Activity
We All LOVE Ice Cream
In this science experiment, Jennifer, Daisy, and Warren decided to test whether participants would prefer homemade ice cream or store-bought ice cream.
Using a simple procedure to make ice-cream in Ziploc bags, Jennifer, Daisy, and Warren made vanilla ice cream and performed a taste test of their homemade ice-cream with store-bought vanilla ice cream.
The procedure for the homemade ice-cream was found in the book Out of Sight Science Experiments by Lillian Rankal and Marilyn Winograd. Download the procedure here.
Question
Will people like homemade ice cream or store-bought ice cream better?
Hypothesis
People will like homemade ice cream better.
Experiment
We let ten people tried the homemade ice cream and the store bought, to see which one more people like.
Result
Seven out of ten people like homemade ice cream, and three out of ten like store-bought.
Conclusion
The hypothesis matches the result, because people like homemade ice cream better.
Experimental Error
We added more vinegar to the homemade ice cream and this may have affected the taste.
Materials
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup whipping cream or heavy cream
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup sodium chloride (NaCl) aka table salt or rock salt
- 2 cups ice
- 1-quart Ziploc bag
- 1-gallon Ziploc bag
- Thermometer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Bowls, cups, spoons or cones to serve your ice cream treat
Preparation
Materials were purchased for the experiment. Students planned as per their procedure.
Procedure
ICE CREAM TASTE TEST PROCEDURE
- Make ice cream using the procedure “Ziploc Ice Cream” Download the procedure here.
- Buy one vanilla ice cream w/ingredients the same as the homemade ice cream.
- Wash hands.
- Make labels in braille.
- Label bowls – 10 of each.
- Bowl 1
- Bowl 2
- Insert ice cream into bowls.
- Bowl 1 – homemade
- Bowl 2 – store-bought
- Ask participants if they are allergic to anything.
- Tell them the purpose is to tell which they like best and ask them not to talk about the ice cream until later.
- Pass out bowl 1 ice cream.
- Pass out water.
- Pass out bowl 2 ice cream.
- Give students flashcard to write which one they like and what gender they are in braille or print.
- Take data and organize it. Make a table with 2 columns. Label column 1 – girls and column 2 – boys.
Variations
A different flavor of ice cream could be used.
NGSS Standards:
- Plan and conduct an investigation individually and collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, and in the design: decide on types, how much, and accuracy of data needed to produce reliable measurements and consider limitations on the precision of the data (e.g., number of trials, cost, risk, time), and refine the design accordingly. (HS-ESS2-5)
By Laura Hospitál
Return to Accessible Science main page.
