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Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

Elementary Science Ideas, Lessons, and Resources

Experimenting with Yeast as a Microorganism: Aligned with NGSS

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Materials: 
1 packet of active dry yeast
1 cup of warm water
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 balloon
1 empty water bottle

Directions: 
Mix water, sugar and yeast in the bottle and place the balloon on top.  
Encourage students to set 
up several experiments using different combinations.  Try cold water. 
Try no sugar.  
Label each and record your results.  
Observe what happens. 




Questions for students:  
Do you think the yeast is alive?  
Will the same thing happen if we leave out the sugar?  
Why does the yeast need sugar?  
What is the gas inside the balloon?   
Why is yeast used when baking bread? 

Have students examine a piece of bread.  Record Observations.














Teacher Background Information:

The purpose of any leavening agent is to produce gas that makes the bread rise.  Yeast feeds on sugars and releases carbon dioxide in the process.  Yeast is tiny!  Just one gram holds about 25 billion cells!  That amount of fungi can produce a significant amount of carbon dioxide provided it has simple sugars to use as food.  As the yeast feeds on the sugar and produces carbon dioxide, the balloon fills up with this gas.   A similar process happens as bread rises.  Carbon dioxide from the yeast creates bubbles in the dough.  Once the bread has baked, this will give the loaf an airy texture. 


Science and Engineering Practices 
Planning and Carrying Out an Investigation
Constructing Explanations
Crosscutting Concepts
Cause and Effect
Stability and Change
Scale, Proportion and Quantity
Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structure and Function
LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, energy and dynamics


Below for you a printable for reading informational text.


You will also like How to Make a Field Journal Out of An Envelope  
Please click here to see Pop-Up and Pop-Out Templates for Interactive Notebooks
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I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!

 
Science and Engineering Practices Distance Education Unit

Tina S

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:05:39-06:00

Tina S

I am so impressed with this unit which manages to be distance learning and hands-on at the same time.  Really well thought out and engaging activities that allow students to practice each of the eight Science and Engineering Practices.  Really no prep for me!   Science and Engineering Practices Distance Education Unit
The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!

 
Structure and Function NGSS 4-LS1-1 and 4-LS1-2

Richard S

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:07:52-06:00

Richard S

The elephant article was excellent but I also thought the lab on dissecting a flower was broken down so easily, even telling me where to get inexpensive flowers!  This resource helped me teach this challenging standard in an engaging way.  Worth every penny!   Structure and Function NGSS 4-LS1-1 and 4-LS1-2
As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.

 
Age of the Earth and Geologic Time Scale NGSS MS ESS1-4

Sharon M

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
5
2016-05-03T18:24:44-06:00

Sharon M

As always, Lynda provides perfect alignment with the standards.   Age of the Earth and Geologic Time Scale NGSS MS ESS1-4
Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.

 
Honey Bee Digital Escape Distance Learning

Expedition Fourth

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
2020-11-03T20:44:55-07:00

Expedition Fourth

Thank you so much for creating this resource! It is such a fun and engaging activity for my students, especially during distance learning.   Honey Bee Digital Escape Distance Learning
My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.

 
Compare and Contrast Two Texts on Reindeer

Heidi J

Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams
2020-11-03T20:45:49-07:00

Heidi J

My students loved this unit. I was able to present different elements of it throughout the month. It is hard to find interesting non-fictional, age-appropriate text for my students that they will enjoy. This was a great unit that aligned well for my students who have very different goals within the same group.   Compare and Contrast Two Texts on Reindeer
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Teaching Science with Lynda R. Williams

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