So much of food preparation and cooking gives children an opportunity to see and understand transformations. Here's a way children can see how a liquid can change into a solid.

Materials:

• 1 pint (500 ml) heavy cream
• dash of salt
• bread or crackers

Directions:

Talk about foods that change from liquids to solids when heated, frozen, or shaken, such as cakes, ice cubes, and eggs. Can the children name foods that change from liquids to solids?

Then have the children observe how a food changes by making butter. Pour the heavy cream into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and let the children take turns shaking the jar. (You can limit each child's turn by counting to 15 or by setting an egg timer.)

It takes 10 to 20 minutes for the cream to become lumpy, and waiting can be hard for children. Talk about waiting, and give several suggestions for making the time go faster. Then have the children try their favorite suggestions.

For example, you could suggest the children:

• sing a song while they shake;
• listen to a story;
• talk about what they like to eat with butter;
• set the table for snack time;
• draw pictures while waiting for a turn to shake.

Once the cream forms large lumps, pour off the excess liquid (or drain it off through a cheesecloth) and add a little salt. Refrigerate the butter until snack or lunch time and let the children spread it on bread or crackers with a butter knife.

Back to Theme