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
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!
TheBoyandMe
November 7, 2011 at 3:55 pmI should, I want to, but I can’t be ar*ed! Now when I’ve got a breadmachine that does it far better!
ScienceSparks
November 9, 2011 at 6:05 pmHa ha, but The Boy would love it! x
Brooke @let kids create
November 8, 2011 at 1:54 pmThanks 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!
ScienceSparks
November 9, 2011 at 6:05 pmThank you, I’m glad you liked it! x
Beth
November 9, 2011 at 12:30 pmVery 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
ScienceSparks
November 9, 2011 at 7:11 pmOh thank you…when is the link up? We would love too. x
maggy,red ted art
November 9, 2011 at 5:36 pmLove how to take “every day things” and explain the science behind. Perfect!
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!!
Maggy
ScienceSparks
November 9, 2011 at 7:12 pmThat’s the whole point of Science Sparks, to show people that Science is in most things we do! Great hey?!
Little Wonders' Days
November 13, 2011 at 1:15 pmThis 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.
ScienceSparks
November 13, 2011 at 9:11 pmSo glad you liked it!
Art For Little Hands (@art4littlehands)
November 13, 2011 at 10:29 pmSo 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.
Mary
November 15, 2011 at 3:32 amIt looks delicious!
Ticia
November 16, 2011 at 2:35 pmI need to make bread again. It’s been so long since I’ve done it.
Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
November 21, 2011 at 2:50 amvery cool to explain the science behind ordinary things.
Thanks for sharing on the sunday showcase
Bern
http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/search/label/Sunday%20Showcase