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Help With a Science Project on Freezing Things

A great way for children to learn about the world around them is through simple science projects. When performing science projects, children need help from an adult who can provide explanations for the results. This will ensure that the projects are not only fun but also educational. The following projects on freezing are appropriate for most ages and can be recorded through photographs and notes to preserve the data.

The Basic Principles of Water
- Teaching kids about the different states of water is easy to do at home.
  
  To understand the process of freezing, children must first understand the three states of water. An easy way to teach kids about freezing and evaporating is with the use of household appliances. Pour water into a container, freeze it overnight in the freezer, and then melt the ice back to liquid and then to steam over the stove. Explain in age-appropriate language how heat and cold alter the state of water turning it from a solid to a liquid to a gas. If your child is old enough, add a real-life example such as the water cycle.
Which is Heavier: Water or Ice?
- Oil and water are two ingredients that can easily be found in most household pantries.
  
  Using oil and water in this experiment makes it more fun and easier to understand. Pour equal amounts of oil and water into a container. Encourage the child to notice how the liquids separate. Explain that since the oil floats on top of the water, the water is heavier. Place the container in the freezer overnight. Once the water has turned to ice, point out that it is now above the oil. Explain how this results in the finding that water is heavier than ice. An interesting note to make here is that this is the reason icebergs float on the ocean and ice cubes float in your drink.
Which Takes Up More Space: Water or Ice?
- Incorporating water balloons into science makes learning fun.
  
  This project teaches children which has more volume, water or ice. Fill several balloons with varying amounts of water. Take measurements of each balloon and record the numbers. Place the balloons in the freezer until the water turns to ice. Once the water is frozen, measure the balloons again. They will be larger when they are filled with ice, meaning that ice takes up more space and therefore has more volume than water. A real-life example of this occurs when you place a water bottle in the freezer and it cracks, since the liquid expands as it turns to ice.
How Salt Affects the Freezing Process
- Salt lowers the freezing point of water, resulting in oceans taking longer to freeze than freshwater lakes.
  
  Once your child is familiar with the basic principles of freezing, introduce the idea of adding salt to tap water to see what effects this has on the freezing process. Place equal amounts of water in two separate containers and add salt to only one. Place the containers in the freezer and depending on their size, check them at regular intervals to determine which is freezing faster. Explain to your child how salt is a freezing point depressor, meaning it slows down the process of freezing as a result of the minerals that dissolve in the water.

Nature