Another Snow Treasure: Ice Cream!

To go along with this week's book, Snow Treasure, we're going to make a snow treasure of our own: ice cream! I love this activity because it gets kids outside, even in cold weather, and can be tailored to a really wide age range. And you can incorporate as little or as much science as you want!

This is a great way to introduce states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) and the way they change with temperature. Ice cream is a solid with tons of tiny air (gas) bubbles inside (that's why it doesn't taste the same if you melt it to a liquid and re-freeze it--no gas bubbles!) Check out this music video and this printable introduction to get you started. (If snow isn't available where you live, you can make ice cream in a plastic bag using the simple ingredients and simple instructions found here.)

The activity portion of today's post was written by a good friend of mine and an outstanding mother/blogger, Chelsea Gambles. Take it away, Chelsea! :)

 

When fall turned to winter this year, we were all very anxiously awaiting the first snow fall. It seemed like every morning we woke up to find our hopes dashed with more sunny weather, and only brief hints of snow. FINALLY! After months of waiting we finally got our first real snow fall, quite late in the season. We were determined to not let a single snowflake go to waste...but alas little bodies can only take so much cold. We wanted to find another way to make use of this glorious, free and super fun sensory material from mother nature...so we made ICE CREAM....from snow!

Here's how you can do it too:

In a big bowl combine:

• 8 cups of snow

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)

• 1 tsp of Vanilla

Just stir it up, add your favorite toppings, and it's ready to serve!

 

 

I was shocked just how good it tasted.

(1 billion sprinkles optional)

Thank you, Chelsea! Can't wait to try this with my kids.

Check back next week for another great winter book review and science activity!