Mismanage a Meanie (Fizzing Liquid)

Everybody has been challenged by a "Meanie" at some time in their life. How should we respond to a Meanie? Should we be mean right back at them or should we turn the other cheek and be nice to that Meanie? Here is a little experiment to demonstrate what happens when you throw mean words or when you throw nice words.

Supplies: 1 tablespoon of citric acid, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a small/snack size baggie, granulated white sugar, 1 packet of kool-aide, a mixing spoon, ¼ cup measuring cup, a bottle with 1 quart of water, 2 large clear pitchers/jar/vases, two jars with lids (lids good for transport), one sticker with a smiley face, one sticker with a mean face, one 1 inch deep pie pan (disposable is fine), Towels (back-up for clean-up)

BEFORE CLASS:

1. In both jars put in an equal amount of sugar. On one jar place the sticker of a happy face. On the other jar place the sticker of the mean face.
2. In a small/snack baggie put 1 tablespoon of citric acid and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Seal and shake well until thoroughly mixed.
3. Pour at least half, if not all, the citric acid mixture on top of the sugar with the meanie face. Do not mix. Amount depends on how much water you are using and how big your containers are.

Presentation:

1. (Pull out pan and place two clear Vases in it) So today you are having a good day. (pour half the water in one vase and half in the other vase). The sun is shining and you think you can do just about anything. You are super.
2. But then comes along a Meanie. (open the kool-aid mix. Pour half in one vase and half in the other while talking.) A meanie cuts in front of you in line, a meanie pushes you off the swings at recess, a meanie keeps kicking your seat on the bus….
3. What are you going to do? You have two choices. (Pick up jar with smiley face) You can be kind to the Meanie and forgive them, try to be their friend or just walk away. (Pick up the jar with the meanie face) You could be mean back and push them, call them names, etc. But what happens when you are nice? What happens when you are mean?
4. (Open the jar with the smiley face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Pour into one vase and stir.) If you try to be nice to the meanie, if you try to be their friend, find a game you can play together, ask them to sit with you at lunch, give them a special pencil, you might just create a new friend. (take a sip of the kool-aid) Good stuff.
5. (Open the jar with the meanie face and pour into the ¼ measuring cup. Be sure to get the citric acid mixture (maybe use a spoon). Pour into the other vase and stir. The mixture should start to fizz and fizz over the top of the vase, spilling into the pan.) BUT if you are mean back, if you push them, call them names, tell others how mean he/she is, someone who could have become your friend is going to grow more angry and more mean and you may never be friends. (DO NOT DRINK!)
6. There is a saying, “You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.” Honey is sweet. Vinegar is not. People/bees are attracted to sweet, not sour.

Bible Story, Genesis 26:12-22

Isaac had planted crops in Gerar where Abimelech was King of the Philistines. Isaac was very successful with many crops and many herds and this angered Abimelech. He decided to have his men fill up Isaac's water wells with dirt and Abimelech told Isaac to move. Three times Isaac dug wells and was told to move. Isaac did not react with angry or mean words. He just moved to another spot. God blessed Isaac for his good choices.

Resources
Adapted Experiment by Danika LaBrant. Original experiment called “Foaming Sugar” from the “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks” kit from the Scientific Explorer Line, Educational Make-It-Yourself Kit by Elmer’s Products, Inc. Company ©2007 Seattle, WA (Item No. A220)

NOTE Regarding Citrict Acid
Citric Acid came in a kit from the toy store called “Make Your Own Disgusting Gags and Pranks”, to buy Citric Acid by itself is much harder. Citric Acid is said to be a natural food preservative and is used in making soda drinks, cheese and candy. A search on the web found a couple of spots; suggestions included a wholesale foods supply, wholesale candy supply, the local grocery co-op, a restaurant or caterer, a health/natural foods store, or ask for a “reagent citric acid” from a science supply store. Another use is in making bath fizzies and bath bombs. Online, I found it at the San Francisco Bath Salt Company website: http://www.sfbsc.com/ and at Soap Suppliers: http://www.soapsuppliers.com/. Their description of citric acid is, “Citric Acid is a white, odorless, fine granular crystalline powder. Aside from using it in many foods, soft drinks, and seltzers it is commonly used in making bath fizzies and bath bombs.”