We are continuing to practice using the scientific method to answer questions about the world around us. Today we found ourselves investigating the mystery of dancing raisins.

We learned that fizzy drinks have bubbles because of the carbon dioxide gas that is in them. When you put raisins into a cup of fizzy liquid, bubbles will attach themselves to the surface of the raisins and act like a flotation device, causing them to rise up to the surface! When they reach the surface, the bubbles escape and the raisin sinks back down again. We experimented with three different liquids – club soda, Sprite, and club soda mixed with baking soda and vinegar.

Which liquid do you think made the raisins dance the most? What does this mean about the carbon dioxide in that liquid? Ask your scientist what they discovered!

When we do experiment write-ups in our science notebooks we follow the following criteria:

• title and date at the top of a new page
• include all the following sections with titles: question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, results, conclusion
• writing is neat and legible
• data tables are drawn with a ruler and have headings

It is important to follow all instructions and criteria neatly and carefully… in the name of science!