Happy 2019 STEM Spark-ers! When you live in a warm weather place like Phoenix, you rarely receive snowfall (it has happened though). So if you don't get snow, then why not make some? That's exactly what STEM Spark did over winter break! Let it snow, let it STEM, let it STEM, let it snow!
You'll Need: 3 cups of baking soda 1/2 cup of hair conditioner (suggest white in color so that it looks like snow) glitter (optional) large plastic container or large pan "snow" tools: beads, toothpicks, cookie cutters or Play-Doh tools, ribbon and googling eyes for snow people
Instructions: 1. Pour baking soda into container. 2. Pour conditioner into container.
3. Stir together with a spoon (or your hands). Snow should be like sand. 4. Let the play begin!
And if you'd like, you can explain how mixing the baking soda and conditioner together creates an exothermic reaction, which is the same type of reaction in the formation of real snow. Exothermic is a chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat or light. And if you want an endothermic reaction, like the reaction that melting snow is, then pour some vinegar on top of your fake snow. Here is a video to help your children learn more about exothermic and endothermic reactions. Happy science experiment-ing! ⛄