Ice Fishing with a Pinch of Salt

What you need

• Ice cubes, 1 cube
• Clear cups, 1 glass of cold water
• Water, enough to fill the glass
• Salt, 1 pinch
• Plate or tray, 1, to catch drips (optional)
• String, 1 piece, about a forearm long
• Towel, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Fill a clear cup or glass with cold water and set it on a plate or tray to catch drips. Grab an ice cube, a piece of string about the length of your forearm, and a little salt. Keep a towel nearby for spills.

1. Check the glass of cold water sits steady in the middle of the table. Ask for help if you need it
2. Drop the ice cube into the glass of water and watch it float.
   Ask: Why do you think the ice floats instead of sinking?
3. Try lifting the cube by laying the string on top and pulling.
4. Lay the string across the top of the ice cube so it rests flat.
5. Sprinkle a small pinch of salt on the string and cube.
   Ask: What do you think the salt will do to the ice?
6. Wait about one minute without touching anything. Count the seconds together!
7. Gently pull the string straight up and lift your ice cube out of the water.
   Ask: Did you catch it? How does it feel to go ice fishing?
8. Talk about why it worked, then wipe up any spilled water.
9. Catch more ice or invite a friend to fish! How many can you land?
   Ask: What would you change to catch your next ice cube even faster?

Play it again

• Two at once: try to lift two ice cubes with one string.
• Salt test: try a tiny pinch and a bigger pinch, then see which catches best.
• Beat the clock: try waiting 30 seconds, then 45, then 60, and find the shortest wait that works.