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Angélique Boissonneault has a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Science. She has worked in a laboratory and tested her knowledge. She has taught Math, Chemistry, and Physics. She has also developed a simplistic and innovative approach designed to introduce young children to scientific experiments, old and new. She created her friend Globule. This character is sometimes red, and sometimes white. He guides little ones through their scientific experiments and discoveries. It is clear to see Angélique is passionate about children and science. Globule's Approach.

Globule wonders...

Why do certain things melt when exposed to heat?

Experiment: It melts

Hypotheses:

Ask children if they know what makes certain things melt. Ask them to name foods and objects which melt when exposed to heat.

Material:

• Aluminum paper
• An adjustable 100W table lamp
• A piece of butter
• A piece of chocolate
• A piece of candle wax
• Sugar
• Scissors
• Wooden sticks

Manipulation:

1. Cut 4 squares measuring 10cm² each out of the aluminum paper. If you have difficulty doing this, ask your caregiver to help you.
   
   
2. Fold the sides at approximately 1.5cm from the edges and pinch the corners to form 4 small plates from which substances will be unable to escape when they melt.
   
   
3. Place the substance pieces in your small plates. Make sure each plate contains a different substance.
   
   
4. Your caregiver turns the lamp on and places it approximately 5cm above the plates.
   
   
5. For 5 minutes, observe the substances. Notice how each of them transforms.
   
   
6. Your caregiver turns the lamp off and sets it aside.
   
   
7. With your wooden stick, stir the substances and observe how they have changed.
   
   
8. Let the substances cool off and watch what happens.

Explanation:

The lamp produced heat and increased the temperature to approximately 165⁰F (74⁰C). This heat warmed up the substances and melted them to different degrees. Can you say which one was most affected by the heat? The butter, the chocolate, and the candle wax all became liquid. We say that they melted. On the other hand, the sugar remained unchanged because the heat was not strong enough to melt it. Then, upon cooling, the substances returned to a solid state. You can repeat the experiment with different substances!

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