Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is a fun way to keep kids entertained while introducing them to some foundational scientific concepts.

Activity Instructions

Fill the larger bag with ice and rock salt. These ingredients should take up about half of the bag’s capacity. Next, fill the smaller bag with milk, sugar, and vanilla and seal it tightly.

Put the smaller bag into the larger bag and seal the larger bag securely. Give the bag to your little ones and instruct them to shake it until the mixture turns into ice cream. The amount of time that this process takes depends on the enthusiasm of your children, but it should take about five minutes of constant movement.

As your little ones are shaking their bags, ask them what they think is happening. Explain that ice cream is made out of the ingredients that you put in the bag and that they are causing these ingredients to transform by shaking them. Ask what their favorite thing about ice cream is and why.

Once the ice cream is finished, open the large bag and remove the smaller one. Carefully open the smaller bag and pour the ice cream into individual serving bowls. Allow them to enjoy their creation!

Materials

• 1 gallon-size plastic bag per child
• 1 pint-size plastic bag per child
• Ice
• 6 tablespoons of rock salt per child
• ¼ of a teaspoon of vanilla per child
• ½ of a cup of milk or half and half per child
• 1 tablespoon of sugar per child

Outcome

This project will allow your kids to have fun while learning some fundamental scientific concepts.