January 4, 2014

One of the kids' favorite activities is to "do science."  "Doing science" usually involves mixing a bunch of household stuff and making a huge mess.  On this day, we were about to get snowed in and I was in the midst of making lunch when "doing science" was suggested by Evan.  This particular installment was fueled by a recent chemistry demonstration show we took the kids to at the University of Illinois.  This time I tried to stay completely out of it, except to hand them a hard to reach ingredient or to enforce some safety rules with the cutting and smashing of vegetables.  

Ingredients used (at least the ones I can remember): flour, sugar, candy canes, celery, carrots, dish soap, empty yogurt containers, plastic cups, cheese, leftover donuts, shredded Kleenex box, water, glue.

Anya's creation was the least messy - she was trying to make a "pie" with mostly flour, water and crushed candy canes.

Evan's definitely had the most ingredients!  And as "doing science" usually ends...it is now in our freezer (just like you see it here).  For some reason freezing your experiment is super fun!  It's usually an ice cube tray full of disgusting water/Halloween candy mixtures, but this time it's got a whole lot more going on.  Months later we will find it still in the freezer waiting to be thawed and explored again.

Nora worked diligently on cutting tiny pieces of string cheese and celery, melting the cheese and mixing/smashing it all together with dish soap and some glue.