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Freezer bag ice cream

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A chemistry experiment with a treat at the end!

Warm summer days call for a nice frozen treat for a snack. Ice cream has been made for many years and it is actually an example of some pretty complicated chemistry. Try this fun activity with children for hands-on work with energy concepts.A chemistry experiment with a treat at the end! How does the salt help in making the milk mixture freeze?

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. This experiment uses ice at a low temperature, so gloves or towels may be called for. Measuring devices should not be mixed between substances. Before and after this experiment, be sure to thoroughly clean hands. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions

Set up assembly line stations on a long table or countertop: Quart bags, sugar, milk, vanilla, gallon bags, ice, salt. ice-cream-ingredients

Adults can measure and give ingredients to the children as they pass down the line OR give the children practice with measuring by asking them to measure and pour as they go down the line (this will take longer and make more mess, but it may be worth it.)

Put two quart bags together. Pour sugar, milk, and vanilla into the inner one. Seal tightly.

Put two gallon bags together. Pour ice into the inner one. Measure the temperature of the ice. Sprinkle with rock salt. Measure the temperature of the ice with salt. Put the sealed quart bags into the ice bag and seal tightly.

Go outside (if possible) and shake, roll, or toss your bag! Be sure to keep it moving, it will be very cold on your hands. The soft ice cream should form within 7 to 15 minutes.

Remove the quart bags and dry off. Measure the temperature of the ice-salt-water. Open the ice cream bag and use a spoon to enjoy!

Dispose of the salt-ice-water appropriately and dispose of the bags.

Discuss the mechanical energy each child is putting into the freezer bag ice cream making. How does a person get energy to do the work?

What happens to the temperature of the ice at each point? How does the salt help in making the milk mixture freeze? Is the milk bag transferring energy to the ice bag? Or vice versa?

Supplies

(per person)

  • ½ cup cold milk
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla
  • ¼ cup rock or ice cream salt
  • 3 cups ice
  • 2 quart size freezer reclosable bags
  • 2 gallon size freezer reclosable bags
  • paper towels
  • spoon
  • towel or gloves
  • thermometer or Vernier LabQuest with temperature probe
  • paper or notebook for recording results, pen

Notes for scaling up: 4 lb. bag of sugar has 151 tbsp.; ½ gallon of milk makes 16 half-cups; 10 lb. bag of ice should make 4 or 5 servings; 4 lb. box of ice cream salt makes about 38 servingsice-cream-serving

What is the science?

Content: states of matter, freezing point, energy transfer, mechanical energy, thermal energy, work

Ice cream is a frozen mixture that is classified as a colloid. Shaking the mixture could actually cause the temperature to rise. By placing it in ice, this energy causes the ice (solid) to melt. Water (liquid) freezes at 0oC. Salt causes the freezing to happen at a lower temperature, known as freezing point depression. Ice in my home freezer is -15oC. Salt helps keep the temperature in the ice cream process lower. You may want to experiment with trying to make ice cream again without the salt and see what happens to the temperature, the amount of ice, and how fast the ice cream freezes. If the children are familiar with the idea of using salt on sidewalks and roads in the winter, this experiment can help with discussing the process. You can also use this experiment to introduce Fahrenheit – Celsius conversion.horizontal bar with plumeria

Resource links

horizontal bar with plumeriaLet’s talk story

During summer camp, this is one of the favorite energy activities for children. It’s always good to do this on a hot, summer day, let the children do all the shaking outside and then take a relaxing break with a snack they made. The vanilla is good this way, but some folks like to add a little chocolate syrup or mini chocolate chips at the end. [Note in my photo the cute little dinosaur sprinkles!]

Ice cream is a very popular American treat and it’s interesting to look up the history. There are many legends, but a lot that’s not really known about the origin. Ice cream without eggs is known as “Philadelphia style”. The first printing of an American recipe was in 1792. Thomas Jefferson brought a recipe home from France with him and made it a regular dessert at Monticello and the White House. His recipe calls for a sabottiere, which was a small metal container that was hand-turned in the ice-salt bath. The cranking ice cream maker was patented by Nancy Johnson in 1843.

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] casabouquet[dot]com.horizontal bar with plumeria

Affiliate links:  if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Thinking safety! science activities

by 21 Comments

Knowledge of science is one key for understanding our world, while we need to keep safety in mind while we explore. Exploring is such a great way to learn science, leading to deeper understanding and memorable experiences.  I like this quote: “Safety is a continuing journey, not a final destination.”

thinking safety basic guidelines

 

A side note: Being safe should be on our minds not only while doing science activities, but cooking, cleaning, crafting, gardening, car maintenance, and many other areas of home life also require precautions, personal protective equipment, and thought.

Another side note: Brandon Gaille, a marketing blogger, has a list of 201 catchy slogans: http://brandongaille.com/155-catchy-safety-slogans-for-the-workplace/

“Accidents hurt, Safety doesn’t. Be a safety hero – score an accident zero. Don’t be a fool, cause safety is cool, so make that your rule. Safety is a frame of mind – So concentrate on it all the time.” I’m totally geeking out!

Suggested rules for science activities

Main areas of concern for personal protective equipment are eyes, hearing, burns, chemicals, clothing protection, and fumes. A beginning kit could include lab glasses, gloves, aprons or lab coats, hair ties, and ear plugs. Each activity will need its own set of  precautions and equipment. Think carefully to make choices and develop procedures for your local situation.

  • Always wear goggles
  • No eating or drinking in the experiment area!
  • Wear closed-toe shoes
  • When using flame, watch for loose clothing. Clip and tie back long hair. If a substance is in a closed container, don’t heat it! Heat-protective gloves or special tongs should be used to handle hot objects. Put out flames when finished.
  • Check glass for cracks or breaks. Only adults should clean up broken glass. Clean glass carefully when finished.
  • When using chemicals, only smell, touch, or taste if an adult says it is ok. Keep chemical containers closed when not measuring. Use a clean spoon or spatula when measuring chemicals. Do not return chemicals to container. If a chemical touches your skin, rinse immediately with water and tell an adult. Ask where to dispose used chemicals (most times, not the sink!).
  • You will need more rules if you are working with living organisms or electricity.

horizontal bar with plumeria

Safety Supplies

    • Lab glasses, chemical splash goggles

    • Nitrile gloves, disposable gloves, oven gloves
    • Apron

  • Ear plugs
  • Hair ties, clips
  • Polyethylene broom and dust pan
  • Broken glass disposal box

safety splash gogglesResource Links

safety gloves and glasses

Sources

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Safety Glasses Intruder Multi Color Clear Lens 12/box, Home Improvement Tool

6 Pack Atlas Glove NT370 Atlas Nitrile Garden Gloves – Small (Assorted Colors)
AYL Silicone Heat Resistant Grilling BBQ Gloves Set
3M 91252-8002S Tekk Protection Chemical Splash and Impact Resistant Goggle
Liberty DuraWear Vinyl Apron with Adjustable Ties, 35″ Width x 45″ Height x 6 mil Thick, Blue (Case of 12)

Benchtop Disposal Box – VWR Broken Glass Disposal Carton – Model 56617-804 – Pack of 6
Scunci Effortless Beauty Thick Hair No-damage Bright Elastics, 5Mm, 24-Count
Goody Bright Snap Clips, 12 count

horizontal bar with plumeria

Let’s talk story

With a chemical engineer, an engineering project manager, a physicist, an expert woodworker, and a chemist in the family, it’s probably no wonder that we are geeks about being safe. I’d be surprised if you’ve seen a family that gets more excited about discussing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)! I had the privilege a few years ago to be on the design team for the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University. I had to do research and talk to experts about designing a lab that was safe for children and adults. I’ve been a believer ever since.plumeria bar

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa[at]casabouquet[dot]com.

Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Using any information from casabouquet.com is at your own risk.

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Comparing light bulbs STEM energy activity

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Choosing light bulbs for your home has changed so much in the last ten years. How do you decide what’s best? Here’s an experiment children can do comparing light bulbs. Which makes the most sense for the family?

comparing light bulbs

Congress passed a law in 2007 that phases out the US production of incandescent bulbs. The old-style tungsten-filament bulbs do not meet new energy standards. Incandescent, CFL (compact fluorescent), and LED bulbs are all available for our standard American light sockets. To do a comparison and analysis, we need to know

  • the power used in watts,
  • the brightness in lumens,
  • the price of the bulb,
  • life of bulb,
  • the price of power in kilowatt-hours.

The bulb package will show what incandescent equivalent is in watts and also the estimated life of the bulb in hours. Be sure to save the packages for this experiment.

light bulb package LED

I recommend using 40-watt incandescent bulbs and the equivalent. If all the bulbs are close to equivalent in brightness, that will make the comparison easier to understand. A 40-watt incandescent bulb should give about 450 lumens in brightness.

 

There are gadgets on the market that we can use to measure the power being used by our appliances. One is the Kill-A-Watt Monitor. Along with this experiment, you can use this device to measure power use around the house, such as: coffee maker with hot water reservoir; microwave; TV; computers and printers; cell phone recharging; and video games.

Update (04.21.15): I was fortunate to meet last week with the researchers from University of North Texas. They have a great project for middle school children called Going Green! Middle Schoolers out to Save the World . They are using the Conserve Insight energy use monitor from Belkin. This device has a 5-foot cord between plug and monitor, allowing use in more spots around the home. The buttons on the monitor will show estimated carbon dioxide emissions from the plugged-in device, or operating cost, or watts. The user guide gives clear instructions for changing the settings to enter the kWh rate from your power bill.

belkin conserve monitor

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. This experiment uses electric plugs and glass light bulbs. The bulbs can become hot when lit, they are bright when looking directly at them, and they can easily break when being screwed in or out of the lamp base. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

horizontal bar with plumeria

Instructions

Plug Kill-A-Watt Monitor into outlet on power strip. Plug bulb outlet into Kill-A-Watt Monitor.

Screw in

  • Incandescent bulb
  • CFL bulb (Be sure to hold the base NOT the glass while handling)
  • LED bulb

desk lamp with socket

(Note: this is easiest if you have 3 power strips, 3 Kill-A-Watt Monitors, and 3 bulb outlets. Instead of the bulb outlets, you could also 3 small lamps.

Otherwise, be extremely cautious about changing the light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs get extremely hot and CFL bulbs easily shatter if not handled by the bottom.)

Kill-A-Watt monitor setup

Press Watt button on the Kill-A-Watt to view how many watts are used with each bulb.

Note differences. Which bulb saves you money on your power bill? The power company bills based on kilowatt-hours. (US average is 12 cents/kWh; look up the average for your state). Is there a difference in the amount of heat each bulb makes?

You can use the KWH/Hour button to switch views of the time elapsed and the cumulative energy consumed.

conserve monitor measuring iphone

Look at the packages for each bulb. How much does each one cost? How many hours is each estimated to last? How many hours each day would you use each bulb? Calculate how many days each bulb might last in your home.

 

Compare the brightness and color of the bulbs. You can use a photographer’s light meter or a Vernier LabQuest and light sensor to measure the brightness. (Note: Indoor lighting ranges from 100 – 1000 lux. 1 lux = 1 lumen/m2). Point the sensor at a paper illuminated by the bulb.

Ask the children to design lighting for different rooms. What type of lighting is needed for watching TV or playing a game? What type is needed for reading or homework? For makeup and grooming in the bathroom? For the kitchen?

Supplies for comparing light bulbs

  • 40-watt equivalent light bulbs: incandescent, CFL, LED (keep packages and make note of the prices)
  • Kill-A-Watt monitor (or Belkin Conserve Insight)
  • Outlet to lampholder adapter
  • Power strip with on/off switch
  • Light meter (optional)
  • Paper or notebook for recording results, pen

horizontal bar with plumeria

Sources

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog.
P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor
Belkin 6-Outlet Surge Protector with 2 ft. Cord (2-Pack)
Leviton 61 660 Watt, 125 Volt, Polarized Outlet-to-Lampholder Adapter, Brown
40-Watt incandescent Light Bulb 
Philips 433201 40 Watt Equivalent SlimStyle A19 LED Light Bulb Soft White, Dimmable
EcoSmart 9 Watt Soft White Compact Fluorescent (CFL) Light Bulbs 4-Pack, 40 Watt Equivalent, 550 Lumens

belkin conserve insight

What is the science?

Content: Energy, electromagnetic radiation, light, electricity, analyzing and interpreting data, incandescence, fluorescence, semiconductors

Thomas Edison and his team invented the incandescent bulb in 1879. Edison used a carbon-coated bamboo filament that was heated to high temperature to give off light. Modern incandescent bulbs use tungsten. CFLs contain a gas that is excited by electricity to give off light through fluorescence. LEDs use two semiconductor materials to exchange electrons, similar to silicon chip technology. The US government calculates that if one 60-watt incandescent bulb in every home was replaced by an equivalent CFL bulb, in one year greenhouse gas emissions would be saved equal to 550,000 cars.

Resource Links

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Let’s talk story

Why can’t school be more like summer camp? In my career as a university pre-college outreach professional, I had the opportunity to plan summer educational experiences for middle school and high school students. And I found that joy of learning still exists! By approaching lessons and units with the perspective of camp counselors, you can inject the wonder and motivation that so often disappears in our testing-crazy times.

Tutu is a name for a grandparent in Hawaii. When our grandson comes to spend time with us, we say he is at Camp Tutu! Welcome to Camp Tutu, my way of energizing science lessons!

Children love helping out with the family. How light bulbs work and their cost to the family is usually a very new subject to them. Comparing light bulbs, making measurements and doing math towards a purpose is very exciting. And the children love the idea of being an expert when they go to the store with their parents!

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I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] casabouquet[dot]com.

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Solar beads and ultraviolet light Sun prints – science and art Snap circuits green energy

Solar beads ultraviolet detection STEM activity

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Solar beads are a fun way to learn about the importance of sun exposure. We should put on sunscreen every day and think about reapplying it. We can teach children a craft project with pony beads and experiment with the UV rays given off by light sources and test sunscreen products for effectiveness.

ultraviolet detecting beadsThis post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using product links, I’ll receive compensation towards maintaining this blog.

UV detecting beads (or solar beads) are available from several sources and are the same size as pony beads. I like to offer children the UV beads along with alphabet beads for personalization, various colors and finishes of pony beads, and even some glow-in-the-dark beads for fun. I also like to offer stretchy cord for bracelets or hatbands, zipper pulls, key chains, and lacing so the children can make jewelry or other accessories.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. This experiment uses sunscreen which can irritate eyes and light bulbs which can get hot. Eye and clothing protection should be used. Avoid getting chemicals on clothing or in eyes. After these experiments, be sure to thoroughly clean hands. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

 Sunscreen

Choose a few spray suncreens, all of the same SPF, such as 30. I like to experiment with top advertised brands versus store or “no-name” brands. Put 20-25 solar beads in a clear plastic container with a lid. I like to use the baby soda bottles with lids but this experiment will work with reclosable plastic storage bags. Label the containers with stickers or masking tape and a marker pen. At this point, it is time to put on the safety glasses. One should have no sunscreen. Each of the other bags should be sprayed with the sunscreens you are testing and labeled. (Note: this experiment can also be done with lotion, but if I’m in charge of sun protection for a group of children, I prefer to spray them).

testing solar beads with light source

Find a room you can darken completely. Set up light sources of various types: 60 watt incandescent, 100 watt incandescent, halogen, LEDs (such as flashlights), fluorescent, and various CFL bulbs. If you have a blacklight, that would interesting, too. Hold the test containers under each light source for about 30 seconds and record the results. It’s possible the beads may not change with many of the light sources. For safety, be sure the children understand not to touch the light sources or lamps. A few of these could get quite hot.

Next, take the test containers outside on a sunny day. How fast does each set of beads change? Do they all change? Is one sunscreen better than the others?

Craft activity

While outside, I like to give the children a chance to sort their beads by color. You could provide paper cups or ice cube trays for this. As the leader of the activity, I think they should be happy if their craft project just has assorted colors in the sun, but the children do NOT usually feel that way!

 

For bracelets, cut a piece of stretchy bead cord about 3 inches longer than the wrist size. An important first step is to pull the bead cord and stretch it. This actually will help the bracelet last longer. Next, figure out a pattern for the solar beads and other assorted beads. Hold one end of the cord (it might be easier to secure with paper clip or safety pin to keep the beads from falling off). String the beads on in the desired pattern to the desired length. Tie the ends of the cord together with a strong double or triple knot. Cut the excess cord to about a half inch, and thread back through the beads to hide the knot.

My recommendations: for a 7.5 inch bracelet you will need 24 solar beads and 8 colored pony beads. String 3 solar beads of the same color, then a colored bead, then 3 solar of another color, a colored bead, and so on. Solar beads usually come in 5 or 6 colors. Knowing that 32 beads makes 7.5 inches, you can adjust for wrist size and other combinations of beads. Four beads make about 1 inch of bracelet.

bracelet made with bands and beads

Rainbow Loom double bead ladder bracelet

bracelet made with bands and beads

Rainbow Loom bead ladder bracelet

Children who enjoy making Rainbow Loom bracelets can use solar beads for some of the ladder designs.

Now you can wear your jewelry all summer to check on your sun exposure. And use your best-rated sunscreen on yourself and your beads for protection!

Supplies

  • 2 or more sunscreen sprays
  • 24 UV detecting beads (solar beads)
  • Alphabet beads
  • Assorted colors pony beads
  • Stretch bead cord
  • 3 or more clear containers with tops (or reclosable plastic storage bags)
  • Safety glasses
  • Lamps, light bulbs, flashlights (incandescent, fluorescent, LED, CFL, halogen, blacklight)
  • Marker pen, masking tape, scissors, paper or notebook for recording results, pen

 Sources for solar beads activity

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using product links, I’ll receive compensation towards maintaining this blog.

 What is the science?

Content: Assess the impact of products; waves, light, electromagnetic spectrum; energy transfer

The plastic beads are imbedded with pigments that are sensitive to ultraviolet rays. This is an example of fluorescence. Electrons in the atoms receive energy from uv light and jump to a higher energy level. When they jump back down to their normal level, we see the released energy as visible light. The solar beads are a small portable way to demonstrate this. A similar principal applies to solar panels being excited by sunlight and producing electricity with the moving electrons.

Phosphorescent objects will continue to emit light after the electrons in the object have been excited by light. The electrons in phosphorescent materials make bigger energy level jumps and take longer for all the electrons to return to their normal levels. Examples are glow-in-the-dark beads and the star stickers sold for bedrooms.

Resource Links for solar beads activity

 Let’s Talk Story

Why can’t school be more like summer camp? In my career as a university pre-college outreach professional, I had the opportunity to plan summer educational experiences for middle school and high school students. And I found that joy of learning still exists! By approaching lessons and units with the perspective of camp counselors, you can inject the wonder and motivation that so often disappears in our testing-crazy times.

Tutu is a name for a grandparent in Hawaii. When our grandson comes to spend time with us, we say he is at Camp Tutu! Welcome to Camp Tutu, my way of energizing science lessons!

It’s amazing when you combine arts with science. Children really get energized by learning the science around an object they make and can keep. It’s a way to empower them when they wear their creation, learn why sun protection is so important, and can explain to others the science behind their accessories.

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] casabouquet.com.

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Plastic cup chicken sound activity – STEM experiment

by 4 Comments

Plastic cup chicken sound activity demonstrates how sound can be made with a string and amplified with a cup. This STEM activity uses a string, a cup, and a damp sponge to show vibration and amplification of sound.Plastic cup chicken sound activity uses a cup, string, and sponge to make crazy music. Kids learn sound and vibration.

Safety note: Be sure to explain safety precautions to children. The plastic cup chicken sound activity uses scissors and string. Disclaimer: All information provided on this site is for entertainment and education purposes only. Using any information from thecasabouquet.com is at your own risk.

Instructions for plastic cup chicken sound activity

  • Choose a plastic cup for your chicken. Measure the diameter of the bottom of the cup.
  • Download the pattern for the rooster cocks comb. Resize so that it will fit your cup. Print, then use as a pattern to cut out of felt.
  • Use sharp scissors or other tool to poke two small holes in the bottom of the cup.squawking-chicken - 2
  • Cut a piece of string about 18 inches long. Thread one end through the holes in the cup and tie a knot. You could also use a pony bead to tie the knot.squawking-chicken - 5
  • Use hot glue to attach the cocks comb to the head of the chicken.squawking-chicken - 3
  • Cut a piece of sponge 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches. Use sharp scissors or other tool to thread the free end of the string through the center of the sponge. Tie a knot.squawking-chicken - 11
  • Use a bit of water to dampen the sponge. Fold the sponge in half in your hand and grab the string towards the mouth of the cup. Drag the sponge down the string. What happens?
  • You can have fun decorating your chicken to look more like a chicken or turkey with construction paper feathers, real feathers, or felt.

What questions can you answer with the plastic cup chicken? What difference does the string make? Try cotton string, yarn, or polyester kite string. Try different lengths of string. Does the cup size make a difference? Try 16 oz. plastic, 9 oz. plastic, paper cups, or coffee cups. What methods can be used to wet the string? Try sponge, paper towel, or cloth.

Supplies

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

What is the science?

Content: sound, vibration in a string, wave frequency

Pulling on the string sets up a vibration in the string that is transferred to the air molecules around the string. The cup amplifies the sound, making it louder. Your ear will hear a pitch that is the frequency of the sound, or vibrations/second.

Resource links

Marilyn's Treats Wonderful Wenesday Feature

I’ll be looking for comments below, or contact me at lisa [at] thecasabouquet[dot]com.