Bubble “bottle”

How to make an edible water bubble “bottle” with flavors

Language: English

Description

To build a mixer wiht Lego pieces and make a water bubble “bottle”.

Scientific concept introduced

Spherification, chemical reaction, menbrane.

Creative and critical thinking

To observe how the liquids transform and one of them creates a membrane that holds the liquid inside.

Mathematical reasoning

To measure the proportions for the recipe.

Scientific thinking

Asking questions, designing experiments.

Learning how to learn

Feeling of self-efficacy in learning, coping with stress.

Additional

Communicate with others, sharing ideas, hand-eye coordination.

How to make an edible water bubble “bottle” with flavors

Overall aims

• To improve both the knowledge and the attitude towards sustainable cooking applied in cooking. 
• To develop abilities to build with Lego an easy mixer. 
• To develop abilities to make an edible water bubble with flavors. 
• To show interest in a healthy lifestyle. 
• To promote healthy and sustainable eating habits.

Vocabulary – keywords should be understood

Eating habits, sustainability, robot, mixer, robotics, design, execute, add, spherification, membrane, molecular gastronomy, environment, pollution, grams, cup, mixing, homogeneous shape.

Expected learning outcomes (operational aims)

• Children will be able to widen their knowledge and attitudes towards sustainable and healthy eating habits. 
• Children will be capable of building a mixer with LEGO pieces. 
• The students will be able to make an edible water bubble. 
• The students will use a mixer to mix the ingredients of a recipe.

STEM skills – to which the learning unit is related to

CORE STEM SKILLS

Science: to create a membrane through the spherification process that encapsulates the water and it can be eaten after. Process of turning ingredients into an edible water bubble based on molecular gastronomy. 

Technology and Engineering: to build a mixer using LEGO pieces to mix the ingredients and prepare the edible water bubble. 

Maths: to measure the proportions of the recipe to make the edible water bubble.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

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Teaching methodologies/activity outline

Instructions to make the recipe of the edible water bubble with flavors: 

1. Introduction to the idea; questions 

• What do we usually do when we are thirsty? (we drink different kinds of beverages). 
• What kind of beverage is healthier for us? (water). 
• Where do we drink water from? (from the tap or from a water bottle). 
• What is the bottle made of? (plastic or glass). 
• Is plastic good or bad for the environment? (bad)
• Why is it bad? (because it can end up in the sea because it pollutes the environment… ) At this stage, the tutor will show different pictures of the consequences, for us and for the environment, of using plastic. 
• We are going to try to create a “bottle” of water that is edible. Like the ice cream cones that are also edible. 

1. Instructions to make the recipe:

• Put a gram of sodium alginate in a cup of drinking water (is the one that we will make the spherifications from). Instead of water, we can use juices. 
• Mix with our Lego mixer until obtaining a homogeneous mix. 
• Let it sit for 15 minutes. 
• Put 4 cups of water in another container. 
• Add to this mix 5 grams of calcium gluconolactate/calcium lactate and integrate it. Here is where the magic happens!
• Add the first mix to the second one using a spoon. The spheres will appear when having contact with the calcium gluconolactate. 
• Move them carefully for three minutes, time in which the membrane will be formed. 
• To stabilize the reaction, remove the spherifications from the recipient and put them in clean water.

Assessment of learning

Questions for the participants 

1. What have we built today? (a mixer, a kitchen robot with Lego pieces). 
2. Why have we built it for? 
3. How have we built it? 
4. What have we prepared today? (an edible water bubble). 
5. Why have we done it? (to know if we can have water without using water bottles). 
6. Is it possible to have a “bottle” of edible water? 
7. In what ways can this help us and our planet?
8. Has it been difficult to build the mixer?
9. Has it been difficult to make an edible water bubble? 

Teacher self-assessment

1. Has it been possible to do all the steps of the activity with the children? 
2. Have the students shown interest in the activity?
3. What was the function of the teacher in the activity?

Equipment and materials to be used in learning unit (tools, ingredients etc)

• Lego pieces
• Water
• Containers
• Sodium Alginate 
• Calcium Gluconolactate 
• Juice
• Scale 
• Spoon
• Pictures of the use of plastic and its consequences for us and for the environment

Kind of setting

Class

References – source

DIY: How to Make an Edible Water “Bottle” or Bubble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLjzsfgk198

How to make an edible water bubble “bottle” with flavors

1. Usefulness for STEM education – integrating content of different disciplines

Cross-curricular character of the resource 

The range of S-T-E-M subjects included

The presentation of possibilities of including artistic activities (STEAM approach)

2. Expected learning outcomes

Consistency (links) with preschool core curriculum

Communicativeness of description

3. Methodology of teaching

Clarity, communicativeness of instructions for teachers

Meaningful learning – using practical life problems

Original idea 

The level of ease in implementing the methodology to preschool age children

The level of ease in preparing necessary ingredients, materials and equipment needed

4. Sustainability

Ecological characteristics of materials/ results

Supporting healthy eating habits 

Relation with local traditions of cooking (using local products)

Low ecological footprint

Possibilities of inclusion (respecting cultural diversity and food intolerances)

5. Class management

Using differentiated forms of work – individual, team work etc.

6. Time management