Ready-Set-Go STEM Activities – Science Scientific Method – Whale Blubber

Scientific Method – Whale Blubber Experiments

Connection to BSA STEM Awards

This activity helps youth to complete Requirements 1 and 2 of the Cub Scout Science Belt Loop.

Content Notes

  • The basic idea here is to create a science “station” where kids come to learn about the scientific method and how it is used in conducting a science experiment. There are three different versions of the same experiment, each for kids of different ages. Usethe version(s) that will be appropriate for the age range of kids you’ll have at this station.
  • There isn’t one single gold standard for describing the “scientific method”. This set of activities uses a version of the scientific method found on First Grade Shenanigans, a blog hosted by Dawn Hilburn[*]
  • The Whale Blubber Experiments are for first graders and above and are adapted from materials at (The intention is for kids to do both experiments, one after the other, since the second experiment informs the results of the first.)
  • Optional: The Scientific Method – Fun Activities pages help kids to build the language skills they need to discuss the scientific method with others. The jumble is appropriate for 1st graders. The word search is best for 2nd graders and above. The crossword puzzle is best for 3rd graders and above. These make good take-home activities.
  • Video Resource: Steve Spangler Science has a great YouTube video about these experiments at

Get Ready

  • For the Whale Blubber experiments, you will need for each group of children:
  • a bucket or large bowl filled with water and ice
  • timer
  • a “blubber mitten” – two quart-size zip-type plastic bags, one inside the other, with vegetable shortening placed between the bags
  • A “bare-hands mitten” – two quart-size zip-type plastic bags, one inside the other, with nothing placed between the bags
  • towels nearby on which to park dripping “mittens” that have just been taken out of the ice water
  • Optional: Scientific Method poster nearby, experiment worksheets, pencils, clipboards
  • Optional: make the Scientific Methods poster or have the kids make the poster.
  • Optional: print out the experiment pages for kids to fill in as they complete the steps of each experiment. The experiments are just as fun without these, but they help keep kids focused and reinforce the steps of the scientific method.
  • Highly Recommended: do the experiments yourself before having the children do them. This helps you identify problem areas, safety issues, and best strategies for directing the activity.

Get Set

  • If you have it, set up your poster near your station.
  • Set up the experiments.
  • If you are using the experiment worksheets, have them as well as pencils and possibly clipboards nearby.
  • Make sure that you have one adult leader or parent to staff this set of experiments. An adult leader or parent can be given a 5-minute orientation to the experiment he/she will direct, including what to expect, how it ties to the scientific method, and how to begin.

Go!

  • Each child who comes to this station should be directed to the age-appropriate experiment(s).
  • The adult leader for any experiment can introduce it by saying, “Science always begins with a question,” and go from there to the specifics of that experiment.
  • The kids should be engaged in hands-on action the vast majority of the time during these experiments. These are not intended to be demonstrations by adults with kids watching. The intention is “learning by doing”. The adult leaders should only be doing a part of the experiment if there is a safety issue.
  • If you are using the experiment worksheets, make sure the children write their names on their worksheets before beginning the experiment.
  • Ideally, the kids should help with the clean-up and re-setting of the experiment(s) for the next group.
  • If you are using them, you can give each child one or more of the Scientific Method Fun Activities pages as a take-home.

[*]See to download her Scientific Method poster elements. These are also available on under the Youth Activities > Cub Scout Science tab. Ms. Hilburn also graciously gave permission to borrow and adapt her scientific method experiment worksheet design.