Make Ice Cream with Preschoolers

Make Ice Cream with Preschoolers

What do preschoolers like more than eating ice cream? Making their own of course! This preschool cooking activity is easy and includes a variety of learning opportunities. Gather a few ingredients and you're ready to go! After making your ice cream following our tutorial pop over to our free Fun in the Summer Sun Theme Planning Page for even more activity ideas. 

Ice Cream Ingredient List

This fun activity is one of 200 hands on preschool activities featured in our Pre-K Play Ideas eBook! Purchase our eBook to have all of these activity pages at your fingertips.

• ½ cup half & half
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ⅓ teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups ice
• ⅓ cup rock salt
• 1 6-cup plastic bowl with lid
• 1 1-cup plastic bowl with lid

Time to Make Some Ice Cream

Before getting started support your preschooler in proper hand-washing, ask them if they know why this is so important, fill in information as needed. 
Now, with clean hands get out the large bowl. Measure the ice and add to the bowl cup-by-cup (math learning opportunity for your preschooler!). ​Next, measure the rock salt and add to the ice in the large bowl. 

Teacher Tip: Measure out the ingredients in advance and place into prep bowls, this will make it easier for the preschoolers to measure accurately on their own without impacting the results (You haven't lived until you make muffins with a preschooler and get mouthful of salt)

Set aside the large bowl. In the smaller bowl measure and add the half & half, sugar, and vanilla then mix it all up gently. ​

Place the lid on the small bowl and secure. This is another good learning opportunity for preschoolers. As they gain independence it's important for them to know some things adults simply do without thinking about it. Have them hold the bowl upside down over the sink to check for leaks. Your child's kindergarten teacher will thank you!​

Next, place the small sealed bowl in in the center of the larger bowl. Make sure the ice surrounds the smaller bowl. Place the lid on the large bowl. Shake the containers for about 10 minutes or until the ice cream forms.

Grab a spoon and enjoy! 
Next time play around with adding in some different flavors for a fun experiment! 
This activity is a perfect science activity to pair with a summer theme, you can find more fun and engaging activities over on our Free Fun in the Summer Sun Theme Planning Page. ​

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​Buy the eBook!

Save time planning your hands on preschool activities! Find detailed directions for this activity + 199 more in our Pre-K Play Ideas eBook! Print each activity page, or access them digitally!

More Summer Fun for Preschoolers

Summer Preschool Activities
Summer Theme Planning Guide