Science is fun and exciting. It is important to get students interested in figuring out that science is “not hard” but a simple learning game. One of the best ways to get students interested in science is to pair it with something they find familiar and comforting.
Melting Chocolate
Chocolate is a favorite treat for many, so it seems a good medium to use with a science experiment. First talk to the students about melting chocolate and come up with a hypothesis (or guesses to answer the questions.
What temperature does it have to be for chocolate to melt? Does chocolate melt in your mouth because it warm in your mouth? What happens to the shape of chocolate when it is melted?
Melt the chocolate and find out which one of the hypothesis were correct.
Identify the low fat cookie
This science project may help children learn some social issues as well. Body image, the food children eat and the judgements that are made in society based on appearance is overwhelming. So why not talk about a low fat cooke versus a regular cookie. The best cookies to use are the cookie wafers with cream in cookies. (Oreos are a good example. Make certain the low fat cookie does not use the “olestra”.)
You will want to compare textures, tastes, record the specifics. See if everyone agrees.
Jumping raisins
Get some raisins and put them in the some sparkling cider. Put the raisins in the bottom of a glass bowl. Add some sparkling apple cider and see what happens to the raisins. Figure out why it happens and write about it.
Instant sorbet
Students learn about ions and how they play a part in the freezing point while making this tasty treat. Pomegranate juice is colorful, healthy and has a strong and tasty flavor. Take one cup of pomegranate juice (or your favorite) into a bag that will completely zip closed. In a much larger bag add 2 cups of ice, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of water. Put the bag with the juice in it, inside the larger bag.
Have some of students leave out the salt. Set a timer and shake the bags. Are they different? How long does it take to have sorbet? Write a paper and explain the results of the experiment.
Magic milk
This simple experiment shows how oils mix with milk (water) . The supplies are very common. A small glass of milk for each student. Whole milk give the fastest and most dramatic results. A variety of food coloring with eye droppers for each color is needed. Vegetable oil with a small eye dropper is required.
Take a small drop of food coloring and place it on the milk very near or touching the edge of the glass. Do this with two other colors. Distribute them evenly around the glass so the colors are not touching one another. Place a small drop of vegetable oil in the center of the glass.
Here is the hardest part. Make sure the glass remains undisturbed, wait and watch. All by itself the colors with travel, mix and swirl together.
What causes this colorful creation? Milk is composed of water and fat. The oils begin moving, like a little current and the colors swirl and mix.
Complete the report and learn the facts.
These are just a few science projects that are fun and edible. There are many more. Open up your kitchen and put on your thinking cap.
