picking up ice with a string

We are slowly getting back in the school groove. It has been nice to ease ourselves back in while it is still so pretty outside. I’ve been spending big chunks of time organizing anything and everything related to school. This year will begin more organized than ever before – and I like organization! I’m labeling books, bags, bins and binders. I’d label my kids if they would stay still long enough!

The girls found a science experiment book and wanted to try a few things they saw. The first is a ‘trick’ for picking up ice with a string. The boys had done it before, but the girls didn’t really remember it. I think I might have shared this before, but I couldn’t find an old post. It is just one of those easy, simple things to do with kids that keeps them entertained for quite a bit (and they can learn a thing or two in the process).

Supplies:

• ice
• string (get it wet)
• salt (table, kosher, sea)
• bowl of water

Float a piece of ice in the water. Lay the WET string across the ice. Sprinkle salt over the string. It doesn’t take a ton of salt. Let it sit for about 30 seconds and then try picking up the string with both hands. The more string you can get on the ice (use big pieces of ice) the better it worked for us. If it doesn’t work the first time, just keep trying. The girls got the hang of it pretty quick. You can also try it with sea salt or kosher salt.

I didn’t go into a lot of the science behind this with the girls. They were just looking for something to do. I briefly explained how the salt makes the ice melt and then the ice and string freeze together. If you are looking for in-depth explanations, there are tons of posts online for this experiment with more of the science involved.

Sidenote: for Classical Conversation families, my boys did this as a demonstrative presentation a few years ago with more of the science explanation included.