Ice Cream Lab What Was this project? This project was more of a fun thing to do at the end of a quarter. We got ice, half and half, rock salt, sugar, and vanilla. We took the cream, vanilla, and sugar and mixed it in a small bag. In a bigger bag we put ice and rock salt. Then we put the small bag in the big bag and shook till we got ice cream. The rock salt melted the ice to below freezing temperatures, making this water colder than the ice was before, giving us the ability to make ice cream. What are you most proud of from this assignment, and why? I’m most proud of simply being able to make the ice cream. I was extremely impressed with our groups team work and quickness when it came to making in ice cream. We made vanilla, matcha, and mint chip. Which 21st Century Skills do you feel this assignment addresses, and why? I believe this assignment addresses Financial, Economic, and Business Literacy because I demonstrated an understanding of the economic forces that drive today’s economy by simply shopping for the materials needed for this lab. I was also able to be prepared to make appropriate personal economic choices, thus the buying. How did you develop and/or improve upon your 21st Century Skills with this assignment? I was able to develop these skills because I improved and supported my economy, even through one transaction. And with that lab multiple transactions were made to benefit our economy. What was most difficult about completing this task? Probably shaking the cream for so long. My hands got numb and my arms started to hurt. We were shaking a bag of cream and sugar in a bigger bag of salt and ice. We needed to shake consistently for ice cream to form. How could you improve this work? If you could start over, what would you do differently? Our matcha ice cream wasn't sweet enough, so if I was given the ability to start over I'd probably add more sugar to the bag of cream and matcha powder. How does this relate to what you have learned in the past? This relates to what I've learned involving insulators and conductors in 8th grade! We did something similar to this but not as fun. We watched ice melt. How can you apply this to future learning? I can apply my new knowledge if I ever want to make ice cream again. And I can now understand that every transaction I make in my local community is improving my economy.