Sweet Summer Science Fun (Ziplock Bag Ice Cream)

This is a really fun activity for kids of all ages :)

Ingredients

1 Cup half and half
4 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla extract

1 Gallon zip freezer bag
1 Quart zip freezer bag
Enough ice to fill gallon zip 2/3 full
1/2 cup rock salt (Kosher would work, too)

towel (optional, to protect hands)

Measure the dairy, sugar and vanilla into the quart bag. Seal and place into the gallon bag. Pour in the ice, measure the salt and pour on top of ice, then seal gallon zip bag.

"shake it like a Polaroid picture"

-for about 5 minutes. You can feel the cream mixture transform from liquid to a stiffer frozen treat.

This is where we discuss what is expected to happen...When you put ice in a glass of water does the ice melt or does the water freeze? What happens when you sprinkle salt onto an icy, snowy sidewalk? Why?
What do you think will happen here?

(we know regular water freezes at 32 degrees F or below, but salt water freezes at about 18 degrees (depending on the amount of salt in the water) Also salt water boils at aprox. 218 vs. water alone 212.9)

It looks icy/grainy but it's not. 

...after all that hard work, it's time to enjoy :)

Since it's near 99 degrees outside right now, Big Brother was concerned the ice would certainly melt. Not only did it not melt, the cream froze! Yeaaa for science!!! However he did eat it inside, at those temps, the cream would quickly revert back to liquid before he could eat it.