Cake Science – chemical experiment

Type of resource: website, guideliness

Web address https://teachbesideme.com/kitchen-chemistry-cake-experiment/

Language: English

Description

To experience how different ingredients affect the result of a cake.

Scientific concept introduced

Structure, tenderness, endothermic reactions

Creative and critical thinking

–

Mathematical reasoning

To measure the ingredients.

To classify the different cakes.

To develop the ability to observe and discover.

Scientific thinking

To ask questions.

To analyze what happens in each cake.

To design experiments

Learning how to learn

Motivation to learn and engage.

Additional

To follow the instructions of the recipe.

Cake Science – chemical experiment

Overall aims

To develop the ability to observe and discover
To strengthen the research attitude of children.
To improve children’s problem-solving (take initiative).
To create the learning opportunity for explaining the concepts of size; texture; appearance; taste; time; chemical reaction
To use writing in a significant context

Vocabulary – keywords should be understood

Size; texture; appearance; taste; time; chemical reaction; bake

Expected learning outcomes (operational aims)

To run the experiment
To understand that some ingredients have to be constant and the others must vary one at each experiment to be able to compare
To measure the ingredients
To explain the concepts of size, texture, appearance, time (begin to grasp) the concept of chemical reaction
To measure or calculate the time
To discover the different reactions linked with chemical reaction of ingredientes

STEM skills – to which the learning unit is related to

CORE STEM SKILLS

● Asking questions.
● Designing experiments.
● To test hypothesis
● Drawing conclusions based on results.
● Motivation to learn and engage.
● Self-discipline and self-regulated learning (cognitive autonomy).

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Sharing ideas
Hand-eye coordination
Literacy: writing

Teaching methodologies/activity outline

1- First make a cake with the children including all the ingredients. You have to mix the dry ingredients and then add the wet ingredients in the order (of the list of ingredients: point 7), mix well and pour into prepared dish. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Before putting the mixed ingredients in the oven, we ask the children what does the cake looks like, and the same when we have the cake baked. Take profit of this situation to tell the children that between a) and b) a chemical reaction has taken place. Explain the children that when you add heat to something and it changes, it is called an endothermic reaction.

2- Ask questions such as: What happens if we make a cake without oil/eggs/baking powder? What could we do to see what happens?

3- Make three more cakes, one with all ingredients but without oil, the second without eggs, and the third without baking powder. Wait until the cakes get cool.

4- Ask the children (help the children if needed) to write four labels with the number of each cake (the “all ingredients” cake is number 1) and the characteristics of each one: 1)all ingredients, 2) no oil, 3) no egg, 4) no baking powder. Aside, each ramekin dish with the cake.

5- Ask the children to see the differences in appearance: Ask: Which has risen more? Which has risen less? After the children answer explain the baking powder is a leavened and it makes the cake rise.

6- Cut each cake in halves

7- Ask the children: Which cake do you think is more tender? Give the children time to formulate hypotheses.

8- Ask the children to taste each one and describe each one´s texture

9- Make children reflect about that oil adds tenderness to cakes. And also eggs.

10- Ask the children: Which tastes better? Why do you think this cake tastes better?

11- Enjoy the delicious cakes!

Assessment of learning

Initial evaluation
– Get to know the previous knowledge about this chemical reaction. Do the children know that baking makes a mixture leaven?

Continued evaluation
– Progressively acquire basic habits of autonomy in everyday actions, to act safely and effectively.
– Think, create, elaborate explanations and start the basic mathematical and scientific skills.
– Observe and explore the immediate, natural and physical environment, with an attitude of curiosity and respect and gradually participate in social and cultural activities.
– Understand the necessity of norms, and specially safety rules.
– Use numerals and words in an appropriate context and significatively.

Final evaluation
– To evaluate the learning objectives, use the chart in which the more important elements will be highlighted.

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

You’ll need to measure and mix this set of ingredients four times to complete all four experiments.
● 6 tablespoons flour
● 3 tablespoons sugar
● 1 pinch of salt
● 2 or 3 pinches of baking powder
● 2 tablespoons milk
● 2 tablespoons cooking oil
● ¼ teaspoon vanilla
● ⅓ of an egg (Break egg into a cup; beat until mixed, then use approximately one third of it. Save the rest for 2 of the other cakes.

Other:
Ramekin dishes
Paper and pencils