At-home STEM Activities: Kitchen Chemistry (and Biology)—The Science of Bread
There’s nothing like a homemade loaf of bread—the crispy crust, the soft interior, and the bouncy texture—but what is it that makes bread so good? Well, as we’ve learned in our previous installments of Kitchen Chemistry, it’s a hefty dose of science! Today, let’s explore the science of bread!
Learn what each ingredient adds to the recipe, and then try making our own loaf of bread, in a tasty application of science that would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving table!
Chemistry in the Kitchen: Create Your Own Rock Candy
If you’ve ever been to a candy store, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen what looks like colored crystal-like candy on a wooden stick. This is rock candy, and it’s not made from the rocks that you’d find in nature. Rock candy is made from crystallized sugar that forms in water. Anyone who has sugar, water, and a stovetop at home can easily make rock candy. Luckily, we’ve got some directions below so you can make them.
Chemistry in the Kitchen: Make Your Own Bubbles With Dish Soap
We have provided a great bubble recipe down below that involves one of the most common items in a kitchen: dish soap! But first, did you ever wonder what’s the science behind bubbles? What actually makes up a bubble? Why are they round? Why do they pop? What are the pretty rainbow colors? Let’s explore these questions.
At-Home STEM Activities: How Many Seeds?
In honor of National Wildflower Week, this week’s Distance Learning offerings are focusing on the plant world.
When fruits and other seed plants reproduce (make more of themselves), a tiny new plant embryo forms inside their seeds. The seed protects the embryo and stores food for it. Seeds are released by the parent plant and dispersed (sent to new places) by wind, water, or animal activity. If the seed lands where the conditions are right, the embryo germinates and grows into a new plant.
In this all-ages activity, we’ll practice our estimating, counting, basic math, and motor skills using the seeds from fresh cherry tomatoes! This activity is modified from a lesson developed by National Agriculture in the Classroom.