Bake & Chemistry: Edible Science Expo!

5th Grade

Project
1 week

Bake & Chemistry: Edible Science Expo!

Jon Carlos Ruiz

Purpose

Explore the fascinating world of chemistry through the lens of baking. Dive into the science behind how ingredients like flour, sugar, and yeast interact to create delicious baked goods. Apply your knowledge by designing a community baking event that not only demonstrates these chemical reactions but also encourages healthier eating habits. Engage with local partners to bring fresh ingredients to your project, making science tangible and impactful for both you and your community.

Learning goals

Explore the chemical reactions involved in baking, such as how heat affects ingredients and the role of leavening agents. Develop skills in scientific inquiry by experimenting with different ingredient combinations and observing outcomes. Enhance communication skills by creating an informative infographic or poster that clearly explains the chemistry of baking. Foster community engagement by planning a local event to share your findings and promote healthy eating.

Standards

NGSS - 5-PS1-4: Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances.
NGSS - 5-PS1-2: Measure and graph quantities to provide evidence that the total weight of matter is conserved during a chemical reaction.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4: Report on a topic or text, present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes.

Products

Throughout this project, create a detailed infographic or poster that illustrates the chemistry of baking ingredients and their interactions. Develop a plan for a community baking event, including a presentation that educates attendees on the chemistry involved and promotes healthier eating habits. Collaborate with local partners to demonstrate baking techniques at a farmers' market stall, using fresh ingredients to engage the community.

Launch

Begin by hosting a mini baking demonstration in class where you experiment with different ingredients and observe their chemical reactions, such as the effect of baking soda versus baking powder in a simple muffin recipe. Engage in a discussion about what happens at a molecular level during the baking process. Use this activity to spark curiosity and introduce the challenge question about designing a community baking event. This hands-on experience will set the stage for exploring the chemistry of baking throughout the project.

Exhibition

Organize a community baking event at the local farmers' market where you can showcase your infographic or poster to visitors. Set up a demonstration area where you can bake using fresh ingredients from the market, explaining the chemistry behind each step. Facilitate a gallery walk where attendees can view and provide feedback on your work, fostering a dialogue about healthier eating habits and the science of baking. Encourage interaction by offering samples and engaging in discussions about the chemistry involved in baking.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Discover: Baking Chemistry Exploration - Host a mini baking demonstration with simple muffin recipes, using different leavening agents to observe chemical reactions and spark curiosity about chemistry in baking (30 min) Discover: Observing Baking Reactions - Engage in a discussion about molecular changes during baking and collect observations on how ingredients like flour, sugar, and yeast interact (30 min)	Examine: Generating Chemistry Questions - Collaboratively generate questions about the chemistry of baking ingredients and explore potential solutions to the challenge question (15 min) Examine: Background Knowledge Building - Read texts and watch videos to build understanding of chemical reactions in baking and the role of ingredients (25 min) Examine: Investigating Root Causes - Conduct hands-on experiments with ingredient combinations to uncover baking chemistry principles (20 min)	Engineer: Designing Baking Infographic - Develop a hypothesis about ingredient interactions and begin designing a detailed infographic explaining the chemistry behind baking (30 min) Engineer: Planning Community Event - Create a detailed plan for a community baking event, outlining how to educate attendees on baking chemistry and promote healthy eating (30 min)	Do: Constructing Infographic - Design and build the baking infographic, ensuring it is informative and creatively illustrates the chemical reactions involved (30 min) Do: Data Collection Strategy - Develop a plan to collect data during the community event, determining success measures and methods for gathering information (30 min)	Share: Presentation Preparation - Collaboratively select relevant content for the final presentation, choosing a tool like slides or video to showcase the infographic and event plan (30 min) Share: Rehearsal and Feedback - Rehearse the presentation as a team and receive T.A.G. Feedback from peers to make final improvements before presenting (30 min)
Deliverables	1. Complete a simple infographic or poster explaining the chemistry behind common baking ingredients and their interactions. 2. Plan a community baking event, outlining the educational activities and healthy recipes to be used.
Preparation	1. Gather baking ingredients such as flour, sugar, yeast, baking soda, and baking powder for in-class experiments. 2. Prepare a simple muffin recipe that uses both baking soda and baking powder to demonstrate their effects. 3. Collect art supplies such as poster boards, markers, and stencils for infographic creation. 4. Arrange access to digital tools for infographic design, like Canva or Google Slides. 5. Contact the local farmers' market association to discuss setting up a demonstration stall. 6. Compile research materials on the chemistry of baking, focusing on how heat affects ingredients and the role of leavening agents. 7. Prepare a rubric for assessing the infographic or poster, focusing on clarity, accuracy, creativity, and explanation of chemistry.