I need help with a project!?

For chemistry we have to make a project and I decided to make hot ice. The only problem is that I don't have sodium acetate. I've tried making it with baking soda and vinegar but that didn't come out too well. Is there any substitution for the sodium acetate? My teacher gave me calcium acetate. Do they work the same? Also, she gave me sodium acetate in the liquid form. Could I still do the hot ice experiment with the sodium acetate in liquid form? If so, how?