Hey there! It’s getting hot outside, and Squeaks and I are really craving some ice cream. But guess what? We don’t have any! So, we’re going to make our own ice cream using science. You can join us and make some at home too!
To make ice cream, you’ll need three main ingredients: cream (or milk or half and half), sugar, and vanilla for flavor. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need:
First, take your cream, sugar, and vanilla and put them into the smaller plastic bag. Seal it up tight! Next, fill the large bag with about four cups of ice. Now, here’s where the science magic happens: add half a cup of salt to the ice.
You might have seen people put salt on sidewalks in winter to melt snow. That’s because salt makes it harder for water to freeze. When you add salt to the ice, it starts to melt. This melting process draws in heat, making everything around it super cold, including our ice cream mixture!
Now, put the small bag with the cream mixture into the big bag with ice and salt. Use your oven mitts or a towel to protect your hands because it’s going to get really cold. Shake the bag! It’s fun to have a friend help you with this part. Shake it until the cream turns into ice cream, which should take about five to ten minutes.
Once it looks thick and creamy, open the bag and check your ice cream. Grab a spoon and taste it. Yum! You’ve just made ice cream using science!
We hope your science ice cream is delicious. Remember to ask a grownup to help you with your experiments and share your results with us. Squeaks and I want to thank our friends at Google Making Science for helping us with this experiment. Let us know how your ice cream turns out by emailing us at [email protected]. Thanks for joining us, and we’ll see you next time!
Ice Cream Experiment Journal: Start a science journal to record your ice cream-making adventure. Draw pictures of each step, from mixing the ingredients to shaking the bag. Write down what you observe when you add salt to the ice. Does the ice melt faster? How does the mixture change as you shake it? Share your journal with a friend or family member and explain the science behind your ice cream.
Salt and Ice Exploration: Try an experiment to see how salt affects ice. Take two bowls and fill them with the same amount of ice cubes. Sprinkle salt on one bowl and leave the other plain. Observe what happens over time. Which bowl of ice melts faster? Why do you think that is? Discuss your findings with a grownup and see if you can come up with other ways salt is used to change the freezing point of water.
Create Your Own Flavor: Use your creativity to make a new ice cream flavor. Think about what other ingredients you could add to your basic ice cream recipe. Maybe try adding chocolate chips, fruit pieces, or a swirl of syrup. Write down your recipe and give it a fun name. Share your new flavor with friends or family and ask them what they think. How does changing the ingredients affect the taste and texture of your ice cream?
