A Sweet Adventure
on the Ice Cream Wonderland
Find the solid food in the kitchen
Chocolate bars
Water
Coffee
Ice cubes
Melted chocolate
Cheese
Chocolate bars
Water
Coffee
Ice cubes
Melted chocolate
Cheese
On a sunny summer afternoon, Eli and I decided to walk in the park and enjoy some delicious ice cream. As usual, I was very excited; all I wanted was a mango-flavored ice cream.
Eli was also thinking about the ice cream she was going to eat when a little girl offered her a nice-smelling red rose that smelled nice. She said, “Look, Riri! I am going to eat a cherry-flavored ice cream, and it will be as red as this rose.” Eli was just as eager, dreaming about cherry-flavored ice cream.
As we walked, a little girl approached and offered Eli a beautiful red rose. Eli sniffed it and chirped, “Look, Riri!
I will get cherry ice cream which will be as red as this rose!” We both laughed, imagining the tasty treat.
After playing in the park for a while, we heard the familiar jingle of the ice cream cart. We raced over, ready to enjoy our favorite flavors. I quickly chose mango, and Eli got her cherry ice cream.
I took the first bite, which was so good that I finished mine quickly, feeling content. Meanwhile, with her tiny beak, Eli was eating very slowly.
Suddenly, I noticed something odd. Her ice cream was losing its shape and dripping onto the ground! I asked, “Eli, is your ice cream damaged?”
Eli replied calmly, “No, it is just melting,” and explained, “Because I’m eating so slowly, my ice cream is receiving heat from the warm air around us.
The heat transforms it from a solid into a liquid, just like snow melts under the sun or chocolate melts in warm hands.”
I blinked, surprised. I said, “I’ve seen things melt before but never really thought about why it happens.”
Then curiosity bubbled up inside me. I asked, “Eli, does this mean all solids can melt?” Eli nodded, “Yes, Riri, if they receive enough heat. Ice, chocolate, wax – they all melt when they get warmer.”
I asked, “What about liquids? Can they turn back into solids?” Eli chirped with a smile, “Of course! When liquids lose heat, they freeze and become solid.
For example, the water in that lake freezes every winter because it gets so cold.”
Eli noticed my growing curiosity and came up with an idea. She said, “Let’s play a game, Riri! As we walk, let’s think of other examples where solids melt and liquids freeze. I’ll go first—candles melt into wax when you light them!”
I thought for a moment. I said excitedly, “And popsicles freeze when you put juice in the freezer!”. We continued walking, coming up with more examples.
By the time we finished our walk, I had learned much about melting and freezing. I smiled at Eli and said, “I never thought I’d learn science while eating ice cream!” Eli chirped happily.
“Learning can happen anywhere, Riri—even in the land of ice cream. Remember, solids melt when they get heat, and liquids freeze when they lose it.”
I laughed, thinking about my ice cream. “I guess eating quickly has its benefits!”
