My Ice Cube Adventure

Students recently combined their knowledge of Properties of Matter, a Science Lab and Writing all into one. During our weekly Science Lab, each student was given one ice cube in a small bowl and told to conduct four action verbs to it. Students were predicting which actions caused the ice cubes to melt faster. I.E. Swirling it, breathe on it, lick it, etc. We reviewed the vocabulary words: Melting, Freezing, Solid, Liquid and States of Matter. We discussed how in order to change a Liquid to a Solid heat had to be removed and freezing had to occur. Then we chatted about how the actions could be reversed- going from a Solid to a Liquid. Students concluded that heat would then have to be added and that melting would occur. Once the lab was complete we composed our experience into writing. Below is the Ice Cube Adventure I created and modeled for the students. Students were required in their writing to use the five discussed vocabulary words along with add in the four action verbs they completed in the lab. Students were to underline the above information in their papers.

Ice Cube Adventure

Swimming through the lake one day, Sam and Fred decided to go on the outskirts of the lake. They were very tiny water molecules and their parents had warned them to always stay close by. Without minding their parent’s caution, they swam out anyway. Sam saw a silver ring at the bottom of the lake and motioned to Fred to come with him. Fred said, “I don’t know Sam, it looks kind of dangerous.” Sam went on instead and swam closer and closer to the ring. All of a sudden, Sam realized that he was being pulled closer and closer to the ring and he was unable to stop. Sam cried out for help but then suddenly got sucked into the silver cylinder. He swirled and swirled through a long grey pipe, went through several tubes and filters and then saw a light ahead of him. Sam realized what was about to happen, he was about to go through a water faucet. He fell out of the faucet and into a small blue square container. He was concerned about his liquid state when suddenly it got very dark and extremely cold. He knew that water changed to a solid called ice when heat was removed. Changing a liquid to a solid is called freezing and he definitely was! He was turning into an ICE CUBE!!! Sam tried to fight it but grew very tired and then just gave up and went to sleep. He woke up to a sudden light and instant change in temperature. He began to feel shaking and then fell into a bowl with other helpless ice cubes. He felt some fingers pick him up and place him into a small bowl. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a friendly face. It was Mrs. Welch! He had seen her several times at the lake conducting various science experiments and he knew if he told her his story that she would help him out. Sam began to beg Mrs. Welch, “Please, please help get back to a liquid water molecule, please! I miss my family and friend Fred.” Mrs. Welch knew that Sam was quickly already on his way to changing his state of matter back to a liquid because he was in a warmer environment and no longer the freezer. Sam however was freaking out so Mrs. Welch decided to help him change quicker. She first swirled him around in the bowl. Next, she began to bounce him up and down inside the bowl. Sam quickly asked her to stop because he was getting a major headache. Mrs. Welch apologized and picked Sam up and began to pet him. She could tell he was still very cold so she started to blow her breath on him to heat him up. Before much more time, Sam finally was melting back to his liquid state! He couldn’t believe it! It felt good to be back to the way things used to be and he made one final request to Mrs. Welch. “Can you please return me to the lake?” Mrs. Welch was already headed there that afternoon and decided to drop him off. That night Sam warned everyone of the shiny lake ring and reminded them of the importance of following the rules and listening to their parents.


The students did fantastic on this! See some student samples below!!!