On a Frigid Day, Make Ice!

A frozen jug of bottled water left overnight in a car under near sub-zero outdoor temperature inspired our science experiment today. "What will happen if we leave a bucket or bowl of water outside today?" All the children agreed that the water will turn into ice. "How do you know?" The children unanimously said that when it is very cold, water will turn into ice. Our experiment got underway twenty minutes before five of the children went to P.E. class. Fifteen children were divided into groups of three. Each group were given either a medium-sized bucket, a mixing bowl, or a dish pan. "You are going to put water into your container and then put it outside to see what will happen to the water." The children's eyes widened with excitement. Some jumped out of their seats. They started to talk at the same time. The groups were named after the kind of toy whale placed inside their container: humpback whale, right whale, sperm whale, blue whale, and killer whale or orca (which we all acknowledged is actually a dolphin and not a whale). Each child also chose a small toy animal to place in the container along with the large whale/dolphin toy. Then, each group filled its container with water, carried it outside, and set it down on the ramp just outside the classroom. "How soon do you think the water will turn into ice?" Everyone made a prediction:
Henry said, "When it is outside time."
Jane said, "After rest time."
Milo said, "When it is Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Matthew R. said, "Tomorrow."
Siena said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Naomi said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Hannah said, "Outside time."
Monica said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Zola said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Ivan said, "In ten days."
Amelia said, "When we go to the tree (dismissal time)."
Will said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Sarah said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Matthew H. S. said, "Outside time."
May said, "Green Room and Orange Room choice time."
Group members took turns checking the water during different times of the day and reporting back to the group. We checked the water five times: after the children who had P. E. today returned to the classroom, during outside time, at the end of lunch time, and at the start and close of Green and Orange Room choice time. When the containers were checked after our friends returned from the gym, the blue whale group was the only group to report that ice had began to form inside their container. By outside time, all the groups reported the presence of ice in the water. After lunch time, a layer of ice had clearly formed on the surface of all the containers. Some were fragile. The ice cracked when touched. Some stayed firm. When Green and Orange Room choice time came around, all containers had a sheet of ice on its surface. We brought the containers in to take a closer and longer look at the ice and water. "Did the water turn into solid ice?" Many said yes at first, and then quickly said no, as they remembered that water was swishing around under the layer of ice when they were transporting the containers back inside. Everyone had one minute to study their ice and water up close. "Bubbles! Water bubbles!" "There's water under the ice!" "Oh, look! A hole. Cool!" Children poked the ice with their fingers. Some bent down to lick the ice with their tongues. Some dipped their fingers into the water to taste it. They turned the container clockwise and counter-clockwise. They tilted the containers. They looked and listened. Everyone acknowledged that the water in their container did not turn into solid ice. However,  a layer of ice did form on the surface. "Whose prediction came closest to what actually happened?" Several thought that if we leave them out until tomorrow, the water would turn completely into ice. Ten days would be too long. Naturally, many wanted to put the containers outside again and come to school the next day to check them. The children also talked about how some ice cracked when touched, and how some stayed solid. They told about how cold the ice and the water was. Then we talked about the ice that forms on the surface of bodies of water like ponds and lakes, and how the sheet of ice can seem to be solid, but that they could actually be a delicate, thin layer. Then to the children's delightful surprise, there was a final mission to pursue before we called it a day: rescue the animals trapped under the sheet of ice within two minutes without pouring out or spilling the water. They eagerly plunged into the task of rescuing their animals. Some children used their fists to crack the ice and fish out the animals. Some children found out that they could lift the entire sheet of ice off the container and scoop up the animals in the water. The huge chunks of solid ice amazed them as they held them with their bare hands and watched it glimmer in the light. All animals were rescued from the frigid water in less than two minutes. The experiment was completed and the mission accomplished! Click on ice experiment to view photos taken.