Make Your Own Ice Cream

This experiment creates a tasty treat!

Ages

5-7


What you need:

  • 4 cups crushed ice
  • 1/2 cup rock salt
  • 1 quart-size zip-close bag 
  • 1 sandwich-size zip-close bag 
  • 1/4 cup milk 
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream 
  • 2 tablespoons sugar 
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
  • scissors, small bowls, spoons

What to do:

  1. Put 2 cups of crushed ice and 1/4 cup of rock salt into the quart-size zip-close bag. Pour the milk, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla into the sandwich-size bag. Seal this bag tightly.
  2. Place the smaller bag inside the larger bag. Gently squeeze out the air and seal it carefully. Continue squeezing it gently for about 5 minutes (be careful — it gets very cold). What is happening inside the bag?
  3. Drain the water from the larger bag, and add the remaining ice and salt. Seal and squeeze until the mixture is very thick.
  4. Remove the small bag from the ice and dry the outside of the bag. With scissors, cut one of the bottom corners off the small bag and squeeze the contents into small bowls. Enjoy!

Learning Benefits:

  • develops observation and experimentation skills
  • provides experience with cause and effect

From Fresh & Fun: January by Pamela Chanko
(Scholastic Professional Books)

Observation
Following Directions
Activities
Experimentation
Imagination
Age 5
Age 7
Age 6
Science Experiments and Projects
Observation
Hobbies, Play, Recreation