Lotspeich Kindergarten Learns About Blubber

Kindergartners in Heather Arredondo’s class conducted a science experiment involving frigid temperatures to better understand how blubber protects polar bears from the cold. 

Arredondo lined two Ziploc bags with Crisco, to simulate blubber’s insulation effects. She showed the bags to her class and offered them the chance to poke two holes in them, which they gladly accepted.

Then, after filling four large bowls with ice water, Arredondo placed the “blubber” lined Ziploc bag into half of the bowls. Students took turns briefly placing one hand in the bowl with plain ice water, and the other in the Ziploc bag. 

At first, students couldn’t feel a difference in temperature. Arredondo explained that poking the holes allowed some of the ice water to get through the “blubber.” After draining the water, and putting an additional bag around the “blubber,” Arredondo asked students to try the experiment again.

This time, students were amazed. They couldn’t believe the difference in temperature, and how warm their hand was even though it was surrounded by ice water. 

“The blubber we used is about one inch thick, and polar bears have around five inches of blubber,” Arredondo said. “Can you imagine how warm the bears might feel even though where they live is so cold?” 

Energized by the experiment, students said they were excited to learn even more about polar bears.