Ice Cream Shop!

To create your own ice cream shop invite your preschooler to dictate a menu for you to write down. You could also create a sign for your ice cream shop along with open and closed signs.

To make ice cream cones draw, trace, cut, and glue isosceles triangles and circles together. Use markers to decorate with your ice cream cones with your favorite toppings.

When you're ready to start playing ask your preschooler to assign roles. I wonder who takes the orders and who is the customer?

It might be fun to have a clip board and paper ready to write down the orders and add up the cost. You could also extend the fun by making your own money and cash register.

It might also be fun to explore making ice cream together. Making ice cream at home is a fun way to experience the science of changing matter from liquid to solid by changing the temperature. The salt will lower the freezing temperature of the ice, which will cause it to melt. The ice also absorbs the heat from the bag of ice cream ingredients, causing it to freeze instead. The end result is something yummy!

Step 1: Put a 1/2 cup of half and half and 1/2 cup of milk into the smaller Ziploc baggie.
Step 2: Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 2 Tablespoons of sugar.
Step 3: Zip the small baggie closed tightly and try to get most of the air out.
Step 4: Fill the large bag 1/2 way with ice, then put 2 Tablespoons of salt on top
Step 5: Put the small baggie inside the big one and seal. Shake well for 8 minutes
Step 6: Take the small baggie out, pour into a bowl/cone, and enjoy!

While taking turns shaking your bag it might be fun dancing to Laurie Berkner’s “Ice Cream Cone” song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuFOyTUXKQ8

Some fun color by number and mazes are in the gallery section - enjoy!