Sap to Syrup: States of Matter and Heat

Explore what form of energy transforms maple sap into maple syrup, then maple candy!
Video Introduction: Sap in the Sugar Maple Tree
Book: Sugaring Time by Kathryn Lasky
Resources to explain the process: Word Playhouse
Maple Sugar Tree Identification sheet: Ohio Thoughts Blog

Recording sheets about Heat and the States of Matter: click here 
- Students label the states of matter for each stage of the maple syrup process. Then, they identify heat as being the form of energy that changes maple sap into syrup, then maple candy.
- Maple Taffy Experiment with snow, students record the results of the experiment.
- Checklist if students go on a maple sugaring field trip

Recipe for maple candy: All Recipes
Recipe for Maple Taffy for the Freezing Experiment - The Kitchn

Season: End of February / Beginning of March

Supercooling Water

Matter: Can water remain a liquid below its normal freezing point 0°C (32°F), then crystallize on command (solid)?! Click here for the scientific explanation behind supercooling and snap freezing! Weather: Learn about supercooled water droplets in clouds here and how this experiment relates to freezing rain!



Turn this experiment into a delicious treat! Check out Grant Thompson's video tutorial: Self Freezing Soda!

Snowflake Geometry

This awesome idea is inspired by Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational! Students create popsicle stick snowflakes and find hidden angles and shapes within them! Visit her site for a freebie on snowflake angles! Click here for an introductory activity to conduct before kids construct their snowflakes.

Snowman Construction

Practice measuring by constructing a paper snowman! Let kids come up with their own measurements or give them specific measurements to follow - it's up to you!

Koch Snowflake

Integrate art and geometry by constructing a Koch Snowflake. Students draw an equilateral triangle. Then, they keep adding smaller equilateral triangles to create a symmetrical snowflake. See this project in action here!

View a kid version over at 4 Kids 2 Guinea Pigs! - plus step by step instructions.

Visit Wonder How To: Math Craft to see how to construct a koch snowflake out of pennies!

Check out Hektor for 3-dimensional versions!

Ice Cube Rope

Can you pick up an ice cube with a string? This experiment demonstrates how salt affects ice. The rope won't stick to the ice cube until you add salt to melt it. The ice refreezes around the string, when suspended in the glass of water. via Steve Spangler

Crystal Clear Cube Experiment

Have you ever wondered why icicles look sparkly and clear and ice cubes from your freezer just don't have that same glimmer?

Try this fun experiment with kids: see what process creates a clearer cube, boiling filter water or taking it straight from the tap. Have kids make a hypothesis and a prediction stating what process will create a crystal clear cube.

Visit  Instructables for the full tutorial!

Magic Crystal Tree

Visit Steve Spangler for the explanation!

Grow a Crystal Star

You can also create other shapes in different colors! Click here to make a rainbow!

Colorful Ice Sculpture Science

photo credit: art and creativity

Create colorful ice sculptures and see the science of mixing salt with ice! Art and Creativity shows how kids can make works of ice art by simply dropping liquid watercolor mixed with salt onto a chunk of ice! Science: Salt creates tunnels in the ice because it lowers the freezing point of water, causing the ice to melt. The colors make the tunnels pop, so we can see them better.

Also, check out We are Teachers to see how you can conduct this experiment with a large group of children!

Snowflake and Ice Experiments

Examine, grow, melt, and cook with these four fun experiments:

photo via Austin Kids Blog

1. Snowflake Shapes
Kids can see all snowflakes have 6 sides and not one looks the same!

materials:
black paper or black fabric
magnifying glass

instructions:
1. Place paper in the freezer for a few hours to prepare it. Then, put the paper outside on a snowy day.
3. Let some snowflakes land on it
4. Use the magnifying glass to see the snowflakes up close.






2. Experiment with Insulation and Ice
Cocopreme helped kids learn about thermal insulators and how they affect the temperature of ice. 

Document what factor caused the ice to melt the fastest: salt, newspaper, or aluminum foil. Also, try other forms of insulation. 

photo via cocopreme

3. Classic Snow Ice Cream Recipe:
1. Put a big bowl outside to collect snow (8 cups)
2. Mix in a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk and either 1 tsp of vanilla extract or 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of chocolate syrup (you can play around with ingredients) 

Photo is from KSPR, click the link for more snow ice cream recipes!

4. Grow snowflakes in a bottle! Find out how at Snow Crystals by Ken Libbrecht.