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So, we're doing the summer library program, which is reading for 20 minutes a day, with the boys. And it comes with a separate track of doing science experiments also. We're trying to do that with the boys, but really, mostly with Drew - Ian doesn't entirely understand (not surprising - he isn't even three!) and also gets bored.
Today, however, Ian managed to stay focused for most of the time involved.
See, I got a book on candy experiments.... So we did color dispersion, and dissolving candy in water and adding baking soda to tell if it was an acid (and confirming that acids were sour, which of course meant a taste test of the candies, which was popular), and then - stretching the definition of experiment marginally, but in a good cause - we compared the behavior of *chocolate* in a microwave to the behavior of a *marshmallow* in the microwave.
Happy boys. Too much sugar around, but I think I kept the ingested amount reasonable, and happy boys.
And we still have a "pizza box oven" out back trying to heat s'mores. I think they've actually subsided on the plastic and are no longer in the proper shape, but eh, we'll see. If they melt, it will have made its point. And really, shouldn't candy science be sticky and gooey and messy?
Today, however, Ian managed to stay focused for most of the time involved.
See, I got a book on candy experiments.... So we did color dispersion, and dissolving candy in water and adding baking soda to tell if it was an acid (and confirming that acids were sour, which of course meant a taste test of the candies, which was popular), and then - stretching the definition of experiment marginally, but in a good cause - we compared the behavior of *chocolate* in a microwave to the behavior of a *marshmallow* in the microwave.
Happy boys. Too much sugar around, but I think I kept the ingested amount reasonable, and happy boys.
And we still have a "pizza box oven" out back trying to heat s'mores. I think they've actually subsided on the plastic and are no longer in the proper shape, but eh, we'll see. If they melt, it will have made its point. And really, shouldn't candy science be sticky and gooey and messy?
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I am so sorry my Mom is dead. She went to her grave wondering why I sucked at science. Now I know. NO CANDY!!!! hehehehehe
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The science is awesome. LOL. To be honest, I love the excuse - watching marshmallows in the microwave is ALWAYS fun. (I should teach them about Peep Wars now! You give each Peep a toothpick, aim them at the other one on a plate, and microwave. First Peep to deflate from stabbing is the 'loser'. Our cousins introduced me to the game. My husband's family is awesome.)
Eating candy is neat. Watching Pixy Sticks fizz is probably a better use than eating them even. Drew was SO PLEASED that he correctly predicted that pop rocks would fizz violently in water! (I don't think he's ever had them before - and as it turned out, they were the one candy he didn't like - but he had to guess first, and I'd just told him it had 'carbon dioxide, like the bubbles in soda, frozen in it'.)
Melting a starlight mint is water is _majorly_ entertaining, watching the colors spread out in stripes. LOL. Moreso watching the kids.
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p.s. The guy who invented Pixie Sticks lived down the street from us when I was in elementary school. I was part of his test team. No lie. And, you are welcome.
He also invented King Stirs which were kind of pixie sticks hardened into a shape on the end of a stick that was a straw. You got a glass of water and stirred it with the King Stir and bingo! you had a grape or cherry or strawberry drink and a cool straw to drink it with. Those never got off the floor of the lab, I guess because glasses broke and so we weren't allowed to use them for snacks. So we just licked the King Stirs which got the pixie stick stuff all over us and our clothes and we had stained blue and/or red faces. Not a Mom pleaser. Oh well. Win some. Lose some.
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Also, Tootsie rolls do basically NOTHING in water and NOTHING when you add baking soda. (Because it isn't science without controls or comparisons or something, right?)
BUT, having to test with Tootsie rolls totally means you wind up with a big bag of leftover Tootsie rolls to beg for one or two for dessert after future dinners. Hehe. :)
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