Shake it up with Homemade Ice Cream

Amy B Croker
MAT, Elem Education

Need a fun, easy and inexpensive activity to do with your kids that will not only cool you off, but will also be a great learning experience too?
Here is an ice cream recipe we posted last week under "Family Summer Fun" and thought it would be fitting to post it by itself on this great day of not only spending time with family and friends, but also for celebrating the brave men and women that have fought for our country.
Happy Memorial Day!

Ice Cream Recipe:

Watch as liquid mixture transforms into solid ice cream before your eyes. All you need is sugar, milk, vanilla (or any flavoring of your choice), ice, salt, a quart-size food-storage bag, and a gallon-size plastic bag.

First, mix one tablespoon of sugar, ½ cup of milk, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla in a bowl. This will make about one scoop. Transfer the contents to the quart-size bag and seal.

Then fill the gallon-size bag with two quarts of crushed ice and 6 tablespoons of rock salt (or coarse salt). The rock salt will keep the ice from melting. Make sure both bags are completely sealed.

Place the quart-size bag inside the gallon-size bag. Shake for about 10-15 minutes, making sure the contents of the two bags do not mix. The bags will get very cold, so use gloves or a towel to hold them.

This hands-on activity will show how matter changes state from liquid to solid and then, as the final, tasty product drips down your chin, back to liquid again.