How Does Blubber Work?

This experiment will teach kids about how arctic animals stay warm and they will feel first-hand how it feels to be covered in “blubber”!

Your Instructor: Keira 

Difficulty: Medium

Length of Activity: 10 Minutes

Supplies:

• Large bowl
• Ice
• Water
• Latex gloves
• Crisco/vegetable shortening
• Ziplock bag (large enough to fit hand in)

Follow Along Below

Written Instructions (Printable PDF)

1. Fill your bowl with ice and water.
2. Put your hand(s) in the water and time yourself on how long you can stand the cold.
3. After you record that time, put both gloves on.
4. Put one hand in the shortening and use your opposite hand to create a ball-like form of shortening around your hand.
5. Put your hand inside Ziplock.
6. Make sure it is completely sealed.
7. Put your hand into the water and record the time again.
8. Compare the two times.