Make Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

Okay, this isn’t really a nature activity, but it does involve a bit of science. Also, the supplies are simple; no ice cream machine is necessary, making this a somewhat portable activity. Kids and adults can make an individual serving of ice cream wherever they are. Bring along the few supplies and you can make ice cream after the kids participate in a summer sport, during an afternoon at summer camp, in the backyard, at the park, while camping, etc.

For each serving you will need
6 tablespoons of rock salt
Ice
One-gallon sealable plastic bag
One sandwich or quart-size sealable plastic bag
1 tablespoon of sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup of milk
Spoon
For preteens and adults who’d prefer a bigger scoop of ice cream, you can double the recipe.

Add the rock salt to the gallon-size plastic bag. Fill halfway with ice.
Place the other ingredients in the smaller bag and seal.
Set the small bag inside the large bag.
Close the large bag and shake for approximately five minutes.
Eat the ice cream.

This is particularly fun to do when it is hot outside because shaking the bag of ice is very cooling. If you suspect that the kids with you will try tossing the bag, remind them that if they are too rough they could cause the milk to leak into the salt and ice and then they won’t have ice cream to eat.

And for the science piece … salt lowers the freezing point of water. When you are making ice cream, you need temperatures lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which the salt helps create.