Thanksgiving Science Activities {With Cranberries} - Teaching to Inspire with Jennifer Findley

This first science activity explores whether cranberries will float. For this activity, you need the following ingredients:

1. Cranberries (not dried) – 1-3 per student
2. Cups of water – one per student or group
3. Optional Recording Mini Booklet

Begin the activity by asking students if cranberries will float or sink in water. Most (like my son) will say they will sink in the water. When I prompted my son as to why he thought that, he said because they are not full of air. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect response. After your discussion, have the students create a hypothesis using an If… then… because… format in their booklet. Then generate a list of materials needed and create a clear sequence of procedures for the students to follow when conducting the experiment.

After all the up front work is completed, give each student 1-3 cranberries. I like to give them 3 cranberries to explain the importance of multiple trials.

After the students discover that the cranberries float in the water, have them discuss how this could be possible. Then cut a cranberry in half and show the students the four air pockets inside that allow the cranberries to float. The students will be able to use that new knowledge to create a clear conclusion about why cranberries float.

This next Thanksgiving science activity is super engaging for the students. My own son loved it when I tried it out with him. The ingredients needed are:

1. Dried Cranberries (a few per student or group)
2. Sprite
3. Container or cup
4. Optional Recording Mini Booklet

Have the students place the cranberries in the Sprite and watch them “dance.” When the cranberries interact with the bubbles (carbon dioxide gas) in the soda, they will be carried up to the top. When the bubbles pop and release the carbon dioxide, the cranberries drop by down. This makes it seem like they are “dancing” in the Sprite.

The students will love watching the cranberries dance up and down in the glass of Sprite.

To download the mini recording booklets for both activities, click on the image below.

Original article and pictures take http://teachingtoinspire.com/2015/11/thanksgiving-science-activities-with-cranberries.html site