C.A.S.E files: Pre-Thanksgiving Fun

Since we've been studying pilgrims, I thought a good activity for the last Fun Friday of the year would be to make butter. I got 2 containers with screw-on lids (put tape on the lids b/c they crack from the marble), 1 16oz container of heavy whipping cream, and 2 marbles. I used the big marble and it cracked both lids so you can use a smaller one or do without. The marble makes it churn quicker and we were running out of time. Then I poured half the whipping cream into each container, added a marble, screwed the lid on TIGHT, and handed them to the 2 groups I had in a circle. Next they started shaking to the chant "Shake, shake, shake...shake, shake, shake...shake the butter, shake the butter...pass". They would pass it to the next child and we'd start all over again. It took about 20 passes (less than 5 minutes)before I realized I couldn't really hear the cream or the marble anymore. We opened the containers and we had whipped butter! I probably should've continued to shake the containers more but like I said the lids were cracking from the marble and the butter was set up enough to spread. I spread them on slices of bread and the kids were amazed and in awe at what we had just done! Next year I'll know to use a smaller marble and put duct tape on the lids first.