Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010 --- 4:15 a.m.

We have a special family first today that will help parents and kids appreciate the freezing cold, frost, snow, you name it.

A local school - preschool of the arts - is sharing an art project that has turned into a love affair with ice.

"Based on the children's interest in the natural world. In Wisconsin that means snow and ice in the winter "

And at this preschool on Madison's west side... it means a whole community of kids, parents and teachers working together.

" Children are putting it in plastic containers, freezing it outside at night, or in their freezer depending on the size of ice and then they'll bring it in the morning and place it on the sculpture "

The kids are asked to bring in any shape of ice in any shade of blue... to add to the art project.

It's incorporated math, science and art all in one!

"They've gotten very creative with the shapes and colors and it's been really neat to see it grow over the days. Every day there's been something different with the weather and of course that affects our sculpture so... "

" I think one of the first things I heard was yummy yummy because it looks like candy. Ha ha.. "

Many parents and kids stop by in the morning to add to the sculpture.. all hoping the cold and snow will stick around.

They've also become experts in ways they never expected.

" Like why doesn't it freeze in the snow why isn't it freezing why didn't it freeze overnight if it isn't cold enough so parents and students and teachers are learning about the rate of freezing and depending on the temperatures and all sorts of wonderful things.. "

Started about two weeks ago, no end in sight.

Use food coloring and non-toxic liquid water color to make it different shades of blue.