Fruit Popsicles

What You Need:

• Popsicle molds, or paper cups and craft sticks
• Blender
• 2 small kiwis
• 1 banana
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• 1 cup water
• Paper
• Pencil

What You Do:

1. Start by asking your fourth grader what she knows about how things freeze. Help her gather more information at the local library or on the Internet. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But how long does water take to freeze?
2. She can learn more, as well as chart her freezing experiment, by making some tasty popsicles! Dig out the popsicle molds from the back of the kitchen cabinet, or find some plastic cups and craft sticks to use as molds.
3. Invite your fourth-grader to use a spoon to remove the skin from the kiwi and add the fruit to the blender, as well as one peeled and diced banana. Offer assistance as needed while she’s using the knife – no one wants to get cut! Allowing your child to use a small paring knife builds her self-confidence in the kitchen as well as her cutting skills.
4. Now she can add the yogurt and water to the blender and blend the ingredients until smooth.
5. It’s time to make popsicles! She can pour the mixture into the molds. But, before popping them in the freezer, offer her a piece of paper and pencil to help chart her freezing experiment. She can mark what time the popsicles go into the freezer and then chart their progress every hour.
6. If she’s using paper cups, allow the mixture to freeze for 20 minutes, then gently press the craft sticks into the middle of the cups.
7. Now she can keep track of the popsicles' progress by checking them every 30 minutes and marking their progress on her chart!
8. Once the popsicles are frozen through, they can be removed from the mold and enjoyed! While taste-testing her popsicle, she can write a short paragraph about the discoveries she made during her freezing experiment.