• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Science Experiments For Kids
  • Science Fair Projects
  • Preschool Science
  • Science Facts
  • Printable Experiments
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Science Questions
  • Contact Me
Science Experiments for Kids
Menu
  • STEM Challenges
  • Early Years Science
    • Preschool Science
    • Sensory and Messy Play
    • Understanding of the World
    • Pirate Science Experiments
  • Primary Science
    • Baking Soda Experiments
    • Candy Experiments
    • Biology for Kids
    • Climate Change for Kids
    • Coding for Kids
    • Chemistry for kids
    • Electricity for Kids
    • Magic Science Experiments
    • Harry Potter Experiments
    • Human Body Science
    • Air Pressure Experiments
    • Life Cycles
    • LEGO Science Experiments
    • Kitchen Science
    • Famous Scientists
    • Forces and Motion
    • Science Sparks Snippets
    • Key Stage 1 Science
      • Animals
      • Everyday Materials
      • Plants
      • Coding Activities
      • Humans and Health
      • Fine Motor skills
      • Science and Literacy
    • Key Stage 2 Science
      • Animals, Including Humans
      • Electricity
      • Light
      • Plants
      • Materials and their Properties
  • Key Stage 3
  • Holiday Science
    • Christmas Science
    • Halloween Science
    • Easter Science
  • Storybook Themed Science Experiments
  • Wonderful Women in STEM
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • FREE Experiments
  • Science for Kids
    • Kitchen Science
    • Climate Change
    • Egg Experiments
    • Fairy Tale Science
    • Edible Science
    • Human Health
    • Chemistry
    • Inspirational Women
    • Forces and Motion
  • Science Fair Projects
  • STEM Challenges
  • Science Sparks Books
  • Contact Science Sparks
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Making Bread – Respiration in action!

    Making Bread – Respiration in action!

    November 7, 2011 By Emma Vanstone 20 Comments

    Making Bread -Respiration in action Science Sparks

    Respiration is a biological process that is fundamental to any living things. It is the process by which energy is made, so that all the chemical reactions can occur in your body.

    Respiration is the reaction between glucose (your food) and oxygen in the air you breathe, to produce carbon dioxide and water (waste products) and the all important ENERGY!

    We can see this process occurring when we make bread!

    You will need

    A mixing bowl

    500g of strong white bread flour

    2tsp of salt

    2 sachet of yeast

    40g of soft butter

    300ml of tepid water

    Olive oil

    Making Bread - Respiration in action Science Sparks

     

    Method

    1. Put the flour in the bowl along with the butter all chopped up.

    2. Put the salt one side of the bowl and the yeast the other (otherwise the salt will kill the yeast)

    3. Mix together and add the water slowly to bring together as a rough dough

    4. Put a tsp of olive oil onto the work surface and out your dough on top.

    5. Start kneading together the dough so that it is coated in the oil and becomes smooth and stretchy. This may take at least 5 minutes.

    6. Clean out your mixing bowl and smear with oil

    7. Place you dough into the bowl and cover with a damp tea towel

    8. After an hour it should have doubled in size.

    9. Tip it out onto the work surface with some flout and knead out the air until smooth and roll and shape into your loaf shape.

    10. Place on a lined baking tray and cover with the tea towel again to rise one more.

    11. After another hour it should have once again doubled in size.

    12. Sprinkle on some flour and score in your pattern.

    13. Place in the oven at 200 degree with a roasting tin of water at the water to make steam.

    14. Cook for half and hour and your bread is ready!

     

    The science bit!

    The yeast is a living thing and needs to respire to make energy! If feeds off the flour and used oxygen to respire and produce carbon dioxide as a waste product. It is this gas that causes the bread dough to rise! Respiration in action!

    The bread is very yummy even if I do say so myself so not only a bit of science but lunch too!

     

     

    Last Updated on January 19, 2015 by Emma Vanstone

    « Firework in a Jar
    A hair raising experiment »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. TheBoyandMe

      November 07, 2011 at 3:55 pm

      I should, I want to, but I can’t be ar*ed! Now when I’ve got a breadmachine that does it far better!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        November 09, 2011 at 6:05 pm

        Ha ha, but The Boy would love it! x

        Reply
    2. Brooke @let kids create

      November 08, 2011 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks for sharing the science behind this, I actually never knew all those details. I just knew there was a gas formed that made it rise, really interesting. Thanks for sharing on Monday Madness!

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        November 09, 2011 at 6:05 pm

        Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! x

        Reply
    3. Beth

      November 09, 2011 at 12:30 pm

      Very cool! I love making my own bread, but had never really though about all the science involved that I could & should share with my kids.
      I wanted to invite you to link up at TGIF Linky Party (http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties).
      Beth

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        November 09, 2011 at 7:11 pm

        Oh thank you…when is the link up? We would love too. x

        Reply
    4. maggy,red ted art

      November 09, 2011 at 5:36 pm

      Love how to take “every day things” and explain the science behind. Perfect!

      Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!!

      Maggy

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        November 09, 2011 at 7:12 pm

        That’s the whole point of Science Sparks, to show people that Science is in most things we do! Great hey?!

        Reply
    5. Little Wonders' Days

      November 13, 2011 at 1:15 pm

      This is fun and delicious science! I can’t wait to make bread again and use it as a science lesson. Little J and I used to make bread, almost weekly, because it is a fun way to build up hand strength as you knead the bread. (He had a fine motor delay.) I’d love for you to share at the AfterSchool Party.

      Reply
      • ScienceSparks

        November 13, 2011 at 9:11 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    6. Art For Little Hands (@art4littlehands)

      November 13, 2011 at 10:29 pm

      So interesting. I need to go through all this with my kids next time we make bread. Thanks for the expertise. When we had cable we used to watch Alton Brown. There is so much science in food, baking, and cooking. It is so interesting. Thanks for linking up to Monday Madness! Hope to see you again tomorrow.

      Reply
    7. Mary

      November 15, 2011 at 3:32 am

      It looks delicious!

      Reply
    8. Ticia

      November 16, 2011 at 2:35 pm

      I need to make bread again. It’s been so long since I’ve done it.

      Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!

      Reply
    9. Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

      November 21, 2011 at 2:50 am

      very cool to explain the science behind ordinary things.

      Thanks for sharing on the sunday showcase

      Bern
      http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Showcase

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    What are you looking for?

    JOIN US!

    Get new experiments straight into your inbox every week!!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    .

    Copyright © 2022 Science Experiments for Kids on the Foodie Pro Theme