For this experiment, ask an adult or teacher for help in purchasing dry ice or borrowing some from school. Get a spoon and place it under running hot water for ten seconds. Remove spoon from water stream and lace it firmly against a side of the dry ice. When contact is made, the spoon will scream as the dry ice is turned into gas from the spoons heat. The sound is actually a vibration caused when the gas created around the dry ice pushes the spoon away from its surface.
This experiment requires a few empty film canister and dry ice. Purchase or borrow insulated gloves from school for handling dry ice. With adult supervision, break apart small pieces of dry ice, placing them inside the opened film canisters. Replace lids and stand back. As the process of sublimation begins, the pressure caused from the gases being released will pop the caps off the film canisters. Repeats with different sizes and amounts of dry ice, recording the distance the lids travel.
This projects require two deflated balloons and a bucket of water. Place a few small pieces of dry ice inside one balloon using tongs or wearing insulated gloves. Once several pieces are in place, tie the balloon off and setting it on the counter for observation. Repeat process with the other balloon, placing it in the bucket of water once it's tied off. The balloon will inflate from the gases created from the dry ice. Compare times of inflation for both balloons and record results.
Dry ice is commonly used around Halloween as an effect when creating a spooky haunted mansion or as a prop for plays. Students can recreate fog by submerging chunks of dry ice in buckets of warm water for a large scale presentation or make a beverage spooky by placing a few small pieces of dry ice inside a glass. Experiment with how much dry ice is needed for creating a foggy cauldron or how much is too much when making a foggy drink. Record findings for presentation.