Baby it's cold outside! The freezing temperatures are a perfect time for science.

When water is in solid form, it becomes ice.
Ice is formed when water gets cold enough, 32 degrees or below. Any temperature above 32 degrees, and water will remain in its liquid form.

BASIC MATERIALS:
Water, assorted cups or bowls, salt, sugar, paper towels, spoon, ice cubes


EXPERIMENT #1: HOW WATER FREEZES
Once the temperature dips below 32 degrees, you can conduct an experiment to observe and compare how water becomes a solid. Using three cups or containers (not glass), fill halfway with water. Add two spoonfuls of salt to one container of water and mix. In another container of water, place two spoonfuls of sugar and mix. Do not add any ingredients to the last container of water. Place the three containers outside where you can observe them (you may want to label your containers if they look similar). Check in on the containers every ten minutes. What do you observe? How long did the water take to freeze? Which container took longest to freeze?



EXPERIMENT #2: HOW ICE MELTS
Using three small cups or containers, place one ice cube in each. Sprinkle two tablespoons of salt on top of one ice cube, and two tablespoons of sugar in another. Leave the last ice cubes with nothing on top. What do you think will happen? Check in on the ice every five minutes. What do you observe? Which ice cube melted first? which ice cube melted last?

Today's experiment involves yummy baking! Before we begin, let's explore the difference between baking soda and baking powder. 

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Its great for cooking, cleaning, and doing science. Baking powder is a combination of ingredients. Their differences don't stop there!

BASIC MATERIALS:
cups, vinegar, baking soda, baking powder, paper towels, spoons, cream of tartar, baking soda, cornstarch, measuring spoons.


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EXPERIMENT #1: BAKING SODA VERSUS BAKING POWDER
Fill two cups with a little bit of vinegar. Scoop one spoonful of baking powder into the vinegar. Observe what happens. In the other cup of vinegar, scoop one spoonful of baking soda. Observe what happens. What was the same/different between the two reactions?



EXPERIMENT #2: HOME MADE BAKING POWDER
Baking powder is a basic combination of ingredients. You can make some yourself the next time you're in a pinch while cooking. Mix 2 teaspoons cream of tartar with 1 teaspoon baking soda in a small bowl. To store, whisk 1 teaspoon cornstarch into the mixture and keep in an air-tight container.

Hopefully you're someplace where you have snow and can do these experiments sooner than later, because they're lots of fun!

BASIC MATERIALS:
Snow, assorted bowls/containers, ruler, salt, towels, assorted spoons.


EXPERIMENT #1: MEASURING WATER IN SNOW
Fill a bowl or container with snow and bring it inside. Don't pack the snow down. Place the ruler in the container and use it to measure the height of the snow. Take a guess as to how deep the water will be in the container after the snow melts. Put the container aside and let the snow melt completely. Use the ruler to measure the height of the water in the container. What did you find? Was your guess close to the actual amount of water?


EXPERIMENT #2: MELTING SNOW
Fill two containers with snow. Sprinkle salt on the snow in one bowl only, making sure to cover it in one even layer. Place the containers aside. What do you think will happen to the snow? Check on the containers every 5 minutes. What do you observe?


EXPERIMENT #3: PLAYING WITH SNOW!
Open exploration with snow is fun for all ages. Fill a container with snow and provide your young scientist with spoons and other items to scoop and stir. You can also provide your young scientist with multiple containers and allow them to practice scooping and pouring.

Symmetry is when an item is made up of exactly the same parts on either side. When folded at the halfway point (the line of symmetry), the sides line up just like a mirror image. In nature, symmetry exists in butterflies, for example.

EXPERIMENT #1: SYMMETRY CHRISTMAS TREE
Fold a thick paper in half. Using green paint (this works best with thick paint), dab a small dot about an inch from the top of the paper, directly in the center crease. Make a slightly larger green dot below the first one, careful not to have the two dots touch. Repeat this process, making the green dots bigger until you get to about 2 inches from the bottom of the paper. Fold the paper in half and press. Open your paper. What do you see?


EXPERIMENT #2: SYMMETRY ART
You can create all sorts of symmetrical designs, all you need is a line of symmetry. Carefully fold a thick piece of paper in half. Paint a design on only one side of the paper. Fold your paper in half and press. What happens to the design?

Using a scissor, you can also cut symmetrical shapes! Fold any paper in half. Cut your shape, careful not to cut off the folded section (you need your line of symmetry!).
​Unfold your paper. What do you see? 

​Did you try this experiment at home?
​Tell us about it and show us your results!

There's lots of ways to grow a plant. Here's a fun and easy one that your young scientist will enjoy.

BASIC MATERIALS:
Sponge, seeds (we suggest wheat grass), scissors, water, shallow plate.


EXPERIMENT: GROWING SEEDS ON A SPONGE
Cut a Christmas tree shape on a sponge (or any other shape). It may be helpful to draw your shape on the sponge before you cut. Soak the sponge in water then place it on the shallow plate. Sprinkle the seeds all over the top of the sponge and place it in a sunny window. Observe how the seeds grow. Water directly into the shallow plate, ensuring that the sponge absorbs the water. Trim your plant as needed.