Our classroom is just beginning to start a unit on Matter in science! I usually try to start with a lab that really grabs their attention and making butter is a fun one! In this lab kids can see a liquid turn into a solid. They get so excited to see the changes that happen as they shake the jar.
For this lab you just need 2 of the large bottles of heavy cream, some salt, a marble for each jar, and small glass jars. I also grab some plastic knives and 4 loaves of bread! We do this lab as table groups, so you just need one jar per group.
Fill each jar half full will the heavy cream, then add a pinch of salt, and a marble or two. Then the kids SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE the jar for about 15 minutes. My kids take turns shaking. They are stunned as they start to feel the liquid turn into a solid.
They check on their butter a few times and taste a little. If they need to add a little more salt, they can!
When the butter is finished, they can spread it on the bread and get a little treat! They are always amazed by this lab! You can purchase my lab pack here. This lab pack also asks them to compare their homemade butter with store bought butter. So grab some store bought butter if you want to do that part!
I always try to do a lab that HOOKS my students and makes them want to learn more about a topic we are studying! This is one they always seem to remember!
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