salt crystal leaves science experiment.

Suspend the leaves from a plastic fork placed over the mouth of the jar.

Once the water boils, add enough salt to create a sheet of salt crystals across the surface of the water. Turn off the heat.

Pour the water into the jars, covering the leaves. 

Fall science activities are all about leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. Learn about ionic bonds in this fun salt crystal leaves science experiment.

Wait three days to one week for the crystals to form.

Remove the crystals from the water and dry on a paper towel. 

Fall science activities are all about leaves, acorns, and pumpkins. Learn about ionic bonds in this fun salt crystal leaves science experiment.

When the crystals are dry, examine them with a magnifying glass to learn about salt, ionic bonds, and how crystals form.

Share this project with a friend!