Materials
beanbags
Frisbees
tumbling mat
Instructions
1. At large group time, pass around a scoop of ice cream in a cup. Ask the
children to describe what they see and feel in the cup. Talk about what
happens to ice cream when it isn't in the freezer.
2. Write "How fast do I have to eat?" on one sheet of paper. Ask each child how
long he thinks he has to eat an ice cream cone before it would melt and
become a liquid. Write each child's answer on the sheet of paper and post it.
3. Put another scoop of ice cream into a cup. On another sheet of paper, note
the time that you scooped the ice cream. Tell the class that the cup of ice
cream will be on the science table during free play and they should check it
often to see if it is completely melted.
4. One the second sheet of paper, write the time and what each child saw when
he checked the state of the ice cream during free play.
5. When the ice cream is completely melted, calculate the time it took to melt
completely. Write this time on both pieces of paper.
6. Review the results of the experiment and the observations with the group at
the end of free play.
7. To extend this experiment, have the children put cups of ice cream in
different locations (sun, shade, inside, outside, in the refrigerator, and so on)
and observe and chart the differences.
8. Make sure you have enough ice cream for everyone to have a taste while
they work.
