We have been learning about liquids and solids. One concept we worked on is liquids do not have a shape. We also talked about liquids and solids can change with temperature. Water will turn into ice and ice will turn back into water. The grand finale of this unit is making ice cream. This is really easy and would be a great activity for a family gathering if there are lots of little ones. Here is how we did it-
Tin Can Ice Cream
1-3 pound clean coffee can
1-1 pound clean coffee can
Duct tape
1 cup milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Rock salt
Crushed ice or small cubes
Two or more hungry kids
Pour the milk, cream, sugar and vanilla into the one pound coffee can. Tape the lid on securely. Place inside the three pound coffee can. Layer ice and salt around the sides of the small can. Duct tape the three pound lid on securely. We did two strips (an X) on the top and then wrapped tape around the outside of the can. Roll briskly on the ground for at least ten minutes. Cement works best. Open the lid and drain the ice water. Now at this point depending on how into this you are, you can (a) scrape the 'ice cream' into a plastic container and freeze the rest of the way which is what we do because of time or (b) open the lid of the small can. Scrape the sides. Retape the small can. Place back into the the larger can and repack with salt and ice and roll again. Makes about three cups.
We did three cans and each fed about five children.
During story time, the children dictated how we made the ice cream. Why do we do this? Sequencing-which is a skill used in reading and writing. We want the children to remember the events in the order they occurred. First, they were to just think about what we did. Then they dicatated how we made the ice cream. They do skip steps but we ask them, 'What did we do before we rolled it?' They kept telling me we rolled the cans in the street! Too funny-of course we did this in the parking lot just in case your preschooler told you we were in the street today!
I also wonder what the drivers on Washington Road thought were doing?
Enjoy!
