Jelly Experiments

In Room 4 we are studying 'Matter' for science. We have been finding out about solids, liquids and gases. We have also been learning about how matter can change from one state to another and back again. 

This morning we completed a science experiment using jelly. We wanted to see if jelly would still work the same if we changed just one variable. We split up in 7 different groups and each group made jelly, but each group change one thing slightly. Anna, Samara and Bryce followed all of the instructions correctly, except they used cold water instead of boiling water. They found that the mixture didn't mix very nicely, the crystals didn't dissolve and the water had a white slurry on the top. They predicted that it wouldn't set properly.

Ryan, Charlotte and Arnika followed their instructions too, except they use 1 lite of boiled water instead of 500ml. They had to use a larger bowl than the other groups because there was so much liquid. This group predicted that their jelly would not set properly.

Regan, Isla and Alyssa were the control group. it was their job to make their jelly following the instructions perfectly, without changing any variables. They used 500ml of boiled water and they mixed their jelly until all of the crystals had dissolved. When it had cooled they put it in the fridge. All of the other jellies would be compared to this jelly to see if their jelly had behave differently with a changed variable. 

Imogen, Clifton and Josie followed the instructions carefully, using boiled water and mixed it thoroughly, but they only used half the amount of water required. They made their jelly with just 250ml. They predicted that their jelly would set quickly and be quite thick, maybe rubbery. 

Oakley, Aaron and Lanie used the correct amount of boiled water, and the correct amount of jelly, but they did not mix their jelly. The jelly crystals did not dissolve they just sat in a lump at the bottom of the bowl. This group predicted that it might set but it would be very sweet. 

Te Aroha, Wyatt and Toby used boiled water and stirred their mixture carefully, but they only used 1/2 a packet of jelly crystals to make their jelly. The crystals dissolved very quickly. This group predicted that their jelly would not set properly. 

Groups stirred very carefully, ensuring that they didn't change any other variables by spilling some of their jelly out. 

The cold jelly did not look as nice as the jellies made with boiled water. The crystals did not dissolve in the cold water as quickly or as nicely as they did in the cold water. It took a lot more mixing. 

Everyone was involved in some way and it was heaps of fun.

We decided we needed to make one more jelly and test one more variable. William made his jelly perfectly, following all instructions correctly, but we decided that we would not put his in the fridge to set. We wanted to see if it would set at room temperature or if jelly needed a fridge temperature to make it a solid.

 We put all of the jellies on the classroom bench for an hour to cool. We labelled them all so we could remember which jelly was which experiment.

After morning tea we took all of the jellies, except the one that was staying at room temperature, and put them in the fridge in the staff-room.

At 2.15, after the jellies had been in the fridge for 3 hours, we went back over to the fridge to see what was happening with our experiments.

We looked at the control jelly first, to see what we should expect from all of the other jellies. The control jelly had set.

The jelly that had used only half the amount of water was set really hard, it was more rubbery than the control jelly. Some of the jellies had started to set, but we still couldn't tell what the true result was going to be, so we decided to put them all back in the fridge and see what happened if we left them overnight.

Mrs McTavish was very interested in our science experiments.