Fun end of summer experiments!

Although school has started for most people, summer hasn't officially come to a close... yet. Here are some fun end-of-summer activities to do, family- and especially kid-friendly!

DIY Slime
Supplies

• 1/2 cup white school glue
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon contact lens solution
• Food coloring
• 1 small bowl
• Spoon or other mixing stick

Instructions

1. Pour the glue into a bowl.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir (ask if you need a parent or guardian's help!).
3. Add baking soda and mix well.
4. Slowly add the contact lens solution while stirring; this is where it becomes slime!
5. Once the slime begins pulling away from the sides of the bowl, take it out and knead it with your hands for a few minutes.
6. Keep kneading until the slime becomes stretchy and stops sticking to your hands.

​
What is happening?
The glue contains long molecules called polymers. When the contact lens solution is added, ingredients in it help link these polymer molecules together. This creates a network that makes the mixture thicker and stretchy instead of remaining a liquid. The baking soda also helps the mixture reach the right consistency.

​Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag
Supplies

• 2 tablespoons (30 g) white sugar
• 1 cup (200 g) half & half or heavy cream (milk can be substituted, but you will have different results)
• 1/2 tsp (2.5 g) vanilla extract
• A pint- or sandwich-sized Ziploc baggie (can be doubled to prevent leaks)
• To freeze the ice cream:
• Ice (enough to halfway fill a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie)
• 1/3 cup salt (coarse or kosher salt is recommended - table salt can work, but try to prevent it from clumping in just one area of the ice)
• Gallon-sized Ziploc baggie (can be doubled to prevent leaks)

Process

1. Pour the milk or half-and-half into the small bag.
2. Add the sugar and vanilla, seal the bag tightly, and gently mix.
3. Fill the larger bag about halfway with ice.
4. Add the salt to the ice.
5. Place the sealed small bag inside the larger bag and seal the larger bag.
6. Wrap the bag in a towel or use gloves to protect your hands from the cold.
7. Shake the bag for about 5–10 minutes, until the mixture inside becomes thick and frozen. Have fun with this step!
8. Remove the small bag, wipe it off, open it, and enjoy your ice cream!

What is happening?
Adding salt to the ice lowers the freezing point of water. This allows the ice-and-salt mixture to become colder than regular ice, which makes the milk mixture freeze. As you shake the bag, the mixture freezes while also being stirred, creating the smooth texture of ice cream.

If you try any of these fun activities or experiments, let us know! Comment below or tag us on Facebook or Instagram! We'd love to hear from you!