September 16: The Science of Baking Bread

"So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being." – Franz Kafka

Milling flour

Monday, September 16:  
yeast and bread baking
(Sources: The Little Red Hen (Project Gutenberg), Science in School: Bread-baking, teaching science in primary school, Homebaking.org: Second Grade: Science of Baking)

Grade Level: Elementary

Objective:
Students will learn more about fungi, yeast, and chemistry through baking bread.

Materials:
flour, salt, yeast, sugar, olive oil, warm water, baking tray or loaf tin, tea towel, measuring cup, mixing bowl, fork

Class Introduction/hook:
yeast review, flour grinding, and baking soda experiment.