Little Pods of Science!
The Incredible Cranberry
There's more than a bog's worth of learning surrounding the tiny capsule called cranberries.
That's precisely what we discoverd while in our homeschool Cranberry Unit.
The more I prepared for our lesson, the more science began to burst out!
Examining why the berries float and bounce took us on a fun learning adventure, that included its anatomy, the way it's harvested, and its health benefits.
Even more though, this small, tart fruit introduced us to the topic of acids and bases which greatly intrigued my young scientists.
So, I strapped on my chest waders, and entered my homeschool bog to prepare an experiment that would give my kids a deeper understanding of the relationship between acids and bases, and likewise cranberries.
Gather up your supplies and test out these cranberry combinations with your little scientists.
Get the Cranberry Lesson complete with paired worksheets, activities, and more HERE!
Cranberry Combinations
Experiment
What You'll Need:
4 Jars
Cranberries or Cranberry Juice
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Vinegar
Orange Juice
Paper Towels
Spoons
Let's Test It!
Step 1: Prepare the cranberry juice if using
fresh cranberries. Add 1 cup of cranberries and
1 cup of water to a pan and bring to boil until
the cranberries burst. Remove from heat, and strain the juice into 4 jars, filling the bottoms of each jar. If using store bought juice, add the juice to fill the bottom of each of the 4 jars.
Step 2: Prepare the workspace. Lay out paper towels, and place the 4 jars on top. Gather the test substances and place one behind each jar.
*Get your scientist the FREE paired worksheet, Cranberry Combinations, to log their data.*
Step 3: Have your scientist spoon in or pour the first substance into a jar of cranberry juice. Take note of any changes that occur. Repeat with each jar in order to test the remaining substances.
Step 4: Review and discuss your findings.
Why did some substances react to the cranberry juice and others not react? What do you think causes the reaction? What do you think would happen if you tested other substances?
So What's The Science In Action?
I'm always looking for a simple explanation for my young scientists (and myself) when experimenting with science, so that the topic isn't missed or thought to be too intimidating.
The science happening in this experiment shows us a chemical reaction between an acid and base. The cranberries are naturally acidic and when a base, such as baking powder, is added the acid level changes making for a reaction we can see- a color change!
Let's Keep Learning Together!
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